Episode 8

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0:00:18 > 0:00:21Hello, I'm Kate Humble, and this is Curious Creatures,

0:00:21 > 0:00:25a quiz all about the wonders of the natural world.

0:00:25 > 0:00:27So get ready for a joyous half hour

0:00:27 > 0:00:30in the company of some of the world's cutest, strangest,

0:00:30 > 0:00:35most fascinating and sometimes most ferocious creatures.

0:00:35 > 0:00:37Let's meet them. On my left,

0:00:37 > 0:00:40the walking encyclopaedia that is Chris Packham,

0:00:40 > 0:00:43who is joined today by his Springwatch Unsprung colleague,

0:00:43 > 0:00:45Lindsey Chapman.

0:00:45 > 0:00:49APPLAUSE

0:00:49 > 0:00:52And facing them, zoologist and writer Lucy Cooke,

0:00:52 > 0:00:54who today is joined by veterinary ophthalmologist

0:00:54 > 0:00:57and co-presenter of Trust me, I'm a Vet,

0:00:57 > 0:00:59Vim Kamaratunga.

0:00:59 > 0:01:04APPLAUSE

0:01:04 > 0:01:06Now, then, how does this all work?

0:01:06 > 0:01:08Well, each team will be building up

0:01:08 > 0:01:10their own curious creature during the game,

0:01:10 > 0:01:12and the more parts they win,

0:01:12 > 0:01:15the more points they can score at the end of the show.

0:01:15 > 0:01:19So we start as we mean to go on with some stupendous nuggets from the

0:01:19 > 0:01:23animal kingdom in our first round, Yay or Neigh.

0:01:27 > 0:01:32So teams, I am going to read each of you a statement about an animal,

0:01:32 > 0:01:36and all you have to do is to decide whether it's a fabulous fact,

0:01:36 > 0:01:37that's a Yay...

0:01:37 > 0:01:39ELEPHANT TRUMPETING

0:01:39 > 0:01:42..or a beastly fiction, a Neigh.

0:01:42 > 0:01:43HORSE NEIGHS

0:01:43 > 0:01:45So, Chris, we'll start with you.

0:01:45 > 0:01:48- OK.- The tongue of one of these,

0:01:48 > 0:01:55a blue whale, weighs more than the entire body of one of these,

0:01:55 > 0:01:56a Black Rhino.

0:01:56 > 0:01:57I'm looking at the rhino,

0:01:57 > 0:02:01I'm thinking that animal weighs in the region of a tonne or a

0:02:01 > 0:02:04- tonne-and-a-half...- Will the rhino fit inside the whale's mouth?

0:02:04 > 0:02:07- That's not the question.- That's not the question, but could it?

0:02:07 > 0:02:08- Yes, it could, easily.- There you go.

0:02:08 > 0:02:12So you think the tongue of a blue whale

0:02:12 > 0:02:15weighs more than an entire black rhino.

0:02:15 > 0:02:18Well, how many rhinos could you get in there, do you think?

0:02:18 > 0:02:20How many rhinos do you want to get in there?

0:02:20 > 0:02:22I'm thinking about the weight!

0:02:22 > 0:02:24I mean from the rhino's point of view, it's not an ideal habitat, is it?

0:02:24 > 0:02:27It's a good way to think about this, surely, don't you think?

0:02:27 > 0:02:29I'm thinking this is nothing to do with rhinos,

0:02:29 > 0:02:30this is everything to do with water.

0:02:30 > 0:02:32It's the weight of the water in its mouth.

0:02:32 > 0:02:34You know the plates that run down.

0:02:34 > 0:02:37When one of these baleen whales opens its mouth,

0:02:37 > 0:02:39the entire front of its body is swollen up

0:02:39 > 0:02:42into an enormous spherical structure filled with water,

0:02:42 > 0:02:44and then it uses its immensely powerful tongue

0:02:44 > 0:02:46to push that water out,

0:02:46 > 0:02:49so it strains through its baleen plates and removes the food.

0:02:49 > 0:02:52It's about the weight of water, not the weight of the rhino.

0:02:52 > 0:02:54So it's what I said, it's about the weight of the water,

0:02:54 > 0:02:57- not the weight of the rhino, yep? - It's exactly what you said.

0:02:57 > 0:02:59And we are concurring when we say that "yes",

0:02:59 > 0:03:03the blue whale's tongue weighs more than the rhinoceros.

0:03:03 > 0:03:05So I'm going to say Yay for that.

0:03:05 > 0:03:07ELEPHANT TRUMPETING

0:03:07 > 0:03:09Are they right?

0:03:09 > 0:03:12The answer is a resounding, Yay!

0:03:12 > 0:03:16APPLAUSE

0:03:16 > 0:03:22Any ideas how much the weight of a blue whale's tongue might be?

0:03:22 > 0:03:24- Lindsey, do you want to have a shot at this?- Six tonnes.

0:03:24 > 0:03:28It's actually 2.7 metric tonnes, approximately.

0:03:28 > 0:03:31However, and this is my favourite blue whale fact,

0:03:31 > 0:03:35because of the shape of its throat, it can only swallow,

0:03:35 > 0:03:37something no bigger than...

