0:00:02 > 0:00:05This is...Deadly 360, the show that pits three
0:00:05 > 0:00:09of the world's deadliest predators against their prey,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12examining both their hunting strategies
0:00:12 > 0:00:16and their escape tactics from every angle.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20By delving beneath the fur and feathers,
0:00:20 > 0:00:23we find out why a hunt succeeds...
0:00:23 > 0:00:26and why they sometimes fail.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31One thing's certain - prey animals are anything but sitting ducks.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35Their defensive strategies keep them alive...
0:00:36 > 0:00:40..and push predators to the limits.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Prepare for Deadly 360.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48This is Deadly 360 mission control,
0:00:48 > 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 > 0:00:59ever caught on camera.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01I've recreated three of the most exciting
0:01:01 > 0:01:05and analysed them from different angles and perspectives
0:01:05 > 0:01:08in true 360-degree style.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11The predators we're looking at have to find and catch food
0:01:11 > 0:01:12or they just won't make it.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15In the wild world, simply managing to survive
0:01:15 > 0:01:17is the greatest challenge of all.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20I present to you...the snakes.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24In today's deadly line-up, we'll witness the bone-crushing power
0:01:24 > 0:01:28of one of the world's largest snakes - the African rock python.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31We'll uncover the banded sand snake's remarkable method
0:01:31 > 0:01:33for sneaking up on prey
0:01:33 > 0:01:37and we'll get right in the firing line of the highly venomous
0:01:37 > 0:01:38puff adder.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42They look invincible, but there's a continual arms race going on
0:01:42 > 0:01:45in nature which ensures that prey animals are always evolving
0:01:45 > 0:01:48spectacular ways of taking care of themselves.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54Today's defenders include a heavily armoured scorpion
0:01:54 > 0:01:58with a few deadly weapons of its own, this gutsy little striped mouse,
0:01:58 > 0:02:00who likes to make a quick getaway
0:02:00 > 0:02:03and a super-charged springbok with some bounding moves.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09So, I've introduced you to all of our contenders.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Now it's time to meet our first deadly duo going head to head.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17For the predators, it's the African puff adder,
0:02:17 > 0:02:21a small but sharp-shooting serpent.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24And up against it is this -
0:02:24 > 0:02:25a striped mouse.
0:02:25 > 0:02:30It may be tiny, but it's quick, agile and hard to catch.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34But which animal has the edge in the race for life?
0:02:34 > 0:02:37It's time to go Deadly 360.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44We start by taking a look at the critical moment in the hunt.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47The puff adder is poised, ready to unleash.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Does the mouse realise it's in danger?
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Has it already sensed something's wrong?
0:02:51 > 0:02:54The snake will only get one shot.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00It looks like the prey is in serious trouble,
0:03:00 > 0:03:04but how did it get there and is there any chance it might survive?
0:03:04 > 0:03:07To answer these questions, we'll wind back to the start of the hunt,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09break down the action
0:03:09 > 0:03:13and find out what happens in the lead up to the strike.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16First, where are we?
0:03:16 > 0:03:18This hunt takes place in South Africa,
0:03:18 > 0:03:22not far from Cape Town, in an area called the fynbos.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26It's rocky, mountainous terrain, with lots of plants and shrubs,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29so plenty of hiding places.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34And it's summer, which means hot, dry conditions. But who will this favour?
0:03:36 > 0:03:38So, we've set the scene.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41But how do these animals operate in this environment
0:03:41 > 0:03:43and what attributes do they have
0:03:43 > 0:03:46that might tip the balance in their favour?
0:03:46 > 0:03:48Let's start with the puff adder.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51It's a member of the viper family and, like all vipers,
0:03:51 > 0:03:55equipped with toxic venom delivered by two long fangs
0:03:55 > 0:03:58and it also has a clever array of super senses
0:03:58 > 0:04:01to help it track and target its victims.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05It looks like we're dealing with a sophisticated hunter.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09How on earth is the prey going to stay out of this predator's clutches?
