0:00:02 > 0:00:04This is...Deadly 360.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07The show that pits three of the world's deadliest predators
0:00:07 > 0:00:09against their prey.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Examining both their hunting strategies
0:00:13 > 0:00:17and their escape tactics from every angle.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19By delving beneath the fur and the feathers
0:00:19 > 0:00:22we find out why a hunt succeeds...
0:00:23 > 0:00:27..and why they sometimes fail. One thing's certain...
0:00:27 > 0:00:31prey animals are anything but sitting ducks.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Their defensive strategies keep them alive.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40And push predators to the limits.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Prepare for Deadly 360.
0:00:44 > 0:00:49This is Deadly 360 Mission Control...
0:00:49 > 0:00:51where all of today's action and analysis takes place.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56From here, we have access to some of the most enthralling hunts
0:00:56 > 0:00:59that have ever been caught on camera.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02I've recreated three of the most exciting and analysed them
0:01:02 > 0:01:04from a variety of angles and perspectives
0:01:04 > 0:01:06in true 360-degree style.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11The predators we're looking at have to find and catch food
0:01:11 > 0:01:13or they just won't make it. In the wild world,
0:01:13 > 0:01:17simply managing to survive is the greatest challenge of all.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18I present to you...
0:01:18 > 0:01:20the lizards.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22In today's line-up...
0:01:24 > 0:01:27..we'll be looking at the world's largest lizard,
0:01:27 > 0:01:29capable of hunting prey ten times its size.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31It's the Komodo dragon.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35We'll also be entering the tokay gecko's upside-down world.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37A gravity-defying lizard.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41And the Jackson's chameleon.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44An arboreal assassin armed with a hidden weapon.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47With a range of hunting techniques,
0:01:47 > 0:01:51lizards are truly formidable reptiles.
0:01:51 > 0:01:52They look invincible
0:01:52 > 0:01:55but there's a continual arms race going on in nature,
0:01:55 > 0:02:00which ensures that prey animals are always evolving spectacular ways
0:02:00 > 0:02:01of taking care of themselves.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07We'll see how the praying mantis goes about evading capture.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08Well, if we can find it.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12And we'll find out whether size really does count
0:02:12 > 0:02:14with the water buffalo.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16One tonne of moody muscle.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19And finally the moth,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22an evasive insect in night flight.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26Three different prey, each with a novel way to escape their stalkers.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32So I've introduced you to all of our contenders,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35now it's time to meet our first deadly duo going head to head.
0:02:37 > 0:02:38This is the Jackson's chameleon.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41A hidden hunter with many secret skills.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44And up against it is this.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47It's a master of disguise, the praying mantis.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51But which animal has the edge in the race for life?
0:02:51 > 0:02:53It's time to go Deadly 360.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01This is the final stage of the hunt.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03The chameleon has spotted the praying mantis' movements
0:03:03 > 0:03:07and has locked on with his rotating eyes.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11The mantis has some of the best vision in the insect world.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13The question is, can it escape in time?
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Well, based on size alone,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18you'd have to say it looks like the prey is done for.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22But don't give up hope just yet. It's very rarely as simple as that.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Let's rewind to the start of the hunt and begin our investigation.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31The first battle takes place here in East Africa.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35And more specifically, a forest on Mount Kenya.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38It's a shady place,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41providing cover for our chameleon as he prowls in search of insects.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48But the insects' camouflage makes them thoroughly hard to find.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50So, that's our location.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53But what sort of attributes do our predator and prey have,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56that will give them an advantage in this kind of environment?
0:03:57 > 0:04:00With unique, twisting eyes,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03the chameleon's first capability is its vision.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08And it avoids being spotted with superb stalking skills.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13But it has one rather grotesque device - its tongue.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15But more on that later.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20I think it's clear, we're dealing with another well-equipped predator.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23But how's our prey going to try and neutralise the threat?
