0:00:00 > 0:00:02Australia - home of the possum,
0:00:02 > 0:00:05- cool surfer dudes, strange lingo... - No worries, mate. Fair dinkum.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08..sunshine and the bonzer Barrier Reef.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11It's the biggest, most spectacular coral reef in the world.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15And, what's more, every creature is linked to another.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Just imagine one huge family tree dating back 18 million years.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22From the minuscule to the mammoth to the miraculous,
0:00:22 > 0:00:23they're all connected in...
0:00:44 > 0:00:49# I'm digging a hole It's much bigger than yours
0:00:49 > 0:00:54# Because yours is smaller than mine And that's why mine is bigger... #
0:00:54 > 0:00:55Straighten up, Barney.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58You've got a backbone, use it. Don't slouch.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00OK. Well, I don't see what the big deal is.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02You don't see what the big deal is?!
0:01:02 > 0:01:04You rely on your backbone.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09- Without it, you wouldn't be able to do anything.- Yeah, yeah. Whatever.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16Without a backbone, you wouldn't be able to lie in that hammock.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Or swim.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Yeah. Not at all irritating, Gem(!)
0:01:27 > 0:01:31- Ah, cool!- Or bend over like that.
0:01:33 > 0:01:38- No, you couldn't even do that without a spine.- Look, OK. OK. I get it.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42Well, without a spine or a backbone, you'd just be really floppy.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45So we've got a backbone and we call it a spine?
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Without it, pretty useless, a bit like a sea slug.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Sea slugs aren't useless. They've got
0:01:51 > 0:01:54amazing ways of getting around and surviving.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57- In the ocean, no spine is no problem. - I'm intrigued.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Well, let's meet our floppy, fishy friends
0:02:01 > 0:02:03and find out who is completely spineless.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Oh, look, a squirt!
0:02:13 > 0:02:16A squirt? No way!
0:02:16 > 0:02:21Oh, yes. Officially known as the sea squirt, our first invertebrate -
0:02:21 > 0:02:23or animal without a backbone.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25What does it do, exactly?
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Well, not much, to be honest.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30It just stays in one spot for its whole life.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37It's got no spine, it doesn't do anything - it's a lazy squirt!
0:02:37 > 0:02:39BARNEY SNORES
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Reminds me of someone.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50Oi! Well, actually, as it happens, you're onto something there, Gem.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53I am kind of related to him - but, then, so are you.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56- What are you talking about? - OK, this creature may look like
0:02:56 > 0:03:00the most basic of all creatures, but according to evolution,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03there is a big family tree that goes back millions of years.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07And on this tree, humans are related to the sea squirts.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10- Huh?- Yeah. When they're babies, they have a little spinal cord,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13which puts them in the same family tree as us.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16- They eat it when they become adults. - What?! Hang on a second!
0:03:16 > 0:03:20I don't know which I find the strangest - the fact we're related
0:03:20 > 0:03:24or the fact they eat their spinal cord.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28- And their brain, and their tail. - Urgh! That is disgusting!
0:03:28 > 0:03:31Makes you wanna puke! As adults, they settle in one place
0:03:31 > 0:03:34by kind of gluing their heads to one spot on the reef.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37They don't need their spinal cord, tail or brain any more,
0:03:37 > 0:03:42so they eat them. A reef takeaway - they take it away from themselves.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Before they do this, they're similar to us,
0:03:44 > 0:03:48with a brain and a spine, and that's why we're related?
0:03:48 > 0:03:52Yeah. Sea squirts are closer cousins to us than creatures
0:03:52 > 0:03:54like the octopus or the jellyfish.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Yeah, but there's not much squirting action. I want my money back.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02So, which creature is connected to our spineless sea squirt?
0:04:07 > 0:04:10OK, here's our next spineless wonder.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15This is a member of the sea cucumber family.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Hold the phone, I have never seen a cucumber this long!
0:04:18 > 0:04:19He's about seven metres.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Well, that's taller than a giraffe.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28OK, where's he gone? Oh, straight out of Harry Potter!
0:04:28 > 0:04:31He's going from the longest long thing in the world
0:04:31 > 0:04:34to something that looks like a cucumber.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38They may look a bit useless, but their flabby, spineless body
0:04:38 > 0:04:43allows them to crawl about and extend or shrink extremely fast,
0:04:43 > 0:04:46which squeeze fluids around in the same way
0:04:46 > 0:04:50- a water balloon would move if we squeezed it.- They're a bit slow.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53They can be quite energetic when they want to.
