Gangly limbs, menacing claws, and crazy crowns.
In the animal world, just about every body part,
no matter how unusual, fills a need.
It's anatomy gone wild!
(???)
The ocean.
So vast, it's seemingly infinite.
95 percent of it has yet to be explored,
but what we do know has to be seen to be believed.
This bizarre form and anatomical spectacle
is the wonderpus octopus.
For such a complex creature, the wonderpus's scientific name
is, refreshingly, not very scientific at all.
Wonderpus photogenicus.
The photogenic marvelous octopus.
The wonderpus was only just recognized
as a distinct cephalopod species in 2006.
Before then, it was thought to be a mimic octopus.
It has similar markings, but the mimic octopus
has white along the base of the suckers.
The Wonderpus doesn't.
It does have white spots on its head, though,
and these are as unique as a human fingerprint.
There is so much to marvel at
when it comes to the fluid form of the wonderpus octopus.
But what makes this creature truly remarkable is its mantle.
It's only about an inch long,
half the length of a human's thumb.
It's a muscular casing, and in this tiny space,
an octopus has gills, a digestive system,
reproductive organs, and three hearts.
Two of them serve the incredibly important function
of transporting oxygenated blood from the octopus's gills
to the central heart.
From there, the third heart
pumps the blood to the rest of its body.
The micro-sized mantle
also gives the wonderpus its strength.
A muscular siphon, or water tube, draws water in,
and the mantle flexes to quickly expel it,
essentially creating jet propulsion.
With rhythmic pulses of energy, the octopus has the chance
to make a quick get-away.
So with all the amazing parts of the octopus
tucked in its mantle, what's an octopus' head for?
A brain, check.
Powerful vision, yes.
But also these: mesmerizing arms.
In fact, the word cephalopod means "head footed"
because its arms are attached to its head.
The wonderpus' arms are up to 10 inches long.
It's within the arms that the rest of the
octopus' brain resides.
These 8 appendages hold two-thirds of the neurons;
the brain holds the other third.
Octopuses are widely considered to be
the smartest of all invertebrates.
Incredible problem solvers, they can open sealed bottles,
master mazes, and even learn by observing other octopuses.
The wonderpus also observes its prey,
like small, tasty fish that swim by.
It lays in wait and ambushes its meal with a flick of an arm.
But, as easy as the wonderpus makes it look,
it is a small creature in a big sea.
So it uses another trick.
And it's not a trick of light and shadow.
That color change, that fast, just happened.
When it changes color and puffs up, the wonderpus is
sending a warning to potential predators that it's venomous.
What else is there to learn
about this elusive and mysterious species?
If we're patient, the wonderpus octopus might soon reveal
more of its anatomical secrets.
Living in a bizarre network of canals
on the outskirts of Mexico City
is the quintessential example of anatomy gone wild.
They don't get much stranger looking than these guys.
Their name, axolotl, is thought to come from the Aztec words
meaning "water-monster".
The Aztecs revered it as the god of deformities and death.
This mythology hints at what we're now learning
about these puzzling creatures.
Axolotls can regrow most of their body parts.
They're not unique in this ability.
Spiders can re-grow legs; lizards, tails;
and starfish, arms.
But axolotls can re-grow parts of their body
that no other animal can: jaws, internal organs,
parts of their spine, even brain tissue, over and over again,
and they're always perfect.
For scientists, true cellular regeneration is the holy grail
of medical research.
If they can simulate axolotl superpowers,
then organ transplants and degenerative diseases
might be a thing of the past.
It's still not clear how they do it,
but it appears axolotls have special multi-purpose cells,
similar to human embryonic stem cells.
Scientists have come up with a way to better understand
how axolotl regeneration works.
They've created a genetically modified axolotl.
Genetic modification has a questionable reputation,
but in this case it's integral
to pushing scientific discoveries forward.
In understanding how the axolotl regrows tissue,
scientists get help from another aquatic animal.
The Crystal jellyfish is bioluminescent,
which means it can create its own light.
Scientists extract the jelly's green fluorescent protein gene
- or GFP - and inject it into the axolotl's DNA.