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Like the chameleon,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29the praying mantis uses eyesight to catch its prey
0:04:29 > 0:04:31and look out for danger.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Add to this, crafty camouflage...
0:04:34 > 0:04:36and the gift of flight
0:04:36 > 0:04:40and the praying mantis stands every chance of survival.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Right, back to the hunt.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45And the first thing the chameleon has to do
0:04:45 > 0:04:49is get to where the mantis lives - high up in the forest canopy.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51This could be quite tricky,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55so how does the chameleon make tree-climbing look so easy?
0:04:55 > 0:04:59It does this with a combination of its very specialised tail and feet.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Let's get a look at the feet first.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06So you can see that, at the front, it has three toes pointing in
0:05:06 > 0:05:11and two toes pointing out. And at the back, this is exactly reversed.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15This makes grasping onto tiny twigs and branches an absolute doddle.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20The chameleon's slow, swaying movement
0:05:20 > 0:05:24means he can stalk into striking distance completely unnoticed.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29This means he can concentrate on looking for food with those flexible eyes.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Chameleons can see nearly 360 degrees
0:05:31 > 0:05:34whilst standing perfectly still.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35By not moving their body,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38they're far less likely to get spotted by their prey.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43And for its size, it has some of the best vision in the vertebrate world.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47The chameleon can't see all 360 degrees at once, though.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51It needs to move those eyes around independently
0:05:51 > 0:05:53until it finds its prey.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Then it'll lock both eyes onto its target
0:05:55 > 0:05:58and orientate its head towards the potential meal.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Now, this is the really clever bit.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02It can actually zoom in on its target
0:06:02 > 0:06:04and bring it into sharp focus.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09But the best way to explain the chameleon's hunting ability
0:06:09 > 0:06:11is to see it in action.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14This is a male Oustalet's chameleon, they come from Madagascar.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18It's standing absolutely motionless.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21The only part of its body that's moving at all is the eyes.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Just moving around, checking out its environment.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25You can see, if you look at them close up,
0:06:25 > 0:06:29the iris is continually moving, clenching and opening up
0:06:29 > 0:06:32to allow differing amounts of light into the eye
0:06:32 > 0:06:34and also to change where it's focusing on.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36Once the chameleon's locked onto its target,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39both eyes will swivel round and focus on it
0:06:39 > 0:06:41and this is what happens next.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Here he goes, both eyes, and...
0:06:50 > 0:06:55How quick was that? Absolutely extraordinary!
0:06:55 > 0:06:58All over and done with 20 times faster than we can blink.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01So fast, in fact, that you can barely take it in.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03So let's see it slowed down.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11Oh, that is just wonderful. I could watch that all day long.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14But to truly understand what's going on,
0:07:14 > 0:07:16let's delve beneath the scaly skin.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18That tongue is a muscular tube,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21concertinaed around a rod of cartilage.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24The chameleon checks the distance
0:07:24 > 0:07:29before muscles explode into action, launching the tongue forward.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Chameleons produce two types of saliva,
0:07:31 > 0:07:34one normal and the other very sticky,
0:07:34 > 0:07:38which it uses to coat the ridged pad on the end of the tongue.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43As the tongue hits, it covers the target in sticky saliva
0:07:43 > 0:07:46and the ridged pad curls round it and grips it.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49The tongue then recoils like a rubber band.
0:07:49 > 0:07:50Right, back to the hunt.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54And whilst the chameleon's busy searching for his meal,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57let's see how the praying mantis avoids becoming lizard lunch.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00The praying mantis can spot the movement of a potential threat
0:08:00 > 0:08:05from 15 metres away, much further than the chameleon can spot IT.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08If it senses danger, it can do one of two things.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12Number one - some species of mantis are able to fly.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17Once they can take to the air, obviously, the chameleon has no chance of catching them.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21But the second thing that every species of praying mantis can do
0:08:21 > 0:08:25is just to sit still and blend into their environment.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Which is what the perfectly camouflaged mantis is doing.