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Well, the striped mouse's defence relies on hearing and speed,
0:04:14 > 0:04:18and a bounding body that's designed to go where predators can't.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Well, based on all of that,
0:04:20 > 0:04:24I'd say this is going to be a pretty interesting hunt.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Let's see how it unfolds.
0:04:26 > 0:04:27We've wound back to mid-morning,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30and after a couple of hours warming up in the sun,
0:04:30 > 0:04:34the cold-blooded puff adder is now ready to start its hunt.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38Let's zoom in to our onboard snake cam.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Looking at the world from the puff adder's point of view,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44you can see how tricky it's going to be to find small prey,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47like a mouse, in this environment.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50There are thousands of places for it to hide.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52And if we switch to our mouse
0:04:52 > 0:04:55we can see that it's being careful to stay in close
0:04:55 > 0:04:59amongst the rocks and shrubs, to avoid giving its position away.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Striped mice may look cute and cuddly,
0:05:02 > 0:05:07but they're actually tough, adaptable animals that can survive
0:05:07 > 0:05:09even in a hostile environment like this,
0:05:09 > 0:05:11where they're surrounded by predators.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14So what's their secret? Let's have a closer look.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18The striped mouse is common and widespread throughout Africa
0:05:18 > 0:05:21and it's common prey for snakes.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23But that doesn't mean that it's defenceless.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25First of all the stripes that give it its name.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29Those serve to interrupt its uniform colouration
0:05:29 > 0:05:31and break up its outline against its background.
0:05:31 > 0:05:36This is an animal that has fantastic ears - it can hear really well.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38It also has these sensitive whiskers.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42And as a last resort, if it's grabbed by the tail by a predator,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46it can simply drop it, although it can't regrow it later.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Let's see how this animal fares against the mighty puff adder.
0:05:52 > 0:05:57With all those adaptations for avoiding predators, the mouse
0:05:57 > 0:06:00is a difficult target for the snake to track down.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03The puff adder only needs to eat once every three or four weeks,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06which means it has time on its side.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08So, instead of trying to hunt down its prey,
0:06:08 > 0:06:12it's going to set an ambush and wait for the mouse to come to it.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14But in this huge, open, wilderness,
0:06:14 > 0:06:18how on earth does it know the right spot to lay its trap?
0:06:18 > 0:06:23This is when the snake's own super senses come into play.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26When mice are out foraging they often follow the same tracks,
0:06:26 > 0:06:30usually trails close to cover so they can scamper off if they're sensed.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32But if they use these trails too often,
0:06:32 > 0:06:36they leave their own invisible scent markings behind
0:06:36 > 0:06:38and it's this that the snake zones in on.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42That forked tongue flicks onto the air and gather in scent molecules,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45drawing them back into the head where they're processed
0:06:45 > 0:06:48in the Jacobson's Organ in the roof of the mouth.
0:06:48 > 0:06:49Because the tongue's forked,
0:06:49 > 0:06:53it draws in scent molecules from two different directions
0:06:53 > 0:06:57and the strongest scent is the area the snake's going to move towards.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00In effect, the snake's smelling in stereo!
0:07:00 > 0:07:05So, the snake knows exactly where to hang out to wait for the mouse.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09It might help us to better understand this face-off
0:07:09 > 0:07:12if we look at the skull of a viper.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15I think the most interesting thing about this skull
0:07:15 > 0:07:17is how unbelievably fragile it is.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20There's no weight to it whatsoever, all of the bones
0:07:20 > 0:07:22are very, very slender and, really,
0:07:22 > 0:07:26this tells an awful lot about how this snake chooses to hunt.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Each one of these fangs is hollow,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32it's very much like a hypodermic needle
0:07:32 > 0:07:35and the venom gland sits here,
0:07:35 > 0:07:41along the length of the upper jaw and feeds through into that hollow fang.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46So, it will stab those fangs, injecting venom into its prey
0:07:46 > 0:07:49and then it just releases it and sits back and waits.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51There's a very good reason for this.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55If it was to try and keep a hold of something like a struggling mouse,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58the chances of it doing it damage are very, very high.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00It could easily break one of those fangs
0:08:00 > 0:08:02and that could be terminal for this snake.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05However if it strikes, releases and waits for the venom
0:08:05 > 0:08:09to take its course, then really the snake is in no danger.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13Right, let's see how this mini drama plays out.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18The puff adder has laid its trap.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21It just needs the mouse to come within striking range.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24The mouse is following its usual trail,
0:08:24 > 0:08:26leading it right into the danger zone.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29This could be the snake's only chance to make a kill.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Whoa! That was really quick!
