Ingenious Adaptations

Many animals possess extraordinary abilities: for example, the star-nosed mole has super-sensitive appendages on its snout that help it find prey instantly, while the electric eel paralyzes its victim with an electric shock. Biologist Kenneth Catania discusses some of the... most astonishing creatures of nature. He sheds light on the mysterious and creepy behavior of hammer-headed snakes, tiny moles, emerald wasps, and other animals, showing how studying the strangest beings provides insight into evolution, and how scientific discoveries can come with adventures and fun.

Catania explains the purpose of the star-nosed mole's unusual appendages and what this reveals about the workings of the brain as a whole. He demonstrates how the hammer-headed snake employs cunning to trick fish into swimming right into its mouth, how the electric eel uses electricity for "remote control" over other animals, and how emerald wasps zombify cockroaches. He unravels the mystery of the "worm charming" (a traditional method of coaxing earthworms out of the soil) by teaming up with professional charmers. Catania emphasizes the importance of an unbiased approach to scientific research, honors the contributions of amateur scientists, and explains that most animals actually possess incredible hidden abilities.