Freak Out Barney's Latin America

Hold on, mes amigos!

Bienvenidos!

Arriba, arriba! It's show time.

Let me introduce you to a crazy carnival of creatures,

from fabulously freaky frogs to hollering howler monkeys

to manic, meat-eating plants.

Es magnifico! And, what's more, they're all connected to each other

in this wonderful world of wildlife by funny, fabulous, fantastic facts.

-ALL: Get on with it!

-Oh, sorry.

Tres, dos, uno! Es la hora...

Just looking around you, you get to see

that the world is full of many weird and wonderful things.

-Wouldn't you agree, Barney?

-Yeah, I would agree.

We're in Latin America and you have with blue nail polish on!

Um, excuse me! I think you'll find it brings out the blue of my eyes.

-Really?

-Anyway, you can talk!

What's with those ridiculous sunglasses?

I think you'll find these are what's known as funky sunglasses. Yes,

everyone wears them here. I think you might need some,

-stop that weird thing you do with your eyes.

-Hey!

How can you say I'm weird, when you're sat there,

like a freak, with your feet in a bowl of jelly and custard?!

Well, what can I say?

My feet were a trifle hot!

I think it's set.

-Freak!

-Whatever, it worked, didn't it? My feet are nice and cold.

Anyway, today's show isn't about us freaky weirdos.

Speak for yourself!

-It does link quite nicely to today's theme.

-Ah, yes.

From the ugliest frog...

Ew!

..to a unique freak marsupial...

..to an inflatable bird.

Latin America's got the lot.

So, without further ado, let's open the freak factory!

-I need to get out of here. Could you give me a hand, please?

-Urgh!

And what better way to open the freak show

than with a crazy critter who certainly knows

how to make an impression.

Ha! "Nose" how to make an impression.

I see what you've done there. Check out that hooter.

Yeah, and he's very proud of it too,

because this is the sword-billed hummingbird

who unsurprisingly has a bill like a sword.

-Do they fight with it?

-No, this sword isn't for swishing about.

It's for eating with, or rather drinking with -

like a straw.

The beak of the sword-billed hummingbird

can be over ten centimetres long,

which is four times longer than its body.

That's like me having a mini bus for a nose.

-He-he!

-Exactly.

It's the only species of bird to have a beak

longer than the rest of its body.

-Why do they need a nose that long?

-You mean a beak?

-Yeah.

-Ah, Professor Piranha has the answer.

Hummingbirds feed on nectar, a sugary syrup made by flowers.

The sword-billed hummingbird can reach into the bottom

of the longest flowers that other hummingbirds aren't able to.

So he will always have a meal to himself.

Thanks, Professor. But in order to feed on this nectar

they don't only need a really long beak,

they also need a really long tongue to lap it up.

Wow! That is me being really fast.

Hummingbirds can take up to 12 slurps a second.

It allows them to get enough energy

to keep those wings moving so quick and to keep them warm.

That is freaky, but fast.

There is one drawback with having such a long beak though.

-What's that?

-Most birds use their beak to clean their feathers,

but this bird has to groom itself with one foot

-whilst hanging on to its perch with the other.

-Looks wobbly.

-Do you know why hummingbirds hum?

-Something to do with their wings?

No, it's because they don't know the words.

Ugh! Very funny(!)

What better way to start the show than with a freaky,

feathered nasal humdinger.

So, what's next?

Well, how about a view like this?

Amazing, isn't it?

You can't beat the beautiful scenery of termite mounds standing proud.

Cor, listen to us getting all arty-farty about some lumps of mud.

But these weird lumps of mud are the perfect picnic spot...

..for out next freak.

Hey! Hey! Hey! What does he think he's doing?

This is the anteater, he is a freaky muncher.

To him, a termite mound is basically a mud-covered lunch box.

Oi, you nasty home wrecker.

Just like a bully on the beach destroying everyone's sandcastles.