0:08:30 > 0:08:35And remember, the chameleon needs movement in order to spot its meal
0:08:35 > 0:08:37and will slowly but surely walk on by
0:08:37 > 0:08:41so long as the mantis doesn't break its crafty cover.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45And you can see that camouflage in glorious effect right here.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49Some green leaves and a very real praying mantis.
0:08:49 > 0:08:55At the moment, the abdomen is up high and the head is just here.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59You can see those two sensitive antennae sticking out to the side.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02But it's the shape of the head that I think is most interesting.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07It's a very neat triangle and with massive, massive compound eyes.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11A tiny little neck behind it which can swivel pretty much 180 degrees
0:09:11 > 0:09:14and gives this animal an extraordinary field of vision.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17In between the two main compound eyes
0:09:17 > 0:09:20are three, small, simple eyes called ocelli.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23They're fantastic at discerning the difference between light and dark,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27which is very, very useful if you're looking out for predators coming from above.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30They're also very good at telling movement.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32So you'll quite often see this animal
0:09:32 > 0:09:34as it's moving towards its prey,
0:09:34 > 0:09:37just swaying its whole body so that it can triangulate
0:09:37 > 0:09:39all of the various senses on potential food.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42And I'm really hoping to show you that now.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44OK, he's moving downwards
0:09:44 > 0:09:52but let's see if introducing a prey item can catch its attention.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54He's just reaching out towards it.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57Oh, my goodness! That was quick!
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Look at that!
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Just snatched out with those raptorial forearms,
0:10:02 > 0:10:03snatched a hold of it
0:10:03 > 0:10:08and is already starting to eat it with those fierce mouthparts.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11There's no doubt that the mantis is a superb hunter,
0:10:11 > 0:10:15but, today, it's being hunted.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Right, this is the last part of the hunt.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22The mantis has seen something
0:10:22 > 0:10:25but it's not the prowling Jackson's chameleon.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28It's a meal. An impressive strike,
0:10:28 > 0:10:32but that movement has just blown its camouflage cover.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35The sharp-shooting chameleon locks on to the mantis
0:10:35 > 0:10:36and calculates the distance.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41But it's too far away, it needs to get closer.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43The mantis is so busy eating,
0:10:43 > 0:10:47it's completely unaware of the danger stealthily creeping up on it.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50At the last minute, the mantis spots the chameleon.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53But there's no time to fly away.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57In just 1/15th of a second, it's all over for the mantis.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59The chameleon's elastic tongue has done its job.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Jackson's chameleons are remarkably efficient hunters.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12In fact, once they've unleashed that tongue,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15they're successful in 85% of hunts.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20The mantis was defeated despite its vision, its camouflage
0:11:20 > 0:11:24and the fact it can fly. The chameleon's stealthy walk,
0:11:24 > 0:11:26unbeatable eyesight
0:11:26 > 0:11:31and sticky tongue all came together for a successful hunt.
0:11:32 > 0:11:37Now on to our next pair of hunters locked in a battle for survival.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41Armed with sheer size and bite - it's the Komodo dragon.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45And up against it is this.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48The mighty, moody, water buffalo.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51But which has the edge in the race for life?
0:11:51 > 0:11:53It's time to go Deadly 360.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00We join the action at the critical moment in the hunt.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04The Komodo dragon hasn't had a proper meal for over a month.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08And that mouth has some truly frightening teeth.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10However, weighing in at over a tonne,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13the water buffalo is ten times its size
0:12:13 > 0:12:15and comes well armed to defend itself.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Each horn is one and a half metres long
0:12:18 > 0:12:19and could easily kill the dragon.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23But driven by hunger, the Komodo dragon has no option
0:12:23 > 0:12:27but to risk trying to tackle this huge animal,
0:12:27 > 0:12:30despite the water buffalo's vast weight advantage.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34But even in a hunt like this, there are still a lot of factors in play
0:12:34 > 0:12:38and to find out why the hunter succeeds or fails,
0:12:38 > 0:12:42we need to wind back and build up the entire hunt,
0:12:42 > 0:12:43right from the beginning.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48So where in the world do they go head to head?