0:04:53 > 0:04:59They eat all the time and process their food within one hour.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01IT BLOWS A RASPBERRY
0:05:01 > 0:05:05So, just like the sea squirt, the cucumber has no spine and no armour,
0:05:05 > 0:05:07but somehow they still manage to survive.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Super softies! The sea squirts and cucumbers
0:05:10 > 0:05:12are connected because they have no protection.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14OK, time to move on.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21As requested, onto our next spineless wonder.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Oh, snails?!
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Get a move on, mate, we haven't got all day!
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Hey, give them a chance - they haven't got a spine, remember?
0:05:30 > 0:05:35Pull the other one. They are just so slow!
0:05:35 > 0:05:38So? They still move, don't they?
0:05:38 > 0:05:40They've only got a small floppy body
0:05:40 > 0:05:42and have to carry around that big shell.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47Then why don't they choose something smaller - d'oh?!
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Because they need protection.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55- Their shell is like their own 24 hour bodyguard. Cool, huh?- Not sure.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59All right. Well, this'll wake you up.
0:05:59 > 0:06:05This cone shell is one of the most venomous molluscs in the ocean.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07- All aboard!- I like him.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09He just lassoed that fish!
0:06:09 > 0:06:11See? You're so quick to judge.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15They may be slow, but they know how to look after themselves.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19They find the best armour and, spine or no spine, they're sorted.
0:06:19 > 0:06:20OK, fine, you win.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24So, the snail is really squishy, like the sea cucumbers,
0:06:24 > 0:06:26but at least they have a shell for protection.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Soft bodies is the connection between these two spineless creatures.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34OK, well, you won that one, but I have got a much better
0:06:34 > 0:06:36spineless shell. Check him out.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50- FRENCH ACCENT:- Bonjour! I am ze flameshell.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55I am red like a flame with my wild, flowing, messy locks. Ooh la la!
0:06:55 > 0:06:58FRENCH ACCENT: Barney? Barney?
0:06:58 > 0:07:04Where are you? Oh, Barney, you hot shell - come here!
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Ah, zere you are! Mwoah!
0:07:06 > 0:07:09I need to be alone! Do not touch me!
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Oh la la, zis is so romantic!
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Mwoah! Mon cherie!
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Stop sticking to me. No!
0:07:17 > 0:07:22- You messed with my hair - that I cannot forgive.- No!
0:07:22 > 0:07:26Barney, come back. No!
0:07:27 > 0:07:29Er...Gem?
0:07:29 > 0:07:33- Yeah?- Flameshells aren't French, are they?- Er...no.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37They're reclusive by nature, so that second flameshell was persistent.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Again, they're soft-bodied animals that rely on their shells
0:07:41 > 0:07:44for survival, but cos they can't close their shell,
0:07:44 > 0:07:48they do tend to be shy, so it's hide away or be eaten.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52All right, I have to admit it - that was a pretty impressive shell.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Yes, I think it's fair to say it definitely beats your snail, Gem.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Our flashy flameshell is, of course, connected to the super slow marine
0:07:59 > 0:08:02snails cos they both live in France... I mean, in shells!
0:08:05 > 0:08:08And who's connected to the flameshell?
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Ah, Hermy the hermit crab.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12He looks a bit naked.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Looking for his shell, no doubt.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19"Ah, home sweet home - peace and quiet. Phew!"
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Uh-oh...
0:08:21 > 0:08:24He's being crab attacked!
0:08:26 > 0:08:28AMERICAN ACCENT: Two Crabs.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32- AMERICAN ACCENT:- Who will be the victor?- And claim the end prize.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Heroic hermit crab is hiding from this ferocious sand attack.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Great sand throwing technique, but is it working?
0:08:43 > 0:08:46I think Heroic is staying put.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48He knows when to stay down to survive.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Having survived the sand attack, he's back on his feet.
0:08:54 > 0:08:55He's a tough cookie, this one.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59He won't be giving that prize away easily.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05Oh, and Combat crab is going for the back attack!
0:09:05 > 0:09:10Heroic is showing immense strength, carrying both him and Combat.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13- That is quite amazing. - He's steadying himself.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Oh, he's going for the tip!
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Combat crab just won't let go.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20It's an amazing feat of willpower and strength by the little guy.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22He's not giving up, though.
0:09:22 > 0:09:28Oh, what a turn-up! He's thrown him off with a spectacular move.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31What strength, what agility!