Leave the termites alone.

Yeah, yo, yo, yo, listen to the lady, wise guy.

Yum, yum, yum, very tasty.

It's all in a day's work for the anteater.

He's got three long claws on each foot

which are perfectly adapted for this demolition work

-so he can get his nosh.

-How does he eat with that mouth?

His funny-shaped mouth is home to a funny-shaped tongue.

It's like roll of double-sided sticky tape.

It is perfect for poking into the mounds

and mopping up lots of termites.

SCREAMING

-Up to 35,000 a day.

-A very freaky, but useful tongue, then.

Yeah, and its weirdness doesn't stop there.

Its not got any teeth so uses hard growths

inside its mouth to bite the mites.

It even walks in a freaky way too.

On its knuckles just like a gorilla.

IMPERSONATES GORILLA

Yeah, something like that.

It walks awkwardly to protect those long claws on each foot.

They are key to its survival.

This show is getting freakier by the minute.

Mr Anteater, welcome to the freak parade.

But what's the connection?

The termite-munching, gorilla-trotting anteater

and the super-long sword-billed hummingbird

both have freaky long noses.

-What are you doing?

-I'm eating banana and bonding

with the howler monkey. Look how cute he is.

Yeah, which is why he's not supposed to be on this show.

-But he's so cute.

-Put him down.

We're looking for freaky things, remember.

Oh, yeah. Freaky things. I forgot about that, sorry.

How's about this, then?

Er, what is that?

This is the hoatzin bird.

You find it around the swamps and mangrove areas of the Amazon.

No, I think you'll find it's a scruffy little rag

with freaky hooks on the end of its wings.

Yes, but it has these baby dinosaur-like claws

to help it cling on to the branches and move through the trees safely.

The local people even have a freaky nickname for this bird.

What's that? Ugly, claw-y wing thing?

Actually, it looks more like a Cedric.

-They call it the stink bird.

-Hmm, I wonder why?

The hoatzin bird is a total vegetarian

and thanks to the way its stomach ferments its diet,

the bird releases a rather pungent odour.

Excuse me.

Similar to the smell of cow poo.

Nice(!)

Not to the locals, who avoid it just like lots of predators,

except the capuchin monkey.

I love a smelly bird, I do.

The hoatzin chick has another trick up its feathery sleeve.

If its in danger of attack,

it jumps out of the tree and into the water below.

Arggh!

That wasn't clever, it's going to drown.

Don't worry, it uses those freaky extra claws to climb back up again.

Ta-daaa!

Oh, I see. Quite clever then, really.

But claws on wings, still freaky.

By the time it reaches adulthood, the claws are gone.

But that still doesn't make it very good at flying.

It will only fly short distances.

Haha! That's got to hurt.

So, the baby hoatzin makes the most of its extra claws

climbing everything in sight, occasionally letting go.

And sneaking out past Mum to play with his mates.

Here we go. Steady. She doesn't see me.

Nearly there, boys. Nearly there.

-Oh, Mum!

-Looks like he's grounded.

You might want to sit tight, mate.

The smelly old hoatzin and the large-nosed anteater

are connected cos they both have handy, but utterly freaky claws.

Up next, a right little monkey.

-You like all creatures great and small, don't you?

-Yes.

-Just like you.

-Eh?

-Well, you're great.

-Why, thank you very much.

And...you're small.

-I'll ignore that.

-Oi, don't get SHORT with me.

Allow me to introduce to you a mini marvel.

That's not funny either before...

-Er, where is it?

-You've got to look really hard to find it.

-There you go. How about that?

-Way-hey! It's a monkey!

It's a mini monkey.

This is the pygmy marmoset, which never grows up.

It's the smallest monkey in the world.

-How small are we talking?

-Hold your hand out.

-That small.

-Wow! That is small.

-I know.

At just 16 centimetres high, it can even fit in my pocket.

Well, nearly.