When a non-fluorescent axolotl is re-growing a lost limb,
scientists can take cell tissue from the fluorescent axolotl
and insert it into the wound.
By tracking the growth of the new cells
that are now fluorescent, scientists can see the
regeneration process in action.
It's truly revolutionary.
Sadly, the amazing axolotl
is considered all but extinct in the wild.
The only place where there might be a few of these
Mexican salamanders is Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City.
Faced with human population pressures,
the once vibrant lake has become a toxic network
of polluted canals.
But the axolotl's value to researchers,
and its peculiar appearance, means that many are alive
in labs and pet stores around the world.
And seeing them up close means that we are learning
more of their secrets.
Like Peter Pan, axolotls seem to never grow up.
This rare condition is called neoteny.
Most amphibians lay their eggs in water.
These hatch into tadpoles before metamorphosing into fully grown,
lung-breathing adults.
But axolotls don't do this.
They retain their youthful form, keeping features
of their juvenile stage, essentially looking like
big tadpoles for their whole lives.
The frilly mane of external gills,
the broad head with lidless eyes,
and the under-developed limbs
are all signs of physical immaturity.
But these axolotls are mature - they can reproduce.
In fact, translucent skin
reveals the yellow one is carrying eggs.
Yellow, grey, pink or white,
these adults will stay this size.
Surviving on algae, insects and the occasional worm,
these axolotls will never leave the water.
They might live like this for 10 years or more.
With all that these amphibians are laying bare,
the secret to human immortality might not be far behind.
There are some strange noggins in the animal kingdom.
Among birds, there are many that soar heads - and tails -
above the rest.
Not quite as aerodynamic as you might expect,
these feathered friends have some peculiar parts.
Their crazy craniums are all about
getting a leg up on the competition.
Royal spoonbills live in Australia and Southeast Asia.
They have a rather obvious facial feature: their spoon.
What might not be obvious is that it gives them
a big advantage.
They use their spoon-shaped bill
just as humans use their spoons - to eat.
And their spoons sometimes come with a bowl.
A gathering of these highly social birds
is called a bowl of spoonbills.
Royal spoonbills are fast, they feed a lot,
and they're very efficient.
These large, long-legged birds wade through the shallow water,
head down, sweeping their bills from side to side.
They kick up prey with their feet, and snap their bill shut
when they sense a crustacean or small fish.
Not unlike a pair of tongs.
Their beaks may be effective and eye-catching,
but at breeding time, it's their heads that are striking.
Long, white elegant plumes adorn both males and females.
They appear only during breeding season and signal to others
that they're more than ready to mate.
With their breeding plumage in full display,
the preening can begin.
If any bird has the right to preen and parade
it might just be this one: the Victoria crowned pigeon,
named after the famous Queen of England.
There's that dazzling crown.
But there's actually a lot more to this bird than its headdress.
The deep red eyes, rich blue-grey plumage, speckled legs
and orange feet all demand attention.
Though, it's the delicate white-tipped lacy crest
on top of its head that truly deserves a curtsy.
Males and females both have it,
but it's the male that puts it to most use.
Crowned pigeons are monogamous,
so finding the right partner means everything.
That's where these ornate feathers come into play.
They're easier for potential mates to spot
on the forest floor, where they spend most of their time.
But it's more than just appearances.
A healthy crest means healthy genes.
A male will parade for the female,
showing off his particular plumage,
not only those on his head, but also his wings and tail.
If successful and they mate, the male steps up
in all parental duties, including sitting on the nest.
The Victoria crowned pigeon is related to the common pigeon
that populates all of the world's biggest cities.
You can see the family resemblance in their eyes,
and the quizzical way they move their heads.
But there isn't anything common
about the Victoria crowned pigeon,
with its plumes and crown, and regal namesake.
Where the crowned pigeon has the elegance and grace of royalty,
the southern cassowary has the warrior paint
of a no-holds barred fighter.
Its head has something to do with that.
But so does its size.
It's the third tallest and second heaviest bird
on the planet.
This flightless bird looks prehistoric.
Its monstrous brawn deters dingoes and crocodiles
in the rainforests of Australia and New Guinea.