0:09:31 > 0:09:36- Combat claims the grand prize of the white shell.- Yeah!
0:09:36 > 0:09:40Leaving our loser, Heroic, with a poor consolation prize.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- Oh, no!- Oh, dear. Contender two
0:09:43 > 0:09:48really has got the booby prize of a bit of abandoned pipe. Poor guy.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52He put up a brave fight but he's not looking too comfortable.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56I think he's been driven round the U-bend!
0:09:56 > 0:09:59That's hilarious! Is this starting to hurt your voice?
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Oh, yes! Oh!
0:10:02 > 0:10:05So, the hermit crab uses any shell or cover he can find
0:10:05 > 0:10:09to act as his backbone, even if it means fighting for it.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13Flameshells are kind of lucky, then, I guess. They've got two shells each.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17So, Heroic hermit is connected to the floppy flameshell we saw earlier
0:10:17 > 0:10:19through their shell.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23So, let's take a look back over our spineless sea sensations.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32We've gone all the way from the sea squirt to the home-loving
0:10:32 > 0:10:33hermit crab. How did we get here?
0:10:33 > 0:10:36First up, the sea squirts.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Experts say they're related to humans, but I can't see it.
0:10:39 > 0:10:45They are connected to our not-so-cool cucumbers - flexible but urgh!
0:10:45 > 0:10:49- They're linked to our snails, which are slow...- And boring.
0:10:49 > 0:10:50And sometimes venomous.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57- But what about ze funny floppy flameshell?- Oh, so emotional!
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Yeah, but not so French.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Linked, of course, by their shell, to the hermit crab.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08So, what have you got for me here? I'm waiting.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10The arrow crab.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13- And cue crab.- He's there!
0:11:13 > 0:11:16You need to look properly.
0:11:16 > 0:11:17No, not seeing anything.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20OK. I guess we'll have to go closer.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Eh, w... Now, that is not a crab!
0:11:23 > 0:11:27- That's a spider!- If that was a spider, I would not be sat here now.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30I'd be on a plane back to the UK. It's a crab!
0:11:30 > 0:11:32What kind of crab looks like that?
0:11:32 > 0:11:34It does look like a spider.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36Yeah, it does, but it's much nicer.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40It has 10 spider-like legs, but not many other similarities to
0:11:40 > 0:11:42either spiders or crabs.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44It doesn't walk like other crabs.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48No, arrow crabs are very slow and they don't have the defence
0:11:48 > 0:11:52- mechanisms that other crabs have, like no real armour.- That is weird.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54Another bizarre backboneless wonder.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Right then, my turn.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03RADIO CRACKLES
0:12:03 > 0:12:07Testing, testing, Barney to spiny crayfish.
0:12:07 > 0:12:12'Incoming transmission has been detected.'
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Those must be the biggest antennae in the world!
0:12:17 > 0:12:22Relatively, Gem, they are. They have antennae as long as their bodies,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25but that's not their only weird body bit.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Listen to this for a strange set of parts.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31They have a body armour, eyes on stalks,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34six small limbs round the mouth, five pairs of legs and...
0:12:34 > 0:12:36a fan on the bum.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40- What?!- And yet they kind of look OK.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43That is one freaky body.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Imagine if you had to walk around looking like that!
0:12:47 > 0:12:51They use their antennae and legs to taste and fend off predators.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55Their other party trick is their ability to regrow bits
0:12:55 > 0:12:56of their body. Amazing!
0:12:56 > 0:13:00If they get in a fight and lose a leg or two, they can get by
0:13:00 > 0:13:03until they grow another one.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07Ah, yes, another one with a suit of armour - just like the arrow crab.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09So they must be related?
0:13:09 > 0:13:13They are. They belong to the same family as crabs, the crustaceans.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17And what on earth is connected to an arrow crab?
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Oh, hey - ocean hedgehogs!
0:13:20 > 0:13:25The spiniest creature in the reef by far, these are sea urchins.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Spiniest, but spineless.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31And spectacularly useful.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34OK, so they're not movers and shakers, these guys, but those
0:13:34 > 0:13:36spikes are like very sharp needles
0:13:36 > 0:13:42and contain a toxin, so if we stood on one, it would be rather painful.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46Yeah, but at the end of the day, it's a ball of spikes. Moving on...
0:13:46 > 0:13:49No, they're much more complicated than that, Barney.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53They have an external skeleton and this bit here...
0:13:53 > 0:13:57- Yeah, that's the eye. - Er, no, that is their, um...poo bag.