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Perhaps a bit too quick to see clearly!
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Let's have a look in more detail.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40The puff adder's targeting system is so complex and so quick,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43that the only way we'll be able to follow the action
0:08:43 > 0:08:46is by adding some visual aids. Right, here's what happens.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49First, its eyes are particularly good at detecting movement.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53Second, instead of hearing sound like we do,
0:08:53 > 0:08:58it actually senses vibrations through the jaw bone.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00With its jaw resting on the ground,
0:09:00 > 0:09:02it can pick up the miniscule vibrations
0:09:02 > 0:09:06made by the mouse's feet as it moves across the sand.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09And finally, when it comes to within 15cm,
0:09:09 > 0:09:13heat-sensitive cells in the adder's lips pick up the mouse's body heat
0:09:13 > 0:09:17and let the snake know its prey is within strike range.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22The snake lashes out at incredible speed.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25It drives its two fangs deep into the mouse's body
0:09:25 > 0:09:29and delivers its venom, then quickly retreats to avoid injuring itself.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32So, even though it looks like the mouse is escaping,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35the lethal venom is already in its bloodstream
0:09:35 > 0:09:38and will kill it within minutes.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42All the snake has to do is follow the scent trail to its victim.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45It might be some time before it reaches the body,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48but in the end, the puff adder gets the meal.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51So, all of the mouse's senses
0:09:51 > 0:09:54and defences were rendered completely useless
0:09:54 > 0:09:58by the fact that the snake simply didn't move until the crucial moment.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00The mouse never saw it coming.
0:10:00 > 0:10:06So the striped mouse had its speed, acute hearing and quick reactions.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08But they couldn't save it
0:10:08 > 0:10:11from the puff adder's incredible targeting system,
0:10:11 > 0:10:15ultra-fast strike and deadly toxic venom.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17And that's breakfast,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21lunch and supper all in one mouthful for the snake.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Now on to our next pair of hunters locked in a battle for survival.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31For the predators, it's the African rock python.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Compared to the puff adder, this snake is an absolute giant -
0:10:35 > 0:10:38six metres long and weighing over 50 kilos -
0:10:38 > 0:10:40it's one of the biggest snakes on the planet!
0:10:40 > 0:10:43And up against it is this.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47It's a springbok. Our python needs more than a mouse to make a meal,
0:10:47 > 0:10:51so it's got its sights set on this sleek, streamlined sprinter.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53But which has the edge in the race for life?
0:10:53 > 0:10:56It's time to go Deadly 360.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Here we are at the business end of our hunt.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04It looks like the python is launching its attack
0:11:04 > 0:11:07from very different surroundings.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10It's actually lying submerged in water.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13The springbok's come to drink,
0:11:13 > 0:11:17but with its sharp eyesight, will it spot the giant predator in time?
0:11:19 > 0:11:23But by now you know there's a lot more to a hunt than just
0:11:23 > 0:11:26the final strike. What are the hidden factors that influence
0:11:26 > 0:11:29what's going to happen in the next few seconds?
0:11:29 > 0:11:33To find out, we need to wind back to the start and dissect the hunt.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37OK, first let's set the scene.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41Well, we're back in Africa again - this time in Botswana,
0:11:41 > 0:11:43in the Okavango Delta.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47It's a fertile region, with a mix of light vegetation
0:11:47 > 0:11:48and wide open spaces.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53Plus, it's late summer and daytime temperatures are still very high,
0:11:53 > 0:11:57which means water is going to play an important part in this hunt.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00So, that's the arena for our gladiatorial contest.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04What weapons and defences do the two animals doing battle have?
0:12:04 > 0:12:08The python has the same sharp senses as the puff adder,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12but unlike the viper, it isn't armed with venom.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16Instead, it relies on its massive muscular body to kill its prey.