So it's a pocket primate and a teeny tiny record breaker.

But it's certainly not a branch breaker.

It's so small, it's as light as a feather

so can climb along the thinnest of branches.

Hmm, bit of a lightweight, then.

Unlike most monkeys, these pocket primates have sharp claws

to help them hold on tight to those little twigs.

Aw, look at those itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny little feet.

Something else you've got in common with the pygmy marmoset.

I'll ignore that.

Those feet enable it to creep up on its dinner without it noticing.

Do-do-do, lovely day for a picnic.

Look, that grasshopper hasn't noticed a thing.

-SHE GASPS

-I think he has now!

Where's he gone?

He's a little hungry, so most probably grabbing another snack.

Ah, some monkey nuts, perhaps!

-Uh, no, he's trying to eat that tree.

-Yep,

and it'll never do it, because that bark is bigger than its bite. Ha!

Terrible! Which is exactly how that tree bark must taste.

Oh, no. This tree produces a type of gum

which our pygmy marmoset, rather strangely, loves.

Gooey, gooey gum tree!

Eugh! That is one little freaky eater.

-Yep.

-So he loves gooey gum from the gooey gum tree,

he's got tiny claws on his tiny feet

and you can pop him in your pocket, the little poppet.

-That was a nice rhyme.

-Well, thank you very much.

And he's a freaky record breaker, being the smallest in the world.

Just like you, Barney!

Hee-hee-hee!

So both the marmoset and the hoatzin are both freakazoids

who use their little claws to hang out in trees.

Up next, an underwater miracle magician.

This little freakster is so freaky

it's baffled and boggled many a scientist.

Now, this sounds intriguing.

This is the axolotl.

Looks like a tadpole-y, underwater-y, lizard-y type thingy.

Yep, I think that pretty much sums it up.

The axolotl is a member of the salamander family.

And you will only find him in a few lakes

high above sea level in Mexico.

All right?

They spend their entire lives in water.

You could say they're the Peter Pans of the underwater world.

You mean they wear green tights and have a fairy as their best friend?

No, I mean they never grow up. They actually have stunted growth.

Within a few weeks of being born,

they are fully equipped with all they need.

Ah, hey. What's going on here? It's a party.

Ah, yes, the axolotl's lake is also a very popular boating lake.

Look at them having fun.

Not much fun for Mr Axolotl, though. Lots of boats mean lots of danger.

And this little fellow has had a bit of an argument with one of them.

No, his leg's been chopped off!

Hey, don't worry, Barney. They have powers you could only dream of.

What, you mean like being able to lick your own elbow? How cool!

No, they have the power of regeneration.

Refrigeration, wow, that's very cool.

No, regeneration! Look.

-I'm sorry, do my eyes deceive me?

-Nope!

They have the amazing power to re-grow limbs in just a few months.

They can re-grow body parts just like that? That's incredible!

Hey, Gem, if only axolotl could talk.

Why, so they could tell scientists exactly how they regenerate?

Er, no. It could tell me how it keeps those gills

so nice and pink and fluffy, they're gorgeous!

You're not taking this seriously, are you?

Without those pink, fluffy gills,

it wouldn't be able to breathe in a lake at such high altitude.

-Ah, fluffy but useful.

-Yep.

So the rather extraordinary, limb-growing axolotl

is connected to the pygmy marmoset

because they both have stunted growth.

So, we've had weird claws, half-plucked birds, freaky tongues.

I tell you what, this show is building up to be quite a freakfest.

Yes, but how did we get

from a humdinger of a bird to limb-regenerating lizard?

Well, we started with the sword-billed hummingbird,

so-called because of that rather long beak.

That connected to the anteater

because they both have extremely long tongues.

Ah, yes. And the anteater linked to the little hoatzin bird

thanks to their rather strange-looking claws.

And it was those claws that helped the hoatzin climb trees,

which is exactly what the mini marvel,

the mini marmoset monkey is good at doing.