0:13:57 > 0:13:58What?!
0:13:58 > 0:14:03The bag is there to hold their poo so they don't suck it in again
0:14:03 > 0:14:06with the surrounding water, cos that would be horrible.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Yeah, definitely moving on.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11These guys are like the bodyguards of the reef -
0:14:11 > 0:14:14a perfect place for these cardinal fish to hide from predators.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Who's gonna try to eat them when they might get a spike
0:14:17 > 0:14:19- stuck in them?- That's a good point.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Good point, get it?!
0:14:23 > 0:14:28As I was saying, they're ocean protectors but they also have to
0:14:28 > 0:14:32hitch a ride with the carrier crab, albeit somewhat reluctantly,
0:14:32 > 0:14:34when the crab needs a bodyguard.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Portable bodyguards, that's ace!
0:14:37 > 0:14:39So, these are serious spikes,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41up there with our spiny crayfish.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44So, sea urchins are connected to our spiny crayfish
0:14:44 > 0:14:46through their spiky spines. Very sharp.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Sharp, get it?!
0:14:52 > 0:14:56- SPANISH ACCENT:- It's El Spanish dancer, ole!
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Sorry.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Meet our Spanish dancer, nudibranch.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Pretty in pink with its own shrimp accessory.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Hang on, is this another shrimp cleaning?
0:15:08 > 0:15:11What is it with these shrimps? They need to get out more.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13It is indeed having a little clean,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16but the shrimp is mainly getting a free nosh up.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18The ocean version of meals on wheels.
0:15:18 > 0:15:23Ah, these shrimps are well crafty, but doesn't the nudibranch mind?
0:15:23 > 0:15:27No. The shrimp helps keep him clean and free from parasites
0:15:27 > 0:15:30and the nudibranch keeps the shrimp safe from predators.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34So the shrimp gets a free ride, protection and a free meal. Ha!
0:15:34 > 0:15:36Nice work if you can get it.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41I'll say one thing, it's hard to find a lazy shrimp in the ocean world.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43For something so tiny and without a backbone,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46they're hard grafters with many talents.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50So, the sea urchin provides a hiding place and the shrimp
0:15:50 > 0:15:52uses the nudibranch to travel around.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56So our imperial shrimp links to the sea urchin because they both pair up
0:15:56 > 0:15:58with their spineless buddies.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06So, who's our next spiny sea lover?
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Our next spineless wonder is everywhere.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13The biggest and most dominant animal colony in the reef. The corals.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15This is where lots of little polyps
0:16:15 > 0:16:18work together to create one big living animal.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Which then becomes a house and protects loads of reef creatures.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24So coral is the ultimate spineless contender,
0:16:24 > 0:16:28a massive team of spineless creatures joined together as one.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Oh, yes, a spineless united!
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Hang on, what are all those little balls?
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- An ocean snowstorm.- This is one
0:16:42 > 0:16:44of the most wondrous sights in the ocean.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50It's called coral spawning.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52It only happens once a year
0:16:52 > 0:16:56and no-one really knows why, but it's mainly dependent on the full moon.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00It's very pretty, but what is it?
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Well, it's basically the coral laying eggs into the water.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08It's quite spooky, really. On that one day most coral decide to spawn
0:17:08 > 0:17:13within a few hours of each other and some even at exactly the same time.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15# Do do do do do do do do... #
0:17:15 > 0:17:18That's why the reefs keep living - the moon, sun,
0:17:18 > 0:17:22tides and corals somehow let each other know it's spawning time.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31Coral have an amazing ability to conquer, settle and outgrow
0:17:31 > 0:17:34and spawning is a large part of that process.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Now that is one spineless wonder. Ha, beat that, Barney.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41Hang on a second. What's the link back to the imperial shrimp?
0:17:41 > 0:17:44They both wear their skeleton on the outside.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48So our coral is linked to our sneaky shrimps by their external skeletons.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51So, let's go over those connections.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Right you are. It's time to recap our spineless wonders.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03So, our hermit crab is linked to our arrow crab, who's connected to our
0:18:03 > 0:18:08extra-spiney crayfish with his amazing antennae.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10BARNEY IMITATES STATIC
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Yeah, but he's just a tiny spiny compared to the sea urchins
0:18:13 > 0:18:15with ultra-long spines.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17They're a perfect shelter for their ocean buddies.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21Talking of buddies, what about the shrimp and some of his shrimp mates,
0:18:21 > 0:18:25who hitch a ride on the nudibranchs and the cucumbers.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Off we go.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Whose external skeleton links him to the ocean's very own
0:18:31 > 0:18:34spineless united coral.