0:03:37 > 0:03:39A human head, isn't it, or something like that?

0:03:39 > 0:03:41In your words, perhaps.

0:03:41 > 0:03:43I was going say beach ball, as a friendlier analogy.

0:03:43 > 0:03:47Well, what I was thinking was that Jonah could have never gotten in to the stomach of the whale.

0:03:47 > 0:03:51- No, he couldn't, unless he was beach ball sized.- His head could.

0:03:51 > 0:03:54So, very well done.

0:03:54 > 0:03:56You are correct. Which means that

0:03:56 > 0:04:00Chris and Lindsey get their very first part

0:04:00 > 0:04:03of their curious creature.

0:04:03 > 0:04:04And there it is.

0:04:04 > 0:04:08- OK.- Now, no guesses yet, you're going to be identifying, hopefully,

0:04:08 > 0:04:10these bits at the end of the programme to get your points.

0:04:10 > 0:04:13Now, Lucy, your fabulous fact is:

0:04:13 > 0:04:17Vampire bats are native to Transylvania.

0:04:17 > 0:04:20Look at that beautiful, beautiful creature, with a face that, frankly,

0:04:20 > 0:04:22only its mother could love. What do you say to that?

0:04:22 > 0:04:26I'd say it sounds a little bit too convenient, doesn't it, really?

0:04:26 > 0:04:28I think that is incorrect, actually.

0:04:28 > 0:04:33Because vampire bats were first discovered by the South American

0:04:33 > 0:04:34explorers, the early south,

0:04:34 > 0:04:36so they'd have to be rather off course

0:04:36 > 0:04:39if they'd found them in Transylvania.

0:04:39 > 0:04:40What do you think, do you agree?

0:04:40 > 0:04:42- I agree.- Yeah. It's a tropical beast.

0:04:42 > 0:04:45- Yep.- It's not from, Transylvania, where is Transylvania?

0:04:45 > 0:04:49- In Romania.- Yeah, and there are 1,100 species of bats,

0:04:49 > 0:04:53so you probably get lots of them in Transylvania but not the vampire.

0:04:53 > 0:04:56They're tiny, and they don't actually go for the neck,

0:04:56 > 0:04:58they'll go for nostrils and anuses.

0:04:58 > 0:05:00Nice.

0:05:00 > 0:05:01You might actually prefer to be

0:05:01 > 0:05:04- attacked on your neck, knowing that, actually.- You might, yes.

0:05:04 > 0:05:07Anyway, we should get back to the fact of whether you are right.

0:05:07 > 0:05:11So we're going Neigh, we think that this fact is not true.

0:05:11 > 0:05:13HORSE NEIGHS

0:05:13 > 0:05:17And I can tell you that you are absolutely right.

0:05:17 > 0:05:21APPLAUSE

0:05:21 > 0:05:25So, you two have won your first part of your curious creature.

0:05:25 > 0:05:26Let's have a look.

0:05:27 > 0:05:30Oh, what a lovely little face that is.

0:05:30 > 0:05:32Now, Lindsey,

0:05:32 > 0:05:38I put it to you that under its fur a tiger's skin is striped?

0:05:38 > 0:05:39Um, I...

0:05:39 > 0:05:42When was the last time you shaved a tiger?

0:05:42 > 0:05:45Ah, well, we'll come to that in a minute.

0:05:45 > 0:05:47I think I've heard about this before, Chris.

0:05:47 > 0:05:51I think they are. I think the markings are individual

0:05:51 > 0:05:55to each animal, and I think that underneath that fur

0:05:55 > 0:05:57is a beautiful striped skin as well.

0:05:57 > 0:06:00So you're going, Yay?

0:06:00 > 0:06:02I'm going, Yay.

0:06:02 > 0:06:04ELEPHANT TRUMPETING

0:06:04 > 0:06:05She's right.

0:06:11 > 0:06:14Now you said, "Who would be crazy enough to shave a tiger?"

0:06:14 > 0:06:15I have shaved a tiger.

0:06:15 > 0:06:18Well, you'll be delighted to know that

0:06:18 > 0:06:21you have something in common with our lovely friends

0:06:21 > 0:06:22at Dallas Zoo in Texas,

0:06:22 > 0:06:26who also shaved a tiger and this is what it looked like.

0:06:27 > 0:06:30There we are. So the stripes are very much there.

0:06:30 > 0:06:33So congratulations to you, Lindsey,

0:06:33 > 0:06:36you win another part of our curious creature.

0:06:36 > 0:06:39- Thank you.- Oh.- Oh, whoa!

0:06:39 > 0:06:43Do you know what? I was reading about those last night.

0:06:43 > 0:06:44I seriously was!

0:06:44 > 0:06:48- Were you?- I read a whole paper about that particular thing last night.

0:06:48 > 0:06:50What a coincidence that is.

0:06:50 > 0:06:52What a fortunate coincidence that is!

0:06:52 > 0:06:54Have you been sneaking in on my scripts?

