Leptictidium and Fig Andy's Prehistoric Adventures

# I'm Andy and I work here at the National Museum

# We've got dinosaurs and ice age beasts

# You should see them

# Jenny's my assistant Mrs Pickles runs the show

# Come on my adventures Ready, steady, go

# One... Two... Three... Four

-# Andy's Prehistoric Adventures

-Hey, join the crew!

# Travel back in time and discover something new

# Yeah, you can come, too

# We'll see woolly mammoths Dinosaurs, cavemen and more

# When I jump into the old museum clock to explore

# Take me off to prehistoric times, I say

# Hold on tight, shut your eyes and then we fly away

# One... Two... Three... Four

# Andy's Prehistoric Adventures

# Hey, join the crew

# Travel back in time and discover something new

# Yeah, you can come, too

# Andy's Prehistoric Adventures

# Andy's Prehistoric Adventures. #

ANDY WHISTLES

Hi, I'm Andy and I work here at the National Museum.

Today, I've been making a display all about the tiny,

prehistoric animal called a Leptictidium.

I brought a juicy-looking fruit, in case it gets hungry.

Oh, hi, Jen.

Oh, hello, Andy.

Oh, wow! What's that?

This? It's a Leptictidium.

Not that, that.

Oh, it's a fig.

Mm. I thought so.

I love figs. They're delicious. I don't suppose I could, erm...

You're not going to want to try that, Jen.

It's a model of a prehistoric fig that grew 50 million years ago.

-I made it using paper, water and glue.

-Paper, water and glue?

-Yuck! Who'd want to eat that?

-Well, no-one.

But Leptictidiums, they used to eat the REAL prehistoric figs.

-Come on, I'll show you.

-OK.

I'll just put this down here.

-Wow.

-They were small, furry mammals, that used to

roam around the forests of Europe, searching for food.

It looks a bit like a tiny kangaroo.

Well, that's why scientists believe

they were very good at jumping,

-especially when chasing after lizards.

-Oh, lizards.

-It ate them, too?

-Yes. Leptictidium were omnivores,

which means they ate all kinds of things.

So, I've included lots of their favourite foods on here.

Lizards, insects, plants.

I just have to add the prehistoric fig and I'm finished.

Then, we can go and get some food of our own.

Oh, no!

My fig, it's ruined!

I needed that to finish the display.

I wanted it to be just perfect for Mrs Pickles when she comes tomorrow.

-Erm, we could stick it back together?

-Oh, I doubt it.

I know! You could go and pick a real one.

A real one?

Jen, it's prehistoric.

If I wanted a real one

I'd have to go back in time 15 million years.

CLOCK CHIMES

PTEROSAUR SQUAWKS

That's it!

Jen, you're a genius.

You go and get yourself some food, I'll be back soon with a new fig.

Time to go on a prehistoric adventure!

Erm, Andy, shall I get you something to eat?

Don't worry!

Waistcoat, gizmo,

hat, backpack.

To the time of Leptictidium.

I made it!

I've travelled back in time 15 million years.

All the way to somewhere in Europe, to the time of Leptictidium.

Now, all I have to do is find one and then follow them.

And, hopefully, they'll lead me to a lovely fig tree.

Now, which way do I go?

Erm...

That way!

It's as good as any.

ANDY WHISTLES

Oh.

This forest goes on for miles and miles.

How am I going to search it all for a Leptictidium?

The only thing I've seen so far are these dragonflies.

Hang on a minute.

That gives me a good idea.

To the size of a dragonfly!

Right, now to hitch a lift.

Erm...

Excuse me.

Woo-hoo-hoo!

Giddy-up!

Ha-ha, come on!

Whoa. Whoa-ho-ho-ho!

Whoa!!

Thanks for the ride.

Have a safe trip, dragonfly.

Well...

I've searched the whole forest now for a Leptictidium

and I can't find one anywhere.

Maybe they're just not...

Whoa!

Whoa!

Put me down!

Ah!

Urgh!

I think she finally realised that I'm not dinner.

Thanks for that.

Although, just to be sure, I might make myself a bit bigger.

Not too big, though.

I don't want to scare her off.

Size of a Leptictidium.

There, that's better.

Now I can follow her,

without being eaten.

Hey, wait for me!

Well, she didn't lead me to a fig tree,

but look what she has led me to.

It's her family!

And it looks like she's teaching them how to hunt,

using that incredible, amazing, super-sensitive nose of hers.

She's allowing her babies to smell the insects that she's caught.

By doing that, she's showing them what's good to eat

and what's not good to eat.

Although, I think they still need a bit of a practise.

DEEP RUMBLING

What was that?

MORE RUMBLING

It's a Gastornis!

A giant bird that loves eating tiny mammals like Leptictidiums.

And like me!

RUMBLING BIRD CALL

Run! Quickly!

GASTORNIS CALLS

Oh!

That was a close call.

And look!

I'm under a fig tree.

Now, all I have to do is find a fig to replace the one that I made.

Oh, but I can't see any up there.

Maybe there's a few down here, underneath the leaves.

And I know exactly who can help me search.

Leptictidiums!

Come on, the coast is clear! Out you come.

They can use their amazing noses to unearth some lovely figs for me.

Oh, they're having a good sniff around.

Hang on.

Have you found something?

Oh, yes!

Prehistoric figs!

Oh, thank you, Mum.

Oh, well, that's far too big to fit in this backpack.

I know.

Back to normal size.

Great.

I'll just pop this in here.

CLOCK CHIMES

The clock.

I've got just enough time.

Uh-oh.

What is that?

It's an Ambulocetus.

An ancient relative to the whale...

and a dangerous predator.

Oh, no!

I've got to get back to the clock.

How am I going to get round him?

My backpack.

It's always full of useful things.

Candle?

An elastic-band ball?

AMBULOCETUS GROWLS

A ukulele?

None of these things are going to help me.

Unless...

It's got to be worth a try.

# Go to sleep, Ambulocetus

# Sweet dreams, sweet dreams

# Please don't eat me. #

It's working.

Yes!

TWIG SNAPS

AMBULOCETUS GROWLS

Time to head back!

CLOCK CHIMES

Quick, Mrs Pickles!

-Jen, I've got the fig!

-Oh, brilliant.

Quick, Mrs Pickles is on her way.

Good morning, you two.

Morning, Mrs Pickles.

So, what do you think?

Oh, yes, this is wonderful work.

I see you've even included some of the Leptictidium's favourite foods.

That prehistoric fig looks particularly realistic.

In fact, it looks so good it's making me hungry.

I think I'll go and get some breakfast.

See you later.

And I think I'll go and get last night's dinner.

Shh.

See you next time.

# One... Two... Three... Four

# Andy's Prehistoric Adventures

# Andy's Prehistoric Adventures. #