0:18:46 > 0:18:52The weirdest worms in the world, these are Christmas-tree worms.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Aw, they're a bit shy.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58These spineless critters burrow into the coral
0:18:58 > 0:19:00and live there, popping up to have a nosy,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02knowing they could pop back down
0:19:02 > 0:19:06into the safety of the coral whenever they please.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09And I'm guessing they must be linked to our coral because
0:19:09 > 0:19:11they live in the coral skeleton.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Correctamundo, dudette.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15Right, bring on our next connection.
0:19:15 > 0:19:16Awesome.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24A-ha, nudibranchs, I remember them!
0:19:24 > 0:19:27So they're related to the Spanish dancer we saw earlier then.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Oh, that one's cool. I want that one.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Gem, they're slugs!
0:19:36 > 0:19:38- No way!- Yes, way.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40This reef place is weird, remember.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44- These geezers are sea slugs.- Hello.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Oh, now, slugs I don't like, but these guys are pretty.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Maybe I can make an exception.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52All right. Well, what if I told you they're flesh-eating slugs?
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Barney, have you been watching bad sci-fi films again?
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Yeah, but that's not why I'm saying it.
0:19:58 > 0:20:03You think they're so pretty, listen to the facts and brace yourself.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07These spineless slugs eat other spineless animals just like them.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10They can eat jellyfish, anemone, corals.
0:20:10 > 0:20:11They don't look fierce.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14And then they absorb bits of the creature they've eaten
0:20:14 > 0:20:17- to use for their own self defence.- Huh?- Eh?
0:20:17 > 0:20:20For example, they might gulp down a sea anemone,
0:20:20 > 0:20:23but are able to use its sting to protect themselves
0:20:23 > 0:20:26or borrow toxins from the other animals like sponges
0:20:26 > 0:20:29that help make themselves taste really, really bad.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34- Yuk.- Some of them even eat other sea slugs.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Oh, double yuk. They're cannibals!
0:20:36 > 0:20:39This show just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43Yeah, so it's another spineless
0:20:43 > 0:20:47partnership, the shy Christmas-tree worm hides in the coral
0:20:47 > 0:20:50and the nudibranch steals the sting from anemones.
0:20:50 > 0:20:55So our nudibranch and Christmas tree worms are connected because they make
0:20:55 > 0:20:57good use of their spineless cousins.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05So, who's this then?
0:21:05 > 0:21:07He looks like he's at a pop concert.
0:21:07 > 0:21:08Yeah, I know what you mean.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Like he's swaying to a romantic song.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15- This is a solar-powered nudibranch. - Hang on a minute.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21We've just had nudibranch, that's cheating.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23There's nothing in the programme rules
0:21:23 > 0:21:26about having the same type of animal.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28I'm not convinced. This had better be good.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Hang on, solar-powered.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Buildings are solar-powered, not sea creatures!
0:21:34 > 0:21:38- Ah, but Gem, remember, the sea came first.- Ah.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45Creatures like this are the originators of solar power.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49And now for the science.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52- Uh-oh.- There are tiny plants in the ocean
0:21:52 > 0:21:56and like all plants they take energy
0:21:56 > 0:21:58from the sun and turn it to food.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02The solar-powered nudi keeps loads of these plants in its body.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04See the gold spots all over it?
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Well, that's them.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11But I still don't get the solar-powered bit.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Elaborate, please, Dr Barnacle.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Seeing as you ask so nicely I'd love to.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19The algae converts the sun's energy into sugar,
0:22:19 > 0:22:21which the nudibranch uses as food.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24It's like the nudibranch has its own greenhouse in its body.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28So those gold spots are like mini solar power panels?
0:22:28 > 0:22:30That's correct, my dear Gemma.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34Oh, OK, well, I'll forgive your double nudibranch cheat then.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36I only wanted explained the connection.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40Well, that's easy. The link between the standard nudibranch
0:22:40 > 0:22:43and the solar-powered nudibranch is that both of them
0:22:43 > 0:22:46pinch useful things from other animals to survive.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Is it a fish? Is it a squid? No.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01It's the one and only super-octopus!