0:06:54 > 0:06:57No, not at all, that's just a real coincidence.

0:06:57 > 0:07:00Well, we shall wait to find out what it is later in the programme.

0:07:00 > 0:07:02In the meantime, Vim.

0:07:02 > 0:07:04Yay or Neigh to this.

0:07:04 > 0:07:10A giraffe has more bones in its neck than a human?

0:07:10 > 0:07:14The question is are there more bones, or are they larger bones?

0:07:14 > 0:07:17- I'm doing the vet-y thing here. - Yes, OK.

0:07:17 > 0:07:19- I think it's the same. - It's a trick question.

0:07:19 > 0:07:22Because I think that the only mammal

0:07:22 > 0:07:27that has more neck bones than a human is a sloth, in fact.

0:07:27 > 0:07:29So you are going Neigh?

0:07:29 > 0:07:30I'm going Neigh.

0:07:30 > 0:07:32HORSE NEIGHS

0:07:32 > 0:07:34Is he right, ladies and gentlemen?

0:07:34 > 0:07:39Yes, he is. He is absolutely right.

0:07:41 > 0:07:46Virtually all mammals, including humans, have seven neck bones.

0:07:46 > 0:07:50Now, Lucy, you were absolutely right about your sloth fact.

0:07:50 > 0:07:55Sloths are the only land mammal to have more than seven neck vertebrae.

0:07:55 > 0:07:59Well done both of you, you have won another part

0:07:59 > 0:08:01of your glorious, curious, creature.

0:08:07 > 0:08:08There we are.

0:08:08 > 0:08:11Nice furry little body to add to your handsome head.

0:08:11 > 0:08:17Now, we move on to round two, which today is - What on Earth?

0:08:21 > 0:08:24So I'm going to play each team a clip.

0:08:24 > 0:08:27I'm going to start with you, Chris and Lindsey, and the question is,

0:08:27 > 0:08:32what on earth is this bird imitating?

0:08:32 > 0:08:34BIRD SQUAWKS

0:08:37 > 0:08:39- Can we see it again?- Yeah, can we see it again?

0:08:39 > 0:08:40You can see it again, yep.

0:08:40 > 0:08:43BIRD SQUAWKS

0:08:43 > 0:08:47So shall we start first of all with what bird that is?

0:08:47 > 0:08:50- It's a liar bird, isn't it? - It is absolutely a liar bird.

0:08:50 > 0:08:51What is it imitating?

0:08:51 > 0:08:54Can they imitate more than one call, then?

0:08:54 > 0:08:57Oh, yeah. And often they imitate human sounds,

0:08:57 > 0:08:58they will do mobile phones,

0:08:58 > 0:09:01car alarms, they will do all those sorts of things.

0:09:01 > 0:09:03This is an Australian species and I think it's mimicking another

0:09:03 > 0:09:05Australian species of bird,

0:09:05 > 0:09:09and I think that this liar bird is mimicking the kookaburra.

0:09:09 > 0:09:12That would be my wild stab in the dark.

0:09:12 > 0:09:15He doesn't do wild stab in the dark, does he? It's Chris Packham.

0:09:15 > 0:09:18He is absolutely right.

0:09:18 > 0:09:23APPLAUSE

0:09:23 > 0:09:24Now, as you said, Chris,

0:09:24 > 0:09:28these birds are absolutely the masters of mimicry,

0:09:28 > 0:09:31and we've got a lovely bit of film

0:09:31 > 0:09:35that shows you just how remarkable they can be.

0:09:35 > 0:09:37IT CHIRPS

0:09:37 > 0:09:40IT IMITATES CAMERA

0:09:40 > 0:09:47IT IMITATES ALARM

0:09:47 > 0:09:50IT CHIRPS

0:09:50 > 0:09:51I like one of the first ones there

0:09:51 > 0:09:54was an old fashioned camera with the motor drive,

0:09:54 > 0:09:56so you hear it taking the picture and then as it

0:09:56 > 0:09:58winds the film on.

0:09:58 > 0:10:01Probably gives you an idea of how to age the bird as well?

0:10:01 > 0:10:03- Probably, yeah.- Well, well done,

0:10:03 > 0:10:06you have won yourselves another part of your curious creature.

0:10:06 > 0:10:11APPLAUSE

0:10:11 > 0:10:12There we are.

0:10:12 > 0:10:14Now, then, Lucy and Vim.

0:10:14 > 0:10:18Your turn. What on earth made this

0:10:18 > 0:10:21amazing undersea pattern?

0:10:21 > 0:10:23Jellyfish.

0:10:23 > 0:10:24Jellyfish. Come on, talk us through that.

0:10:24 > 0:10:27- I was talking about the circular shape.- Yeah.

0:10:27 > 0:10:28The tentacles,

0:10:28 > 0:10:31the central body part, the mouth part.

0:10:31 > 0:10:33So you have concentric rings.

0:10:33 > 0:10:35And are you thinking that that's just effectively

0:10:35 > 0:10:38the jellyfish footprint, if a jellyfish can have a footprint.