0:12:16 > 0:12:21So, I think it's clear, we're dealing with another well-equipped predator.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25But how's our prey going to try and neutralise the threat?
0:12:25 > 0:12:27With exceptional hearing and eyesight,
0:12:27 > 0:12:30a springbok is always on high alert.
0:12:30 > 0:12:31Plus its sharp reactions
0:12:31 > 0:12:35and explosive speed are great for getting it out of trouble fast!
0:12:35 > 0:12:38So our predator's going to find it pretty difficult
0:12:38 > 0:12:40to get anywhere near this prey.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Let's see what happens. The python's been resting underground
0:12:44 > 0:12:49during the long, hot African summer and as a result it may not have
0:12:49 > 0:12:53eaten for several months, but such a long period without food
0:12:53 > 0:12:57is not unusual for this snake - it's extremely good at conserving energy.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02For example, let's have a look at the way it's moving.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Snakes have many different methods of locomotion,
0:13:05 > 0:13:09but the large pythons can get around by contracting and relaxing
0:13:09 > 0:13:13the muscles on their underside and inching along almost like a worm.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16It's a very, very energy efficient way of moving,
0:13:16 > 0:13:18but it's also pretty slow.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22So, let's hope that there's a tasty springbok somewhere nearby.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Well, it looks like the python's in luck -
0:13:25 > 0:13:28there's a herd of springbok moving into the area.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31But if the snake wants to catch one, it still has a lot of work to do.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34It needs to overcome the springbok's sharp eyesight,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37in order to get close enough to launch an attack.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39And any strike will need to be
0:13:39 > 0:13:43faster than its prey's reactions and rapid acceleration.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49The springbok is certainly capable of running or leaping
0:13:49 > 0:13:53away from predators, but this is something slightly different.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57This straight-legged, rather beautiful, gait is known as pronking.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Now this might be being used in order for the animal
0:14:00 > 0:14:01to survey the surroundings,
0:14:01 > 0:14:07it could be used to confuse or deter a predator, but the main function
0:14:07 > 0:14:12of pronking is to prove to a predator quite how capable this animal is.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15It's saying, "Look at me, look how high I can jump,
0:14:15 > 0:14:16"look how fit and able I am,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20"it would be absolutely pointless trying to chase me."
0:14:24 > 0:14:28OK, so out on the plains, on open ground, it's clear that the agile,
0:14:28 > 0:14:32speedy springbok has a big advantage over the much slower snake.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35As long as it can see the python coming, it's in no real danger.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40So the snake needs to find some way to even the odds.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42And it looks like it might have one.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46Big pythons are actually more comfortable in the water
0:14:46 > 0:14:47than they are on land,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50because the water supports much of their huge body weight.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54It's also a really, really good place for them to launch an attack.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56They do have to breathe air,
0:14:56 > 0:14:59so they'll have to come to the surface, but all they have to do
0:14:59 > 0:15:02is pop their nostrils above the surface of the water
0:15:02 > 0:15:05take one breath and hold it for probably 15 minutes at a time.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09Now it's in the water it's the python that has the advantage.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12The springbok's defences of speed and agility
0:15:12 > 0:15:15are a lot less effective if it's caught off guard.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18All the python has to do is wait.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21If necessary, it can stay under the water for days,
0:15:21 > 0:15:24until that perfect moment to strike presents itself.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28It looks like we're going to have to fast-forward quite a long way.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33Right through the night and into the next day.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36OK, now, our snake's been lying in wait for over 24 hours
0:15:36 > 0:15:39and the waterhole is finally starting to get busy.
0:15:39 > 0:15:44There's lots of possible prey around including... Yes! The springboks.
0:15:44 > 0:15:45But hang on a second.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49How on Earth is it going to immobilise its prey with no venom?