0:12:48 > 0:12:52Well, this is Indonesia, and, more specifically, Komodo Island,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55where these giant lizards get their name.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Komodo and just a few islands around it
0:12:58 > 0:13:00are the only place in the world
0:13:00 > 0:13:03where you can find these real-life dragons.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07Trapped here and with no natural predators or competition for food,
0:13:07 > 0:13:09the Komodos have grown to massive proportions.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13And being big means they can take on huge prey.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20So, that's the arena for our gladiatorial contest.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25What weapons and defences do the two animals doing battle have?
0:13:26 > 0:13:29First up, the Komodo dragon's claws.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33They help grip their prey when tearing chunks off it with their second deadly weapon.
0:13:33 > 0:13:4060 sharp, serrated teeth that saw through flesh with ease.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43And the dragon's most important weapon - spit.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45But more on that in a bit.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48All of that makes our predator a pretty scary prospect.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51What does our prey have to counter?
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Well, those huge curved horns
0:13:54 > 0:13:58are certainly enough to damage anything that tries to attack.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00And weighing in at over a tonne,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03this muscular beast has a massive size advantage.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07And they can also hit speeds of over 30 miles an hour,
0:14:07 > 0:14:08much faster than a Komodo.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Which means they're certainly no pushover.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14So, this is shaping up to be a superb contest,
0:14:14 > 0:14:17let's get straight back to the action.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20The hungry Komodo is miles away from the water buffalo
0:14:20 > 0:14:23and certainly can't see it, but he knows he's hot on its trail.
0:14:23 > 0:14:28So how does that work? Well, it uses this.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Its half-metre-long tongue.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33You can see the dragon's head is already very low to the ground
0:14:33 > 0:14:36but it's flicking out that long, forked tongue
0:14:36 > 0:14:38right down into the leaf litter,
0:14:38 > 0:14:42trying to pick up the chemical cues that have been left behind by its prey.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45This is almost like smell and taste but it's subtly different
0:14:45 > 0:14:48and it's called olfaction.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51It uses a remarkable organ called the Jacobson's organ.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54You can see that the tongue goes out relatively slowly
0:14:54 > 0:14:56but it comes back really quickly,
0:14:56 > 0:14:59with the forked ends of the tongue curled up slightly,
0:14:59 > 0:15:03carrying as much scent back with them as they can possibly gather.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06These smells are then pressed into pads inside the Jacobson's organ
0:15:06 > 0:15:11and then the scent cues are carried back to the brain for it to process.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15Depending on which side the most strong scents have come from,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18the Komodo can move in the direction of its potential meal.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21The water buffalo's scent is getting stronger
0:15:21 > 0:15:23but it's still a couple of miles away.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Driven by severe hunger, the Komodo has to keep on walking.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30It has a typical reptilian gait
0:15:30 > 0:15:35but holds its body well off the floor when walking large distances.
0:15:35 > 0:15:40But it's certainly not going to win the title of the fastest animal on earth.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42In fact, when it's wandering like this,
0:15:42 > 0:15:46it's probably going at about the same speed as a human does when it's walking.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50In fact, it's going to take it quite a long time to even reach the buffalo.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52But that gives us a perfect opportunity
0:15:52 > 0:15:56to find out what the water buffalo has in its armoury.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01I guess the cow family has a reputation for being slow moving,
0:16:01 > 0:16:05perhaps a bit dopey, certainly not aggressive.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09Well, that definitely isn't true of a wild water buffalo.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13This is a massive animal, they can weigh well over a tonne
0:16:13 > 0:16:15and look at the size of those horns.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20The record length for each horn was almost two metres.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23That's longer than I am tall.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27This animal is capable of using those to great effect to defend itself.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31This is certainly an animal that shouldn't be taken lightly.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Let's see how the Komodo dragon will deal with them.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40The Komodo dragon now has a visual on its target
0:16:40 > 0:16:45and the buffalo's strong scent has stimulated an interesting reaction.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Just look at its mouth, it's absolutely dripping with saliva.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51Many animals, including us humans,
0:16:51 > 0:16:54start producing saliva when we know there's a meal coming,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57because there are proteins called enzymes in it
0:16:57 > 0:16:58that help break down food.