0:10:38 > 0:10:41It can't be. I don't think that they hit the bottom of the seabed.

0:10:41 > 0:10:42No. No.

0:10:42 > 0:10:44It's a very,

0:10:44 > 0:10:46very clever thought but I think that

0:10:46 > 0:10:48it's a fish that's created that pattern.

0:10:48 > 0:10:51Why would it create a pattern like that, Lucy,

0:10:51 > 0:10:54- do you think?- I think it's done it to attract a mate.

0:10:54 > 0:10:55A mate, yep.

0:10:55 > 0:10:59I think it's a wild fishy seduction technique.

0:10:59 > 0:11:02- Do you?- Things can get pretty crazy on the seabed.

0:11:02 > 0:11:04Yeah.

0:11:04 > 0:11:06I think we're going to go with some kind of fish.

0:11:06 > 0:11:09I'd like you to be a little bit more specific.

0:11:09 > 0:11:10- Puffer fish.- Puffer fish?

0:11:10 > 0:11:11You're going puffer fish...

0:11:11 > 0:11:13She's right, you know.

0:11:13 > 0:11:16APPLAUSE

0:11:18 > 0:11:19And just to prove she's right,

0:11:19 > 0:11:24we have got some incredible footage of a Japanese puffer fish.

0:11:24 > 0:11:28- Look at that.- I mean I'd be impressed by that.- Would you?

0:11:28 > 0:11:32- Yeah, I would.- Any idea how long it takes a puffer fish to make

0:11:32 > 0:11:33those beautiful sand sculptures.

0:11:33 > 0:11:36- I would have said hours. - I reckon even more than that.

0:11:36 > 0:11:38- What a whole day? - Look, he's only tiny, though.

0:11:38 > 0:11:39Yeah, I reckon that's a day.

0:11:39 > 0:11:41- A day's work.- Yes.

0:11:41 > 0:11:45- A day?- No. No. No. When these fish want a girl,

0:11:45 > 0:11:50- they work for a week, 24 hours a day!- Wow.

0:11:50 > 0:11:53Obviously with the current it will get blown away,

0:11:53 > 0:11:55so they've got to keep working at it.

0:11:55 > 0:11:57When the circles are finished,

0:11:57 > 0:11:59females come to view them, as you said, Lucy,

0:11:59 > 0:12:03and if they like what they see, they reproduce with the males.

0:12:03 > 0:12:07Now, any idea what happens after they reproduce?

0:12:07 > 0:12:11They lay eggs. Just a wild guess?

0:12:11 > 0:12:12Do I get an extra point for that?

0:12:12 > 0:12:15Yes, definitely. And it's a slightly sad thing,

0:12:15 > 0:12:18because they do lay eggs and those fertilised eggs

0:12:18 > 0:12:22are deposited in the sand, and the male will then spend several days

0:12:22 > 0:12:25fanning those eggs with his fins

0:12:25 > 0:12:27to keep them oxygenated,

0:12:27 > 0:12:32and that fanning actually destroys his work of art.

0:12:32 > 0:12:35But you were absolutely right - it is a puffer fish and you have won

0:12:35 > 0:12:37another part of your curious creature.

0:12:37 > 0:12:40APPLAUSE

0:12:43 > 0:12:46So there you are, a nice little pair of perky ears for you.

0:12:46 > 0:12:50And now it's time to play our mystery animal round, called -

0:12:50 > 0:12:53Is It Bigger Than A Chicken?

0:12:55 > 0:12:57Yes, we'll be taking a detailed look

0:12:57 > 0:13:01at one particularly interesting creature,

0:13:01 > 0:13:05and the team's first job is to work out what it is.

0:13:05 > 0:13:08To do that, they ask me questions

0:13:08 > 0:13:12to which I must be able to answer only yes or no.

0:13:12 > 0:13:14Each time they get a "yes",

0:13:14 > 0:13:18a small part of our mystery animal is revealed, and if they wish,

0:13:18 > 0:13:21they can then guess what it is.

0:13:21 > 0:13:25But beware, teams, if you guess it wrong, you're out of the round.

0:13:25 > 0:13:28Oh, and there is just one other rule,

0:13:28 > 0:13:31the first question must always be, audience?

0:13:31 > 0:13:34AUDIENCE: Is it bigger than a chicken?

0:13:34 > 0:13:37Thank you very much. Vim, we are going to start with you,

0:13:37 > 0:13:40what question would you like to ask me?

0:13:40 > 0:13:42Is it bigger than a chicken?

0:13:42 > 0:13:46I'm delighted that you asked me that and the answer is, yes.

0:13:46 > 0:13:50- OK.- So you get your very first

0:13:50 > 0:13:53revealing square of our mystery animal.

0:13:55 > 0:13:57There it is.

0:13:57 > 0:13:58OK, so we shall shrink it back.

0:14:00 > 0:14:03Lindsey? A question from you?

0:14:03 > 0:14:08Has it got fur on any part of its body?

0:14:08 > 0:14:09- Yes.- Excellent.

0:14:09 > 0:14:12So you have got another little clue.

0:14:12 > 0:14:15And here it is. Very beady.