A very cool little dude indeed

who, just like the axolotl, has stunted growth.

So, there we go. Five freaksters revealed, five more to go.

OK, time to head off to the border of Peru and Bolivia.

-Why?

-To find Lake Titicaca and the Lake Titicaca frog.

Yeah, all right, are you trying to give me nightmares?

Oh, hello.

Cute, isn't he?

Cute? It's fair to say he was at the front of the queue

when they were handing out ugly vouchers.

That's a bit harsh.

Well, he may look a bit odd

due to the extra bit of skin flapping around.

A little bit? His skin's ten times too big for him.

Well, that's for a reason.

Lake Titicaca is not only South America's largest lake,

it's also one of its highest.

-I'm not with you.

-Well, like all frogs, it breathes through its skin.

-OK.

-Now, because its home is at high altitude,

there is very little oxygen in the lake.

Ah, I know what this is. The more skin it has,

the larger the surface area to soak up plenty of oxygen.

You've got it!

Well, that's freaky, but it's clever. Why all the press-ups?

To help the flow of around its body to get more oxygen.

So, without all that skin,

-it simply wouldn't survive in a high-altitude lake?

-Yup.

-And the more skin you have, the more you can eat.

-Er, excuse me?

Oh, yes, you can't beat a bit of wafer-thin Titicaca skin.

He loves it.

Oh, I think I'm turning as green as a frog watching that!

So the freaky, flappy-skinned self-eating Titicaca frog

and the Peter Pan axolotl are connected

because they are both high-altitude breathers and underwater weirdoes.

Next, a rather mixed-up mammal.

(OK, nice and quiet.)

We're venturing off into the still of the night.

Hey, it's dark. I can't see a thing!

Yeah, which is perfect for our next freaky friend.

Time to switch to night vision.

Aw, he's a little cutie.

Yeah, and he loves to swim.

# I'm a little cutie and I love to swim. #

Oh, and catch fish.

Hey, that was good.

"Yeah, I love to catch fish!"

Very cute, but I thought we were looking for freaksters.

Ah, well, this is the yapok.

It lives in the streams of the Amazonian rainforest.

Er, nothing weird about that, Barney. It's rather sweet, in fact.

Ah, but he's very confused.

"I'm very confused."

Aw, what's up with the little fella?

Well, just look at those freaky, froggy front feet for starters.

Hmm, they do look a bit odd.

Yeah, and note the ridiculously silly ducky-webbed back feet.

Ooh, that is very weird.

Barney, I don't think he really knows what he is.

I'll tell you what he is - a unique freak.

"Arriba, arriba!"

He's a cool, unique freak

because he's the only swimming marsupial in the world.

"I'm one of a kind."

Surely he can't decide what he wants to be.

A guinea pig, a frog or a duck!

Or a guinea duck.

Yeah, could be.

But hang on. If you say the yapok is a marsupial,

it must have a pouch like a kangaroo.

Yeah, but the yapok spends a lot of time in the water,

so it has a rear-facing pouch which it can seal to keep watertight

-and protect its babies.

-Very clever, my little weird one.

It uses little ducky feet to speed through the water

and those sensitive froggy front fingers to feel for fish.

"Gotcha!"

However, despite the yapok's aquatic adaptations, bizarrely,

it must close its eyes underwater.

Then perhaps it should keep a mask and snorkel in that pouch.

The good thing is, it can swim around all night

and won't go wrinkly like you or I.

-Its fur is so thick, its skin doesn't even get wet.

-Wow!

A freaky furry wetsuit to go with its back-to-front pouch,

froggy front fingers and ducky-webbed back feet.

And it's those freaky front feet

which connect both the Titicaca frog and the yapok,

despite the yapok rather freakily being a mammal.

And from freaky feet to a rather odd-shaped head.

The waters around Latin America are overflowing

with some totally awesome sights.