0:16:58 > 0:17:03But in Komodo dragons, this saliva has a few more special ingredients -
0:17:03 > 0:17:07over 50 strains of deadly bacteria.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09These are crucial for its hunt to work
0:17:09 > 0:17:13so saliva production goes into overdrive and it starts dribbling.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21But that lethal saliva is no use whatsoever,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24unless it can be introduced to the prey's bloodstream
0:17:24 > 0:17:27and to do that, it's got to make a hole in it.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29So how does it go about doing that?
0:17:29 > 0:17:34I vividly remember the first time I ever saw a Komodo dragon up close.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37I can remember looking at it from no more than a few metres away
0:17:37 > 0:17:41and it opening its mouth and then feeling very, very silly
0:17:41 > 0:17:44that I'd allowed myself get that close
0:17:44 > 0:17:46to such a spectacular set of teeth.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48There's about 60 inside the jaw
0:17:48 > 0:17:51and they are the equal of any shark's tooth.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Each one is viciously sharp and serrated and curves backwards.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57They're fantastic at tearing and ripping chunks of flesh
0:17:57 > 0:17:59but not very good at chewing,
0:17:59 > 0:18:04so it has to take massive gulps down of every bite it's taken.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09The Komodo also has another very special tool at its disposal.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Inside its mouth is a saliva that contains a mild venom.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15When the Komodo bites another animal,
0:18:15 > 0:18:18this venom prevents their blood from clotting.
0:18:18 > 0:18:23And that allows the virulent bacteria that live inside the Komodo's mouth to go to work.
0:18:23 > 0:18:28This means that even the smallest of bites could eventually become fatal,
0:18:28 > 0:18:30so our water buffalo has to make sure
0:18:30 > 0:18:33it doesn't allow the Komodo to land any bite whatsoever.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Right, we're in the last stages of the hunt.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42The water buffalo can clearly see the dragon
0:18:42 > 0:18:45but it's choosing not to run.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49Perhaps it's overconfident due to its massive size advantage.
0:18:49 > 0:18:55But underestimating the largest venomous animal in the world
0:18:55 > 0:18:57could be a fatal mistake.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06To avoid the buffalo's horns,
0:19:06 > 0:19:11the Komodo sneaks round the back to try and attack from behind.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Horns now avoided, but those hooves too could kill
0:19:15 > 0:19:17if the buffalo lands a kick to the head.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21The Komodo just needs the water buffalo to drop its guard
0:19:21 > 0:19:22for a split second.
0:19:24 > 0:19:25It's closing in.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31And with a final burst of speed,
0:19:31 > 0:19:35the Komodo lands a bite onto the buffalo's ankle.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37It might look just like a small flesh wound
0:19:37 > 0:19:40but, in time, that little bite will kill it.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42The venom stops the wound healing,
0:19:42 > 0:19:46and the bacteria will eventually cause blood poisoning.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48But it could take weeks for the buffalo to die,
0:19:48 > 0:19:52so the Komodo will just have to follow it until that happens.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55The Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on earth,
0:19:55 > 0:19:59kills with a mighty, venomous, bacteria-laden bite.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03But, for this time at least, it's going to have to wait for its meal.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07The buffalo had huge defensive horns
0:20:07 > 0:20:11and a size advantage, but didn't use its superior speed.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14The Komodo's sense of smell,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17together with a swift burst of pace,
0:20:17 > 0:20:19and teeth covered in toxic saliva
0:20:19 > 0:20:22meant it landed that all-important bite.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29This is our last deadly duo locked in a battle for life or death.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32This is the tokay gecko -
0:20:32 > 0:20:35a gravity-defying ninja of the reptile world.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37And up against it is this -
0:20:37 > 0:20:40an agile, acrobatic moth.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44But which animal has the edge in the race for survival?