0:14:15 > 0:14:18It's also put in a position that gives you

0:14:18 > 0:14:21a rough idea of the shape and size

0:14:21 > 0:14:23of the creature we're talking about.

0:14:23 > 0:14:25I still have absolutely no idea.

0:14:25 > 0:14:27OK, Lucy, what question would you like to ask?

0:14:28 > 0:14:34I would like to ask if it digs burrows?

0:14:34 > 0:14:36Yes, it does.

0:14:36 > 0:14:40So you have won yourself another piece of our animal puzzle.

0:14:40 > 0:14:41Oh, yes.

0:14:41 > 0:14:45There it is. Now, you're looking very confident and a little glittery

0:14:45 > 0:14:47around the eyes, if I may say so.

0:14:47 > 0:14:48- Smug.- Yep, smug would be a word.

0:14:48 > 0:14:50- What are we looking at? - It's an Aardvark.

0:14:50 > 0:14:53- Do you think he's right? - I think he is right, yeah.

0:14:53 > 0:14:55I think the ear is distinctive and the small eye is...

0:14:55 > 0:14:58- It's from the eye. - It's from the eye, of course.

0:14:58 > 0:15:00The ophthalmologist, the eye man.

0:15:00 > 0:15:02Is the eye man right?

0:15:02 > 0:15:05FANFARE

0:15:07 > 0:15:10And is there anything in particular about an Aardvark eye

0:15:10 > 0:15:12that sets it apart from perhaps something else?

0:15:12 > 0:15:14It's hairlessness around the eye.

0:15:14 > 0:15:17Quite hairless skin and it looked like it was a mammal.

0:15:17 > 0:15:19Well, congratulations, Vim,

0:15:19 > 0:15:22you have won another part of your curious creature.

0:15:22 > 0:15:26There we are, a fine pair of twinkle toes.

0:15:26 > 0:15:29So well done to both Lucy and Vim.

0:15:29 > 0:15:31Chris and Lindsey,

0:15:31 > 0:15:35you have the chance to also win an extra bit of your curious creature

0:15:35 > 0:15:38if you can answer this bonus question.

0:15:38 > 0:15:43Do you know what the name Aardvark literally means?

0:15:43 > 0:15:45Do you know? I do know this. But I've forgotten it.

0:15:45 > 0:15:49- Aardvark.- Have a think about what it does?

0:15:49 > 0:15:51Well, it digs. It burrows, it feeds on ants.

0:15:51 > 0:15:54It's nocturnal. It gets eaten by things

0:15:54 > 0:15:56that are a lot more interesting than it.

0:15:56 > 0:15:58It's a...

0:15:58 > 0:16:02- You don't know the answer, do you? - No, go on.- He doesn't know.

0:16:02 > 0:16:05The literal translation of Aardvark

0:16:05 > 0:16:07is earth pig or ground hog,

0:16:07 > 0:16:11and it is a South African, Dutch name.

0:16:11 > 0:16:14However I can't give you a curious creature part

0:16:14 > 0:16:17- because you didn't know what Aardvark meant.- I'd forgotten.

0:16:17 > 0:16:19Ground pig. I'll never forget it now, though, will I?

0:16:19 > 0:16:21No, you won't. Never mind.

0:16:21 > 0:16:25Now round four today is a personal favourite of mine

0:16:25 > 0:16:28and it is called Whose Poo?

0:16:32 > 0:16:35Yes, we have a sample of animal excreta

0:16:35 > 0:16:38for each team to try and identify.

0:16:38 > 0:16:40They've been kindly provided by the

0:16:40 > 0:16:44National Poo Museum on the Isle of Wight.

0:16:44 > 0:16:47Now a small health and safety message -

0:16:47 > 0:16:49Please do not try this at home.

0:16:49 > 0:16:52All animal poo is potentially harmful,

0:16:52 > 0:16:55and our expert teams are examining their samples

0:16:55 > 0:16:59under strictly controlled conditions.

0:16:59 > 0:17:04There is your delightful little dome of joy.

0:17:04 > 0:17:06- Can I reveal the poo? - You can reveal the poo.

0:17:06 > 0:17:09- Go ahead. Ta-da.- Wonderful.

0:17:09 > 0:17:12The main thing we need to know, as Charles Darwin said,

0:17:12 > 0:17:14was the origin of the faeces.

0:17:14 > 0:17:16Would you like to smell it, Chris?

0:17:16 > 0:17:18Yeah. Yeah. Give me a wifter.

0:17:18 > 0:17:21Mmm. No. No. It's not bad. It's actually quite sweet.

0:17:21 > 0:17:24I'm looking in it, it's got berries in it,

0:17:24 > 0:17:26and it's got other grassy material in it.

0:17:26 > 0:17:29We don't want to break all of them open but these ones here.

0:17:29 > 0:17:30Yeah, it has a stone in it.

0:17:30 > 0:17:32It's almost like a hawthorn.

0:17:32 > 0:17:35And there's a small piece of wood which I imagine has been ingested

0:17:35 > 0:17:36accidentally, so it's maybe been

0:17:36 > 0:17:39snuffling around on the ground and it's picked up some wood.