0:15:49 > 0:15:52This snake has a particularly brutal way of catching
0:15:52 > 0:15:56and killing its prey. It's called constriction.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59Now, this is an Indian rock python.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01It's subtly different to the African rock python
0:16:01 > 0:16:04and this one here isn't especially long,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06it's no more than two metres in length,
0:16:06 > 0:16:12but more broad, powerful, muscular, than you'd find in a venomous snake.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14And that's because, really, all of this size,
0:16:14 > 0:16:16this massive cross-section,
0:16:16 > 0:16:20is about housing the muscles that it uses to crush its prey.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23It lunges out, hooks in the re-curved teeth,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26that will catch a hold of it and not allow it to escape
0:16:26 > 0:16:30and then a couple of coils of this body are going to wrap around it.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Then it'll just start squeezing.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36That constriction can kill in several different ways,
0:16:36 > 0:16:37the first, on small prey,
0:16:37 > 0:16:41is simply to crush all the bones and destroy the vital organs.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45The second is to stop it from breathing, to suffocate it,
0:16:45 > 0:16:48and the third is to actually block the veins, the arteries,
0:16:48 > 0:16:50and importantly the nerves that run to the heart
0:16:50 > 0:16:56and that causes a massive heart attack that kill its prey quickly.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59So, let's find out if our snake is going to be successful.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03The python has spent a day trying to get itself
0:17:03 > 0:17:07into a position from where it can make a potential kill.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11One false move at this stage and that work will have been for nothing.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13The springbok has incredible vision,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16but it seems to be looking for predators sneaking up
0:17:16 > 0:17:21from the sides or behind, not from underwater.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Wow! Let's just see that in slow motion.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Under the water, the python's coiled, ready to strike
0:17:30 > 0:17:33and it lunges forward towards the springbok.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Once it's got a hold of it, with its backwards-pointing teeth
0:17:35 > 0:17:37there is no way this animal can escape.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41The python throws the enormity of its body around the springbok,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43choking the life out of it.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47Once it's dead, the python's then going to swallow it whole,
0:17:47 > 0:17:51unlocking its jaws and walking them down over the entire body,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53horns and all!
0:17:53 > 0:17:58It may look like a horror show, but this remarkable adaptation
0:17:58 > 0:18:03lets it eat something several times the size of its own head in one go.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06The snake won't need to eat again for almost a year!
0:18:10 > 0:18:14Using water as a means of concealing its approach was absolutely key
0:18:14 > 0:18:17to the success of the rock python on this occasion.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20But swallowing that springbok whole -
0:18:20 > 0:18:22that was the most grisly thing you'll ever see!
0:18:22 > 0:18:24The springbok had...
0:18:24 > 0:18:28superb vision, speed, and agility.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33But the python managed to overcome all these defences using stealth,
0:18:33 > 0:18:38a lightning-fast strike, plus its heart-stopping constriction.
0:18:38 > 0:18:39And after a meal that big,
0:18:39 > 0:18:42let's just hope it doesn't get indigestion!
0:18:44 > 0:18:48This is our last deadly duo locked in a battle for life or death.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52For the predators, it's a tough little snake
0:18:52 > 0:18:55that makes its home in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth!
0:18:55 > 0:18:57It's the banded sand snake.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01And up against it...is this.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04A scorpion. You might expect this animal to be on our predator list,
0:19:04 > 0:19:08but this time the hunter has become the hunted.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12But which animal has the edge in the race for survival?
0:19:12 > 0:19:14It's time to go 360.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23We've dropped straight into the action, or have we?
0:19:23 > 0:19:24It's the middle of the night.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28There's the scorpion, but it doesn't seem to be doing much.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30It may be out on a hunt, but it needs to stay alert
0:19:30 > 0:19:33or it could be the one to end up as lunch.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38Whoa! I think we need to pause and wind back the hunt.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Hopefully, that'll help us make sense of what we've just seen.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45First off, where is this all taking place?
0:19:45 > 0:19:48We're now in the USA, in the Mojave Desert.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50It's a classic desert landscape with sparse vegetation
0:19:50 > 0:19:52and plenty of sand.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56And of course, the weather is extreme!
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Temperatures here can reach 50 degrees Celsius during the day,
0:19:59 > 0:20:02but at night they often drop to well below freezing!
0:20:02 > 0:20:04I think it's fair to say
0:20:04 > 0:20:07this is a pretty challenging environment for a hunt.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10What do our two animals have that's going to give them an edge
0:20:10 > 0:20:12in such extreme conditions?