0:20:44 > 0:20:47It's time to go 360.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52We join the action at the crucial moment.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56The gecko is hunting down a juicy moth
0:20:56 > 0:20:58but the gecko can't fly
0:20:58 > 0:21:01and it doesn't have a massive tongue like the chameleon,
0:21:01 > 0:21:05so it relies on fast reactions and patience for an ambush attack.
0:21:05 > 0:21:10Any second now, the moth is going to have to land and, when it does,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13it better hope the gecko isn't within striking distance.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17So, if we freeze the action at this crucial moment,
0:21:17 > 0:21:19who do the odds favour - the predator or the prey?
0:21:19 > 0:21:23Well, to find out, let's take it back to the start
0:21:23 > 0:21:26and build up the entire hunt, right from the beginning.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33We're heading to Thailand for the final hunt.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37And, more specifically, a busy restaurant in Bangkok.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41Tokay geckos are predators in the wild forests of southeast Asia
0:21:41 > 0:21:46but have adapted their hunting to take full advantage of urban havens.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Towns and cities provide shelter and, most importantly,
0:21:49 > 0:21:53a steady supply of the gecko's favourite food, moths.
0:21:57 > 0:21:58So, we've set the scene.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01But how do these animals operate in this environment
0:22:01 > 0:22:04and what attributes do they have, in particular,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07that might tip the balance in their favour?
0:22:09 > 0:22:12The tokay gecko is a truly impressive lizard.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14It can stick to almost any surface.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17It also has some of the best night-vision
0:22:17 > 0:22:19found in the reptile world
0:22:19 > 0:22:23and, add to that, loads of needle-like teeth to catch its prey,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25and you've got one awesome predator.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28An impressive line-up of hunting skills.
0:22:28 > 0:22:29But, as ever on Deadly 360,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33our prey animal is armed with some pretty impressive means of defence.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37They might seem pretty instantly vulnerable
0:22:37 > 0:22:40but moths have great vision,
0:22:40 > 0:22:44superb senses and flight muscles to avoid danger.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Right, back to the hunt.
0:22:48 > 0:22:49The moth is unaware
0:22:49 > 0:22:53that a deadly night stalker is trying to hunt it down.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57The key to the gecko's hunting strategy is stealth and timing
0:22:57 > 0:22:59to ambush the insects it eats.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01But when the moth is flying,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04it's perfectly safe from the gecko's attack.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07But sooner or later, the confused moth is going to land
0:23:07 > 0:23:11and when it does, the gecko needs to be right beside it.
0:23:13 > 0:23:14But there's one sizable problem.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17To get to where the moths are likely to land,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20the gecko needs to traverse its way up vertical walls,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23which are kind of like cliff faces and overhangs,
0:23:23 > 0:23:25so how on earth is it going to do that?
0:23:25 > 0:23:29The gecko is one of the finest climbers of all animals,
0:23:29 > 0:23:34and you can see it here in an absolutely superb threat posture.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Look at it arching its back, opening its mouth.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39It really is putting on a big show
0:23:39 > 0:23:43but it's also showing you why it's such a spectacular climber.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46In a truly wild environment, they live in the trees,
0:23:46 > 0:23:50and at the end of every single one of these toes is a curved claw,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53which is easily enough to hang onto the imperfections in bark.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57But on a very smooth surface like this, that's simply not enough.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59To understand how that works,
0:23:59 > 0:24:02you have to look at the toes under an electron microscope.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05If you were to zoom in using a microscope to each one of those toes,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08you'd find a whole bunch of plates called lamellae.