0:17:39 > 0:17:42So it could be a ground-feeding herbivore.

0:17:42 > 0:17:44It's eating those berries, I would imagine, deliberately.

0:17:44 > 0:17:46Is this a native poo?

0:17:46 > 0:17:48I don't think it is a native species, to be honest with you.

0:17:48 > 0:17:51I've never found anything like this in my wanders.

0:17:51 > 0:17:55This does look as if it is a little bit fibrous, that could be bambooey.

0:17:55 > 0:17:57Yes, it's very stringy, that, isn't it?

0:17:57 > 0:17:59Look, that could be bambooey.

0:17:59 > 0:18:01I'm going to stick my neck out here,

0:18:01 > 0:18:02and what I'm going to go for,

0:18:02 > 0:18:05because of the vegetation and the stringy nature of the vegetation,

0:18:05 > 0:18:09and the diameter of the poo, I'm going to say that this is possibly

0:18:09 > 0:18:11red panda poo.

0:18:11 > 0:18:13Red panda poo?

0:18:13 > 0:18:14So not giant?

0:18:14 > 0:18:16No, I think it's red panda poo.

0:18:16 > 0:18:19Mr Packham is absolutely right.

0:18:19 > 0:18:24APPLAUSE

0:18:26 > 0:18:28Now you said that the evidence there

0:18:28 > 0:18:33was that this is mainly a vegetarian diet, that they scrabble around on the ground.

0:18:33 > 0:18:34Absolutely right about that.

0:18:34 > 0:18:38Congratulations, you have won another part

0:18:38 > 0:18:40of your curious creature.

0:18:40 > 0:18:42Excellent.

0:18:47 > 0:18:50So there you are. A fine pair of pins there.

0:18:50 > 0:18:53Now, Lucy and Vim.

0:18:53 > 0:18:58Here is your curious little bit of excreta.

0:19:00 > 0:19:02- Are you ready, Vim? - I'm ready.- OK.

0:19:03 > 0:19:05Phoar, it's so smelly.

0:19:05 > 0:19:06Oh, my God.

0:19:07 > 0:19:08Wow!

0:19:11 > 0:19:13- Dare we...- You haven't given us much to work with?

0:19:13 > 0:19:16Well, I don't know, I think there's quite a lot you can have fun with,

0:19:16 > 0:19:20with that. Anything else that strikes you in particular about it?

0:19:20 > 0:19:25- Gee, thanks.- That's, that's, we are not dealing with a vegetarian.

0:19:25 > 0:19:27This may be one for the gloves.

0:19:27 > 0:19:30- I think so. I think so.- Would you like the sugar tongs?

0:19:30 > 0:19:31I'll wear the gloves.

0:19:31 > 0:19:33I mean, it's got to be done.

0:19:33 > 0:19:37Yeah, now, I'd like to see a little veterinary skill here, Vim.

0:19:40 > 0:19:41What is that?

0:19:41 > 0:19:44Hold on, it's part of a skull, isn't it?

0:19:44 > 0:19:46- A skull?- Oh, how fantastic.

0:19:46 > 0:19:47Yep.

0:19:47 > 0:19:49I can see...

0:19:49 > 0:19:52- We've got some bigger bits in here. - I can see some little teeth there.

0:19:52 > 0:19:56Those would be the upper canines. Tiny, tiny little eyes.

0:19:56 > 0:19:58So, what would eat something like that, do you think?

0:19:58 > 0:20:01A bird of prey, I think, possibly.

0:20:01 > 0:20:02I've got a skull.

0:20:02 > 0:20:05You're got another skull. An even bigger one.

0:20:05 > 0:20:07Look at this! This has got eye orbits and the whole...

0:20:07 > 0:20:10You see now you've forgotten what it smelled like, haven't you?

0:20:10 > 0:20:13It's quite a treasure-trove in there.

0:20:14 > 0:20:17I'm actually quite intoxicated.

0:20:18 > 0:20:20So bird of prey, then.

0:20:20 > 0:20:23Any thoughts beyond bird of prey,

0:20:23 > 0:20:25can you get more specific, do you think?

0:20:25 > 0:20:29It depends on where this has come from in terms of country, continent.

0:20:29 > 0:20:35What about thinking where it's come from in terms of

0:20:35 > 0:20:39which part of the animal it came out of?

0:20:39 > 0:20:43You see that's the thing. I think it didn't come out of its bum.

0:20:43 > 0:20:46It could be a tricabezoa, that's a good word.

0:20:46 > 0:20:47That is a very good word.

0:20:47 > 0:20:50Would you like to explain it to us, non-veterinary types.

0:20:50 > 0:20:52A tricabezoa is like a fur ball, basically.

0:20:52 > 0:20:55- Right.- It's a glorified word for a fur ball,

0:20:55 > 0:21:00so it could be regurgitated material, rather than the other end.

0:21:00 > 0:21:05Well if you remember, I very carefully described it as excreta,

0:21:05 > 0:21:09so it could indeed have come from that end rather than the back end.