"Oh, totally awesome, dude!"

From the eye-poppingly wonderful...

"Excuse me, coming through."

..to the downright weird, they all call this home.

And if it's underwater freakies you want,

check out the hammerhead shark.

Wow, I think you've hit the nail on the head here, Gem.

It's famous for its rather weird-shaped head.

-Yeah, and do you know why he's swimming on his own?

-Why?

He's a LOAN shark.

Very funny(!)

It looks like his head has been stood on.

But that odd shape keeps it ahead of the game when it comes to survival.

Oh, yeah, does it use it to build a nice shark home?

Inside that head, you'll find high-tech equipment

which has crowned it the underwater hide-and-seek champion.

-Take this little goby.

-Nah, I'll leave him, thanks,

-he looks rather happy there.

-Ah, perhaps not for long.

Hammerhead sharks love a little goby or two.

"Oh, no, they don't, do they, man?"

But he'll never find him.

He's so tiny and blends perfectly with the seabed.

"I'm blending in, man."

Which is why the hammerhead has these super-sharky sensors.

That head acts like a metal detector.

Or a goby detector, in this case.

"Oh, you're joking!"

Yup, the underside is lined with thousands of electrical detectors

to pick up the slightest electrical impulses.

Are you telling me that goby's battery-powered?

"Batteries? I'm running on fear, man!"

The goby can stay as still as

it likes, but it still needs to breathe,

and every time it breathes,

it lets out tiny electrical pulses from its gills.

Well, that's not going to help.

"With my funny-shaped head, I will hunt you down!"

"Oh, no, man. I'm going to be a fish supper."

Oh, no. Say goodbye to the goby.

Not so fast.

Time to call in Captain Crab.

"Never fear, for Captain Crab is here!

"Shoo, sharky fella, shoo!"

"Crabsticks."

Whoa, Captain Crab has scared off the hammerhead shark.

Yup, sharky was disturbed and has given up the ghost.

You mean goby.

"Thanks, Captain Crab."

So that rather uniquely-shaped head

-is there for a very important reason.

-Oh, yes.

-It's good to see the nice little goby survived.

-Don't be daft.

Sharky came back later.

"Goby!"

MUNCHING

Ah, well, plenty more fish in the sea.

So the odd-shaped hammerhead shark is connected to the yapok

because they are both one of a kind - unique freaks.

So, our next freaky fur-brain comes from the Amazon Basin.

What? How does it do that? I mean, it would never fit in my basin.

Actually, come to mention it, why does no-one ever talk

about the Amazon Bath or the Amazon Toilet?

No, not that kind of basin.

No, the Amazon Basin is the term given to the massive area of land

drained by the Amazon River.

Oh, I see.

Ah, yes, but can you see what this is?

Ah, you're being cryptic, very arty-farty.

-But I think I know.

-Go on, then.

It's a monkey.

One freaky hairy monkey

which has been bathing in far too much hair tonic.

This is a uakari monkey. They all have that odd long hairy coat.

The freakiness doesn't stop there.

Oh, what's that?! It looks like it's about to explode!

That rather freaky bright-red face is there for a reason.

-Erm, what's that? To make it look totally and utterly ridiculous?

-No,

it shows other monkeys, especially the ladies,

just how fit and healthy he is. The redder, the better.

-He looks more angry than healthy.

-He would be angry if you grabbed

-his fruit and nuts.

-Why?

-The more unripe fruit and nuts he can eat,

the redder the face and the better he looks.

-Ah, I see.

-Brazil nuts are a favourite and,

thanks to some awesomely powerful jaws,

he can crack open the toughest of nuts.

Unlike most monkeys, uakaris have very short tails.

However, it doesn't stop them leaping

over ten metres through the trees - they are totally fearless.

"Woo-hoo!"

"And away!"

Which is a good job when you look like a rather strange hairball

with a freaky bright-red bony baldy head!