0:24:08 > 0:24:09Go in even further
0:24:09 > 0:24:13and you find hundreds of thousands of hairs, called setae.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16Even further, and you find spatulate structures,
0:24:16 > 0:24:20of which there are about half a million on each foot.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23By engaging those, it can cling to the slipperiest of surfaces,
0:24:23 > 0:24:25even by just a single toe.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27And you can see that as the gecko walks,
0:24:27 > 0:24:31it has to unpeel each and every toe off the surface
0:24:31 > 0:24:34because it has such a firm bond to it.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Let's see how all of that is put into effect.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39'Those grippy feet are like Velcro,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41'sticking to anything in its path
0:24:41 > 0:24:44'as it closes down the distance to the moth.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48'And check that out. 'It can even leap large gaps
0:24:48 > 0:24:52'and cling on with its entire body weight hanging off a single toe.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56'It's thought if every one of those microscopic hairs were touching the surface,
0:24:56 > 0:25:01'a gecko could hold on with 133 kilograms off its back.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03'That's like me hanging upside down
0:25:03 > 0:25:06'with eight elephants dangling off me!
0:25:06 > 0:25:08'The gecko's in position.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12'All it can do now is sit and wait for a chance to strike.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15'Geckos can see perfectly in dim moonlight,
0:25:15 > 0:25:19'so this bright light bulb makes things easy.'
0:25:19 > 0:25:23But as the predator has such outstanding night vision,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26how on earth is the moth going to avoid being eaten?
0:25:27 > 0:25:30So, a moth has pretty good eyesight,
0:25:30 > 0:25:33but really what it's going to be relying on is its flight.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36And the flight of moths is extraordinary.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38These wings are actually transparent.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40They almost look like cling film
0:25:40 > 0:25:42but they're covered in loads of tiny scales,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45dust-like scales which give them their colouration.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48It does mean that the wing is very, very lightweight
0:25:48 > 0:25:51but it's broad and can drive the animal along at great speed.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56If this animal's in the air, the gecko is going to stand no chance.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Let's see how the battle continues.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04'So this is the last stage of the hunt.
0:26:04 > 0:26:05'The moth may have super-light wings
0:26:05 > 0:26:09and well-developed flight muscles to keep away from the gecko,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11'but that light bulb is now its biggest enemy.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15'It's thought that moths use the moon to help them navigate,
0:26:15 > 0:26:17'and the light bulb confuses them.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19'The moth is now getting tired.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21'The gecko on the other hand has learnt
0:26:21 > 0:26:24'that instead of moving around to catch its food,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28'if it sits in wait by a light, the meal will come to it.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32'The moth lands for only a short time to rest.
0:26:32 > 0:26:33'And...
0:26:34 > 0:26:36'BANG!
0:26:37 > 0:26:40'The gecko snaps up its reward.'
0:26:40 > 0:26:44That was so quick, I think we should see it again.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51There you go. All over in a tenth of a second!
0:26:51 > 0:26:54A large gecko is going to need to eat more than one moth
0:26:54 > 0:26:57in a night to satisfy its appetite. Perhaps most interesting, though,
0:26:57 > 0:27:00is that these animals have learnt to use us
0:27:00 > 0:27:04and our artificial light sources to entice their prey to come to them.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07'The moth had fantastic senses,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10'potent flight muscles and efficient wings,
0:27:10 > 0:27:15'but confused by the light, it got tired and landed by its enemy.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18'So the gecko, with its superb vision,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21'gravity-defying grip, 'and ambush attack
0:27:21 > 0:27:23'emerged victorious this time.'
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Our analysis of the hunting abilities of lizards
0:27:30 > 0:27:32has taken us all over the world.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34It's shown us the largest lizard that exists today
0:27:34 > 0:27:36and two more modestly-sized lizards
0:27:36 > 0:27:40that have hunting capabilities well beyond their size.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43I think, really, they have to qualify as animal superheroes!
0:27:43 > 0:27:46That's all we've got time for.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Join us next time as three more pairs of animals go head to head
0:27:49 > 0:27:52and we analyse the action, Deadly 360-style.