0:21:09 > 0:21:15- Yep.- So now that you've dug deeper, as it were,

0:21:15 > 0:21:17any thoughts?

0:21:17 > 0:21:19Owl.

0:21:19 > 0:21:22- Some sort of big owl. - Some sort of big owl.

0:21:22 > 0:21:24I can see Chris looking at me.

0:21:24 > 0:21:27I mean, we're species specific over here, you know.

0:21:27 > 0:21:29- Shall we go with tawny?- Tawny, yeah.

0:21:29 > 0:21:32- You're going tawny owl.- Tawny owl.

0:21:32 > 0:21:36You are absolutely right that it is indeed an owl pellet that was

0:21:36 > 0:21:39regurgitated, so it's not poo.

0:21:39 > 0:21:44We are going to give you your curious creature part - however,

0:21:44 > 0:21:49the owl that is responsible is in fact one of these utter beauties.

0:21:49 > 0:21:51Oh, it's a barn owl.

0:21:51 > 0:21:53It is a barn owl.

0:21:53 > 0:21:56So another British species but, yeah, not a tawny.

0:21:56 > 0:22:00And you now get your curious creature part.

0:22:00 > 0:22:03APPLAUSE

0:22:06 > 0:22:09And now we are almost at the end of the show,

0:22:09 > 0:22:12which means it's time to see how many bits

0:22:12 > 0:22:16of their curious creatures our teams can identify.

0:22:20 > 0:22:21Now, Lucy and Vim,

0:22:21 > 0:22:26you have completed your curious creature with all five body parts.

0:22:26 > 0:22:31Chris and Lindsey, you just managed to gather four,

0:22:31 > 0:22:34so now is the time to identify them.

0:22:34 > 0:22:37You'll get two points for each part you correctly identify.

0:22:37 > 0:22:40We're going to start with the head,

0:22:40 > 0:22:43so let's have a look at that - any guesses?

0:22:43 > 0:22:44Some kind of lynx?

0:22:44 > 0:22:47You're absolutely right it is a lynx.

0:22:47 > 0:22:49To be specific, an Iberian lynx,

0:22:49 > 0:22:50so that's two points.

0:22:50 > 0:22:52Now what about this lovely nose?

0:22:52 > 0:22:55You said you were reading about these only last night, Chris?

0:22:55 > 0:22:56Yes, a curious coincidence,

0:22:56 > 0:23:00this is the appendage which fronts the star-nosed mole.

0:23:00 > 0:23:02You're absolutely right.

0:23:02 > 0:23:04And it is a remarkable organ.

0:23:04 > 0:23:08There are 11 pairs of extensions here, tentacles, almost.

0:23:08 > 0:23:12The two most sensitive are those which are in the lower centre there,

0:23:12 > 0:23:15with are situated over the mouth,

0:23:15 > 0:23:20and they act more like an eye than a tactile thing.

0:23:20 > 0:23:23So, basically, those around the edge of it

0:23:23 > 0:23:25are for sort of seeing in a peripheral way, and then

0:23:25 > 0:23:28they focus on these two above the mouth and they identify the

0:23:28 > 0:23:30prey and consume it. And these are remarkable little animals,

0:23:30 > 0:23:34they live not only beneath the soil where they feed on worms,

0:23:34 > 0:23:36but they'll also swim under water

0:23:36 > 0:23:38and take aquatic animals from under water.

0:23:38 > 0:23:41North-eastern, United States, amazing.

0:23:41 > 0:23:44Now, what about this lovely little furry body?

0:23:44 > 0:23:47I think there are some quite strong hind legs

0:23:47 > 0:23:50that you can just begin to see in the picture there.

0:23:50 > 0:23:52Mmm, and possibly a pouch.

0:23:52 > 0:23:55We're going to go wallaby or tree kangaroo on this one.

0:23:55 > 0:23:59- It can't be both.- Oh, sorry. OK.- Oh, come on! It's got to be one of them.

0:23:59 > 0:24:01- Come on, Linds.- I think we go with the kangaroo, the tree kangaroo.

0:24:01 > 0:24:03- You'll go tree kangaroo?- Yeah.

0:24:03 > 0:24:05- It's a wallaby.- Oh, no!

0:24:05 > 0:24:09It's a wallaby- it's in fact a yellow-footed rock wallaby.

0:24:09 > 0:24:10Of course. Of course!

0:24:11 > 0:24:13Any fool would know that!

0:24:13 > 0:24:15Any fool would know that!

0:24:15 > 0:24:17So, no points for that one

0:24:17 > 0:24:19and let's see if you can claw back a little bit

0:24:19 > 0:24:23of self-respect and identify those perky pins for us?

0:24:23 > 0:24:24Are these the legs of a tawny owl?

0:24:28 > 0:24:30Is that your final answer?

0:24:30 > 0:24:32No!

0:24:32 > 0:24:34- We think we know this one. - Yes.- Elephant.

0:24:34 > 0:24:37Elephant. Do you want to be a little more specific.

0:24:37 > 0:24:39I think that's two legs from an elephant.