0:23:03 > 0:23:06The spectacular spineless superhero.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10Well, OK, so he moves well with cool colour changes,
0:23:10 > 0:23:13- but can he really be called a superhero?- Oh, absolutely.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Take a look at this.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20Yeah, he's a cool mover, but I'm still not convinced.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23OK, be prepared to change your mind.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26Here are the octopuses' superpowers.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29Superpower number one.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31The octopus has super vision.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36They have a super lens that allows them to change their range of vision,
0:23:36 > 0:23:40a bit like an in-built camera.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43- Yeah, that's not bad.- Ho ho ho!
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Superpower number two.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Octopi are highly intelligent.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51They've been known to solve puzzles and tell the difference
0:23:51 > 0:23:53between shapes and sizes.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57It's got bits of brain in its arms as well as in its head!
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Superpower number three.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02An octopus is strong and agile.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06They've been known to squeeze into things much smaller than them,
0:24:06 > 0:24:08like this Cola bottle here.
0:24:10 > 0:24:11Wow, that's more like it.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14That is a proper superpower.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Superpower number four.
0:24:17 > 0:24:22Octopuses have a beak made out of super hard material.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26On some species this will be used to kill prey and bite them into pieces.
0:24:26 > 0:24:31Some even have deadly venom, like the blue ringed octopus here.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33I thought they were comical bobbly things!
0:24:33 > 0:24:36Superpower number one, two, three, four, five.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39They can release a thick black ink at the drop of a hat.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42This confuses their enemies and dulls
0:24:42 > 0:24:44their smell so they can escape unharmed.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Wow, like a smokescreen. Well cool.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48OK, I totally agree
0:24:48 > 0:24:53the octopus is a spineless superhero with many tricks up its sleeves.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57- Tricks up his sleeves. They've got loads of arms!- Oh, dear!
0:24:59 > 0:25:01The nudi and their solar power and octopus
0:25:01 > 0:25:05with their superpowers are connected by spineless...
0:25:05 > 0:25:07# Super-power-fragilistic ex... # I'm sorry.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10What an ending to our spectacular
0:25:10 > 0:25:13spineless collection and the octopus connects back to
0:25:13 > 0:25:17the spineless sea squirt through its spectacular water squirting ability.
0:25:17 > 0:25:23So let us take one last look through our spineless superheroes. Ha ha.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33Yeah, in the ocean no spine is no problem.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37We started with the sea squirt, the strangest human cousin...
0:25:37 > 0:25:41Who links to the squashy shrinking sea cucumber,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44because neither have any armour to protect themselves...
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Like our soft-bodied slow-coach snails,
0:25:47 > 0:25:50but at least they have their shell to screen themselves from danger.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54And what about the glamorous flameshell, so funny and fluffy?
0:25:54 > 0:25:58Not to mention the hermit crab. They go to war over a shell.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00- That's my shell.- No, it's my shell. - My shell.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03What's Michelle got to do with it?
0:26:03 > 0:26:06At least they have a shell. Our weird spidery arrow crabs have
0:26:06 > 0:26:08to rely on blending in to stay alive.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12The spiny crayfish has the coolest spineless accessories,
0:26:12 > 0:26:16- super-long antennae and an external skeleton.- Call those spines?
0:26:16 > 0:26:21Now these are spines! The sea urchin allows its ocean friends
0:26:21 > 0:26:23to hide in its super-long spikes.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Shh! You can't see me.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28I'm hiding in the spikes.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31Just like the imperial shrimp and the rest of his mates hitching
0:26:31 > 0:26:36a ride on the Spanish dancer mobile. And the spineless united coral.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39With such a big external skeleton,
0:26:39 > 0:26:41who needs a backbone?
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Well, not the Christmas tree worm, when they have
0:26:44 > 0:26:46their protector, the coral, to hide in.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50But some spineless wonders have to look after themselves.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52The nudibranchs nick toxins and stings
0:26:52 > 0:26:55from other animals to protect themselves.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59Cool, but not as cool as the solar-powered nudibranch,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01who has a plant living inside
0:27:01 > 0:27:03providing regular meals to keep his energy up.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07The nudi is connected to the octopus through the solar superpower,
0:27:07 > 0:27:11who's surely the most sensational spineless superhero.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15So our flexible wonders prove that in the ocean spineless can
0:27:15 > 0:27:18mean super spectacular - a bit like me, really.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20No, nothing like you.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22Like our real spineless superheroes.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26Well, I must be off. People to save and all that. Up, up and away.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29CRASH!
0:27:35 > 0:27:38So, we'll see you next time for more watery wonders
0:27:38 > 0:27:40on Barney's Barrier Reef.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:54 > 0:27:56E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk