Skillful Adaptations

Many animals possess extraordinary abilities: for example, the star-nosed mole has highly sensitive appendages on its snout that help it instantly find prey, while the electric eel paralyzes its victim with an electric shock. Biologist Kenneth Catania talks about some of the most amazing creatures in nature. He sheds light on the mysterious and eerie behavior of caecilian snakes, tiny moles, emerald wasps, and other animals and shows how studying the strangest beings provides insights into evolution and how scientific discoveries can be accompanied by adventure and fun.

Catania explains the purpose of the star-nosed mole's unusual appendages and what it tells us about brain function as a whole. He demonstrates how the caecilian snake employs cunning to lure fish right into its mouth, how the electric eel uses electricity for "remote control" of other animals, and how emerald wasps zombify cockroaches. He reveals the mystery of "worm charming" (a traditional method to lure earthworms out of the soil) by collaborating with professional charmers. Catania emphasizes the importance of an unbiased approach to scientific research, acknowledges the contributions of amateur scientists, and explains that the majority of animals actually possess incredible hidden abilities.