0:24:41 > 0:24:43I'm going to give you that, an African elephant,

0:24:43 > 0:24:45if you want to be picky, but two more points there.

0:24:45 > 0:24:50However, you have the chance of getting one extra point if you can

0:24:50 > 0:24:54identify the body part that you didn't win - and here it is.

0:24:54 > 0:24:57- It looks like a leaf. - Indeed, it's does.

0:24:59 > 0:25:02- That's all I'm going to give you on that.- OK!

0:25:02 > 0:25:05- It looks like a leaf? - It does look like a leaf.

0:25:05 > 0:25:07So something it needs to disguise?

0:25:07 > 0:25:12I think we should go, it's the tail of a leaf-tailed gecko.

0:25:12 > 0:25:13- Happy with that, Linds?- Yeah, happy with that.

0:25:13 > 0:25:16Well, you'll get an extra point in that case.

0:25:16 > 0:25:20You're absolutely right it is the tail of a leaf-tailed gecko.

0:25:25 > 0:25:28So, Chris and Lindsey have seven points,

0:25:28 > 0:25:30Vim and Lucy, can you do any better?

0:25:30 > 0:25:36Now you of course did manage to get all your curious creature parts.

0:25:36 > 0:25:39You could still win very easily, Chris, I think.

0:25:39 > 0:25:42Because we've... the face is easy, isn't it? Because it's so distinctive.

0:25:42 > 0:25:45Really lovely, distinctive indigo blue face

0:25:45 > 0:25:46and we think that's a mandrill.

0:25:46 > 0:25:49You're absolutely right. Two points for that.

0:25:49 > 0:25:53What about this lovely furry body, what do you think about that?

0:25:53 > 0:25:55We're also feeling bullish about that, aren't we?

0:25:55 > 0:25:57We think it's an otter.

0:25:57 > 0:25:59Yes, your hunch is right, it is an otter,

0:25:59 > 0:26:01it's a Eurasian otter to be exact.

0:26:01 > 0:26:04Two points, taking you to four points.

0:26:04 > 0:26:06Now how about those perky little ears?

0:26:06 > 0:26:08- What do we think?- That's tricky.

0:26:08 > 0:26:11- Very difficult.- We thought it might have been a red panda,

0:26:11 > 0:26:12and then very helpfully...

0:26:13 > 0:26:18There was a red panda earlier in the quiz and we ruled that out.

0:26:18 > 0:26:20Maybe a fox.

0:26:20 > 0:26:22Yeah, it's definitely not feline, as far as I'm concerned.

0:26:22 > 0:26:26OK, so you're going canid, rather than feline?

0:26:26 > 0:26:29We think so. It could very well be a common or garden fox, I think?

0:26:29 > 0:26:31Common or garden fox?

0:26:31 > 0:26:34- Mmm.- I'm afraid not. It is a grey wolf.

0:26:34 > 0:26:37So you were right with the canid, but not the fox.

0:26:37 > 0:26:39So no points there.

0:26:39 > 0:26:43How about these rather splendid feet?

0:26:43 > 0:26:46Well, I think they can only belong to one thing, don't you?

0:26:46 > 0:26:47Yes. A blue-footed booby.

0:26:47 > 0:26:51Absolutely right. They are indeed. So six points.

0:26:51 > 0:26:55Now if you can get this next one right, you will be the winners,

0:26:55 > 0:27:00it is a very emblematic piece of a very emblematic animal,

0:27:00 > 0:27:02what do you reckon?

0:27:02 > 0:27:04Well, it's tricky this.

0:27:04 > 0:27:06So, Chris, you may well win.

0:27:08 > 0:27:10It's a sea creature.

0:27:10 > 0:27:14- It's aquatic.- It's aquatic, it's a tail, it's a shark.

0:27:15 > 0:27:18I am going to have to ask you to be specific for this one.

0:27:18 > 0:27:21Are we allowed to get a clue, Kate?

0:27:21 > 0:27:22There's an awful lot of...

0:27:22 > 0:27:23HE COUGHS

0:27:23 > 0:27:24Of animal missing.

0:27:26 > 0:27:29I can just say you're doing quite well with your surmising.

0:27:29 > 0:27:31Well, I'm thinking mako but I don't know.

0:27:31 > 0:27:34- I think we'll go with that. - You're going mako shark?

0:27:36 > 0:27:40I'm afraid, I can give you one point for shark,

0:27:40 > 0:27:43but it is a thresher shark.

0:27:43 > 0:27:47- That wonderful threshing tail.- Yep.

0:27:47 > 0:27:53So, that means you too have seven points at the end of the round.

0:27:53 > 0:27:58APPLAUSE

0:27:58 > 0:28:01Which means that it is a draw between our teams.

0:28:01 > 0:28:05Congratulations to Chris and Lindsey, to Lucy and Vim.

0:28:10 > 0:28:14So, thank you to our four curious creatures for playing.

0:28:14 > 0:28:18Thank you all. And to all of you at home, our marvellous mammals,

0:28:18 > 0:28:21who've been watching, and we'll see you next time. Goodbye.