Perhaps he shaved it for charity.

So it's simple to see that the funky uakari monkey

shares something pretty obvious in common with the hammerhead shark.

They both have funny freaky faces.

And from freaky faces to freaky feathers.

OK, Barney, time to head off to the Galapagos Islands.

Ah, situated off the north-western edge of South America,

described as the land that time forgot

because of all its weird and wonderful islanders.

Yup, and here's a feathered-freak which is sure to amaze.

OK, so what freak-beak have we got?

Surely all birds are just feathery?

This isn't just any bird.

The frigate bird has a fierce reputation.

Is it a black belt in karate?

Nope.

It simply loves fast food on the wing.

"Just bobbing about on the waves."

Oh, look out!

Oh, a little too late.

-"Oh!"

-That was a sitting duck.

Wrong. That was a tiny storm petrel.

"Oh! Can you not squeeze so hard, Mr Frigate?"

Thanks to a rather weird-looking hook-like beak,

they can simply pluck food from the sea without even dipping a toe in the water.

-What a clever little fella.

-They're not that little.

That wingspan can be up to 2.5 metres.

That's the length of a small car!

And plucking food from the water has its dangers.

If those huge wings hit the water,

it would struggle to flap its way back up into the air

-and probably drown.

-"Oh! That hurts!"

But the freakiest thing is this...

Wow, it's swallowed a whoopee cushion!

No, it's inflated its chin to kind of hypnotise the ladies.

That bright-red chin says...

"Come to me, my lover. You know where it's at.

"Come and get it."

I think it says he's got a sore throat

and should not be thinking about the ladies.

He's in the mood for love.

The males inflate their throat pouches

to make them irresistible to the passing females.

Oh, yeah, look, it's worked! Just like magic.

He's even getting her to tidy up his nest!

Maybe she'll move onto the ironing next.

Now she's using it as a nice soft pillow.

Well, I bet she's tired after doing all of his housework.

That hooky beak and whoopee-cushion chin

certainly make it one freaky frigate.

Yup. And the freaky frigate is connected to the uakari monkey

because they are both funny-coloured redheads.

Well, I'm officially freaked out.

Yeah, I can see that. It's because we have just seen

some of the most freaky animals that Latin America has to offer.

That will be why. How did we start with hummingbirds?

Well, we opened up the freak factory with the sword-billed hummingbird,

which connected to the anteater,

because they both have extremely long tongues.

And the anteater linked to the hoatzin,

thanks to some rather strange-looking claws.

And those claws help the hoatzin climb trees,

and that's exactly what the mini marmoset monkey is great at doing.

Yeah, he's a very cool little monkey dude,

who is connected to the axolotl,

because they both have stunted growth.

What are you looking at me for?

Next it was the rather gross-looking Titicaca frog.

-"Oh, hello."

-Which linked with the axolotl

because they both live at high altitude but underwater.

Yup. Then webbed feet connected the Titicaca frog

with the rather confused-looking yapok.

Confused but cute. And also unique,

which is something it shares in common with the hammerhead shark,

being both unique freaks.

Next up, the uakari linked nicely with the hammerhead

because they both have rather funny-looking heads.

You said it. And finally, the frigate bird

decided it likes the uakari's face so much,

it would have a bright-red neck too.

Which links us back quite neatly from the frigate to the hummingbird,

because they both have freaky beaks.

-What a great show.

-OK, Gem, what freaky animal am I?

Well, you're quite short so are you a yapok?

-No.

-Well, you're very small, so are you an axolotl?

-No!

-Ha-ha!

All right, then, you are a miniature marmoset?

No, Gem! Think about it. What have I got on my head?

Look. Ham.

Ham-on-head.

Ham-on-head.

I'm a ham-on-head. Hammerhead. Hammerhead shark!

I'm a hammerhead! Why do I even bother?

All right, half-pint, don't get short with me!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

Email [email protected]