The southern cassowary has some impressive armor;
this famous pointed helmet, for starters.
The horn looks solid, but its outer layer is made of keratin,
the same material as human fingernails.
It's actually soft to the touch.
Underneath the keratin is a layer of spongy bone.
Researchers think the cassowary's helmet,
called a casque, is used to woo prospective mates.
Cassowaries with large casques
are more likely to find a partner.
But the casque is more than a fancy calling card.
It's used to push through dense vegetation as the bird
moves through the rainforest with its head down.
Like all helmets, it also protects the bird
in nasty collisions, or during fights.
(Growling)
The casque also works as a sound resonator.
It can amplify and direct its low-frequency calls,
which can be used as threats to potential predators,
or as mating calls.
The calls are so low in frequency that the bottom range
can be hard for humans to hear.
Instead, their calls can be felt as vibrations
that researchers have described as a bit unsettling.
The cassowary's battle gear doesn't stop here;
it's truly a head-to-toe fighter.
While its head armor is a good defense,
its sharp beak and toes are its offense.
Each foot has three toes,
and the second toe has evolved into a razor-sharp dagger.
The cassowary uses this 4-inch long weapon
to stab rival males or predators with one swift kick.
This feisty bird usually lives alone,
preferring to avoid humans and other animals altogether.
And humans are better off avoiding it, too.
Southern cassowaries are considered
one of the most dangerous birds in the world,
known for their mercurial temperament.
If cornered, they'll fight.
They've been known on rare occasions to kill humans.
But southern cassowary populations are endangered,
so these remarkable birds are hard to find in their
native habitats, even if humans do go looking for trouble.
Whether it be for finding a mate, finding a meal,
or defending their turf, these strange looking birds
are built for success.
Local legends in Madagascar say this animal is a bad omen,
foreshadowing nothing less than death.
You can blame that on one peculiar body part.
One that might be better suited to, say, a witch.
It's this gangly finger, made of little more than skin and bone.
It belongs to the aye aye.
Have it pointed in your direction,
and local folklore says you're cursed.
Yet another version of the legend has this fearless animal
sneaking into homes and using its finger
to stab residents while they sleep.
So goes the myth.
But the story carries power.
To this day, this rare type of lemur is often killed on sight.
The truth is, the aye aye isn't that interested in people.
And of course, it's unaware of its fearsome reputation.
It's got more important things on its mind: food.
For this nocturnal beast, the search for food
drives the aye aye long into the night.
And its middle finger is perfectly suited to the task.
High in the leafy tree-tops of Madagascar
where it makes its home, the aye aye taps this extra-long finger
at a furious pace to listen for insects
that live in hollow tree branches.
Its sonar-like senses can detect the location of grubs
by relying on the echoing sounds created by its tapping.
The technique is called percussive foraging.
The aye aye is one of the only mammals
known to find food this way.
This is when those big ears come in handy;
cupped forward to better hear the subtle sounds
of what lurks below.
Wait, watch and listen.
If it detects movement,
it's pretty much game over for the grubs.
In no time at all, the aye aye's gnawing away.
Tearing bark off trees to get at their food underneath.
With teeth that will never stop growing.
Ever.
Their teeth are fused together into one big rodent-like fang
that never becomes dull.
But the aye aye still has a bit more work to do.
Once through the bark, a long, hooked claw at the
end of the finger is perfect to spear and scoop its prey.
This all-powerful finger can twist and pivot
to find its food.
Its knuckle joint is like a ball and socket,
swiveling like our arms move in our shoulders.
The aye aye's eyes also play an important role
in the animal's night-time activity.
They're like night vision goggles that can see
any movement in the faintest of light.
And, like cats and dogs, the aye aye has a third eyelid
that protects the eye from the debris
that flies at dinnertime.
Despite its bizarre elongated finger and its haunting eyes,
this solitary creature of the night won't curse you,
but it might bring on a few nightmares.
Whether it's for mating, playing mind games, or working miracles,
these creatures have some outlandish body parts.
But in nature, standing out is exactly what they need
to fit into their habitat.
(???)