0:20:13 > 0:20:18First, the banded sand snake. It uses venom like the puff adder
0:20:18 > 0:20:20and constriction like the python.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24In addition to the standard serpent super senses,
0:20:24 > 0:20:27it also has a very clever way of getting around.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Those are the weapons our predator will unleash on its target.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33What about the animal in the firing line?
0:20:33 > 0:20:35What's it got to protect itself?
0:20:36 > 0:20:40The scorpion certainly isn't short on weapons either.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42There's that famous stinger, loaded with venom,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45snapping pincers used for both attack and defence
0:20:45 > 0:20:49and they also have their own detection system
0:20:49 > 0:20:51to help spot prey and predators.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54We have two very different animals.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57But which one's going to come out on top in this hunt?
0:20:57 > 0:20:58Let's find out.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02The banded sand snake is hunting in the evening, before sunset,
0:21:02 > 0:21:06in order to avoid those scorching daytime temperatures.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Hunting in a desert presents a lot of challenges
0:21:08 > 0:21:12for a predator. It's hard to move around on the soft, shifting sand
0:21:12 > 0:21:15and there's not much cover to sneak up on other animals.
0:21:15 > 0:21:20This snake has come up with a unique solution to both those problems.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22It swims through the sand.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24But how on Earth does it manage it?
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Well, they have a whole range of special adaptations
0:21:28 > 0:21:31to surviving in this incredibly challenging environment.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34First, the scales are particularly hard and glossy
0:21:34 > 0:21:36and the head is streamlined,
0:21:36 > 0:21:38to enable it to move easily through the sand.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39Like all snakes,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42they have a transparent scale called a brille over the eyes,
0:21:42 > 0:21:47but they also have a valve in the nostril to prevent sand getting in.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51And the snake's shape creates a pocket of air underneath them,
0:21:51 > 0:21:55enabling them to stay underground for as much as two hours at a time.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58But how on Earth are you going to find your prey
0:21:58 > 0:22:00if you're buried in sand?
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Snakes have no external ears,
0:22:03 > 0:22:07which has often led to people assuming that they can't hear.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09This couldn't be further from the truth.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14Actually, they have fully functioning inner ear bones.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17So, in order to pick up sounds, what they need to do
0:22:17 > 0:22:21is transmit vibrations through their jaws into those bones.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24Now the way this works is really quite interesting.
0:22:24 > 0:22:29Any tiny movement on the surface of the sand transmits vibrations
0:22:29 > 0:22:35that move in waves, like ripples across the surface of a pond.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38If those vibrations reach the left side of the snake's jaw first,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41then that's the direction the vibrations are coming from
0:22:41 > 0:22:46and it can move towards potential prey it knows is in that direction.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48Let's see if this snake can use vibrations
0:22:48 > 0:22:51to get a hold of that scorpion.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57The scorpion's best chance of remaining undetected
0:22:57 > 0:23:00is to simply stay still. If it doesn't move,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03there will be no signals for the snake to pick up.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06But it also needs to eat, so as the sun starts to set,
0:23:06 > 0:23:10it has little choice but to start its own search for food.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13So this is what it's after. A tasty beetle!
0:23:13 > 0:23:19Now just like the snake, the scorpion has its own built-in sensory system.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Its legs and body are covered with tiny sensitive hairs
0:23:22 > 0:23:26which can pick up vibrations from the ground and also movements in the air.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30Every tiny step the beetle makes creates a vibration,
0:23:30 > 0:23:32a wave of energy which would be tiny to us,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35but is truly massive to our scorpion.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38It'll zone in on it and follow it to the beetle.
0:23:38 > 0:23:43But the scorpion isn't the only one that's heard the commotion.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Here comes the banded sand snake.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48It's picking up the signals from both animals.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52So, the snake wants the scorpion, the scorpion wants the beetle,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55and the beetle just wants to get out of there!
0:23:56 > 0:23:58So who's going to strike first?
0:23:58 > 0:24:02And if it's the snake, what can the scorpion do to defend itself?
0:24:02 > 0:24:03Let's have a look.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07Scorpions are a particularly ancient group of animals.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10There are fossilised specimens well over 100-million-years-old
0:24:10 > 0:24:12that look very, very similar,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15almost identical, to this live scorpion here today.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19Let's see if I can just pick this up. OK, here you go.
0:24:19 > 0:24:25It's scampering around, can't quite get purchase on this surface.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27There he is.
0:24:27 > 0:24:32Now hopefully, as long as I can keep him moving one direction,
0:24:32 > 0:24:38I shouldn't get either pinched or stung, but, famous last words!
0:24:38 > 0:24:43You can see those powerful pincers coming straight towards you now.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45In this particular species,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48you can see they are quite big, quite sizable,
0:24:48 > 0:24:52and they've got big muscles inside there that drive these pincers
0:24:52 > 0:24:55and that's its primary means of defending itself.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00It does also have, if I turn it, the classic scorpion stinger
0:25:00 > 0:25:04and you can see at the end of that, the wicked barb,
0:25:04 > 0:25:05which is needle-sharp
0:25:05 > 0:25:09and that's what it uses for injecting that famous venom.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12So, now we've seen how the scorpion can defend itself,
0:25:12 > 0:25:14let's see how it fares against the snake.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18We've reached a fascinating point in the hunt
0:25:18 > 0:25:23and, unusually for Deadly 360, there are actually three animals involved!
0:25:23 > 0:25:27We've got the scorpion, here, waiting to pounce on the beetle,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30but we've also got the snake, buried here,
0:25:30 > 0:25:32waiting for its chance to strike at the scorpion.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Looks like we've got ourselves a real Wild West stand-off.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Bang! It's over in a few hundredth's of a second.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54What happened? Let's pause it, rewind
0:25:54 > 0:25:57and watch in slow motion.
0:25:57 > 0:26:03You can see the scorpion is ready to charge in on the beetle,
0:26:03 > 0:26:05but, here comes the sand snake
0:26:05 > 0:26:07and look at the speed of that strike!
0:26:07 > 0:26:10Instantly, the coils of the body wrap around the scorpion.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13It's frantically trying to get its stinger into the snake
0:26:13 > 0:26:16and trying to get it in-between the scales,
0:26:16 > 0:26:17but even when it does sting,
0:26:17 > 0:26:21the venom just isn't potent enough to deter the snake
0:26:21 > 0:26:25and as far as the pincers, they don't help when you're getting eaten alive.
0:26:25 > 0:26:30That is an incredibly powerful, potent and perfect hunt
0:26:30 > 0:26:33and a pretty sizable meal, too.
0:26:34 > 0:26:35In the world's deserts,
0:26:35 > 0:26:38there's a constant evolutionary arms race going on
0:26:38 > 0:26:42and even animals like scorpions that seem to have impenetrable armour,
0:26:42 > 0:26:44somehow, somewhere,
0:26:44 > 0:26:48there's going to be a predator that's going to be able to overcome it.
0:26:48 > 0:26:49In this case, it was our snake.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51So the scorpion had...
0:26:51 > 0:26:53its built-in detection system,
0:26:53 > 0:26:56large pincers and venomous stinger.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59But the banded sand snake stormed these defences
0:26:59 > 0:27:03with its sand-swimming stealth, super-sensitive hearing,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06and a quick-fire killer strike.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09If the scorpion had been more focused on defence,
0:27:09 > 0:27:10it might have survived.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13But this time, the beetle was the one that got away.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Snakes are one of my favourite groups of animals
0:27:19 > 0:27:22and they're much more complex than people often think.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Of the 2,600-odd different species
0:27:24 > 0:27:27there are some that overpower their prey with virulent venom,
0:27:27 > 0:27:28some that use pure strength,
0:27:28 > 0:27:31some of them that will simply use stealth and silence,
0:27:31 > 0:27:34but they all can swallow prey larger than their own head
0:27:34 > 0:27:37and they're all incredibly successful predators.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40That's all we've got time for.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43Join us next time as three more pairs of animals go head-to-head
0:27:43 > 0:27:46and we analyse the action Deadly-360 style.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:57 > 0:28:00E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk