Episode 9

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0:00:09 > 0:00:11APPLAUSE

0:00:17 > 0:00:21Hello, I'm Kate Humble, and this is Curious Creatures,

0:00:21 > 0:00:23the brand-new quiz all about the wonders of the animal kingdom.

0:00:25 > 0:00:28Over the next half hour, we'll be covering all manner of life

0:00:28 > 0:00:30on planet Earth, from birds, to fish...

0:00:31 > 0:00:33..to insects, to reptiles.

0:00:33 > 0:00:37But first, it's time to meet four mammals of the order Primates

0:00:37 > 0:00:40and the species Homo Sapiens.

0:00:40 > 0:00:44Please welcome on my left, star of Autumnwatch, Springwatch,

0:00:44 > 0:00:47Winterwatch... He'll watch anything, it's Chris Packham.

0:00:47 > 0:00:50- APPLAUSE - Hello.

0:00:52 > 0:00:55And he's joined by a marine and wildlife expert,

0:00:55 > 0:00:57Miranda Krestovnikoff

0:00:57 > 0:00:58APPLAUSE

0:01:01 > 0:01:04And on my right, writer, broadcaster,

0:01:04 > 0:01:08and founder of the Sloth Appreciation Society,

0:01:08 > 0:01:09it can only be Lucy Cooke...

0:01:09 > 0:01:10APPLAUSE

0:01:13 > 0:01:18..who is joined by top TV vet and wildlife presenter, Steve Leonard.

0:01:18 > 0:01:19APPLAUSE

0:01:22 > 0:01:27Let's get cracking with our opening round which is called Yay or Neigh?

0:01:30 > 0:01:33So, I will read a statement about the animal kingdom,

0:01:33 > 0:01:36and our team's job is simply to decide whether it's true...

0:01:36 > 0:01:38ELEPHANT TRUMPETS

0:01:38 > 0:01:40That's a yay. Or false...

0:01:40 > 0:01:42HORSES NEIGHS

0:01:42 > 0:01:44That is a neigh.

0:01:44 > 0:01:47And Chris, we are going to start with you.

0:01:47 > 0:01:50"Female robins do not sing."

0:01:51 > 0:01:54Wow, female robins do not sing.

0:01:54 > 0:01:57Well, the first thing we can say is that there is a misconception that

0:01:57 > 0:01:59female robins don't have a red breast.

0:01:59 > 0:02:01It's only the males that have a red breast.

0:02:01 > 0:02:02And that's not true to start with.

0:02:02 > 0:02:05So, the females and the males do look identical?

0:02:05 > 0:02:06- They look identical...- It's not red.

0:02:06 > 0:02:10- What do you mean it's not red? - Look at it. It's orange.

0:02:10 > 0:02:12- That's just your eyesight. - No, it's not. They're orange.

0:02:12 > 0:02:14- Yeah, they're russet-y. - They are orange.

0:02:14 > 0:02:16The problem being is they were named

0:02:16 > 0:02:18before the colour orange was invented.

0:02:18 > 0:02:22The colour orange only came along latterly because of the fruit.

0:02:22 > 0:02:26So, everybody, if you drew a robin, you would reach for red pen.

0:02:26 > 0:02:28It's not. It's quite clearly orange.

0:02:28 > 0:02:30The other thing is that robins sing throughout the year,

0:02:30 > 0:02:33and they are one of the most common songs that you will hear.

0:02:33 > 0:02:35And they will sing in the middle of cities, in particular,

0:02:35 > 0:02:38- in the wintertime.- We can have a little listen to some.

0:02:38 > 0:02:40- Shall we have a listen to some? - OK, let's listen.

0:02:40 > 0:02:41ROBIN SINGS

0:02:43 > 0:02:46'Tis a lovely sound. It perks up a winter's day, doesn't it,

0:02:46 > 0:02:48when you've got nothing else.

0:02:48 > 0:02:52But the main reason that birds sing is what?

0:02:52 > 0:02:55Well, typically it's a territorial thing.

0:02:55 > 0:02:56And typically, of course,

0:02:56 > 0:02:59it's the males that do most of the singing in the springtime

0:02:59 > 0:03:04when they're proclaiming and displaying their fitness to females.

0:03:04 > 0:03:07Would there be any reason for a female to sing?

0:03:07 > 0:03:09Yeah, because what happens with robins

0:03:09 > 0:03:12is that they keep their territories throughout the course of the year.

0:03:12 > 0:03:14They're residents, they're not migrants.

0:03:14 > 0:03:16And they are ferociously territorial.

0:03:16 > 0:03:18They will fight each other to the death.

0:03:18 > 0:03:23The statement is "female robins do not sing".

0:03:24 > 0:03:25I should say a neigh for that.

0:03:25 > 0:03:27Female robins do sing.

0:03:27 > 0:03:28I think female robins sing.

0:03:28 > 0:03:30Yeah, so were going to say neigh,

0:03:30 > 0:03:33implying therefore that both male and female robins sing.

0:03:33 > 0:03:36And you're right. Congratulations.

0:03:36 > 0:03:37APPLAUSE

0:03:40 > 0:03:44As you said, the female robins will sing as well throughout the year to

0:03:44 > 0:03:46protect their territories, too.

0:03:46 > 0:03:49You win the first part of your curious creature.

0:03:49 > 0:03:52Let's have a look and see what it is.

0:03:52 > 0:03:54Oh, what a fine looking fellow.

0:03:54 > 0:03:57- I love those things. - That is a fine looking fellow.

0:03:57 > 0:03:59Right then. Lucy...

0:03:59 > 0:04:02- Yes.- This one is for you.

0:04:02 > 0:04:07"Starfish do not have blood running through their veins."

0:04:08 > 0:04:11This is an Indian sea star, in case anyone was wondering.

0:04:11 > 0:04:14But does it have blood running through its veins?

0:04:15 > 0:04:18Well, starfish are echinoderms.

0:04:18 > 0:04:21- I know that. And they're in the... - Good start.- Which is...

0:04:21 > 0:04:24So, I know the Latin name for the group that they're part of.

0:04:24 > 0:04:25- Good.- So, that's a good start.

0:04:25 > 0:04:29They are very simple organisms.

0:04:29 > 0:04:31And they...

0:04:31 > 0:04:34Same family as sea urchins.

0:04:34 > 0:04:36And, I don't think they've got blood vessels even.

0:04:36 > 0:04:39Well, no. I think they'll have some sort of lymph, won't they,

0:04:39 > 0:04:42- in terms of...- Yeah, but it's... - But it won't be an organised...

0:04:42 > 0:04:44To have blood vessels, you need a heart, you need a pump,

0:04:44 > 0:04:47and actually with most of these things, isn't it,

0:04:47 > 0:04:50it's just through, actually, leakage of fluid to carry.

0:04:50 > 0:04:52It's not as complicated as...

0:04:53 > 0:04:56- ..a more sort of, like a...- Vascular system.- Yeah, a vascular system.

0:04:56 > 0:04:59I don't think there's going to be anything there.

0:04:59 > 0:05:01No, I don't think so. I don't think a starfish even has a heart!

0:05:01 > 0:05:03I don't think... They're callous.

0:05:03 > 0:05:06They are. They are really, really mean.

0:05:06 > 0:05:08Yeah. You don't want to cross a starfish.

0:05:08 > 0:05:10- Oh, they can be brutal. - They're cold.

0:05:10 > 0:05:14So, if I were to say starfish do not have blood running through their

0:05:14 > 0:05:15veins, you're going...

0:05:15 > 0:05:16Yay.

0:05:17 > 0:05:18You're right.

0:05:18 > 0:05:19APPLAUSE

0:05:23 > 0:05:26How do they distribute the nutrients around their body?

0:05:26 > 0:05:28- Any idea?- Oh, some sort of...

0:05:28 > 0:05:29- Some sort of...- Liquid.

0:05:29 > 0:05:33Yeah. So, they sort of have an endolymph thing, or...

0:05:33 > 0:05:36- Sea water.- I love the way... - Sea water?- They use sea water...

0:05:36 > 0:05:37To transport stuff around?

0:05:37 > 0:05:40To transport nutrients throughout their bodies.

0:05:40 > 0:05:43All of which means that you have won your first part

0:05:43 > 0:05:46- of a curious creature. Let's have a look.- Oh!

0:05:49 > 0:05:50Oh, my deary me.

0:05:50 > 0:05:52There we go. Miranda,

0:05:52 > 0:05:58your statement is "a punch from a mantis shrimp can break glass".

0:06:00 > 0:06:04Well, a lot of marine creatures have very unusual ways of defending

0:06:04 > 0:06:08themselves, but I think the mantis shrimp is pretty famous

0:06:08 > 0:06:11for having an incredibly powerful punch.

0:06:12 > 0:06:14But powerful enough to break glass?

0:06:14 > 0:06:17Well, I suppose it depends how thick your glass is, doesn't it, really?

0:06:17 > 0:06:19A glass of wine. Would it be able to break a glass

0:06:19 > 0:06:22that you'd have a glass of wine in, do you think?

0:06:22 > 0:06:24I'm going to say absolutely yes on that one.

0:06:24 > 0:06:26- Yes.- Would you agree?- Yeah, I would.

0:06:26 > 0:06:29Yeah, their punching capacity is phenomenal.

0:06:29 > 0:06:30They punch...

0:06:30 > 0:06:31Now, I've got to get this right.

0:06:31 > 0:06:36They punch so quickly that they can generate a vacuum in the water...

0:06:36 > 0:06:39- That's the one, yes.- Which causes a spark of light,

0:06:39 > 0:06:42and an incredibly loud sound.

0:06:42 > 0:06:44I think if you put one in the average wineglass,

0:06:44 > 0:06:46it's going to be very unhappy about that.

0:06:46 > 0:06:48It's not native habitat for a mantis shrimp...

0:06:48 > 0:06:50Even if it's a very fine Chardonnay?

0:06:50 > 0:06:52Yeah, and it's going to punch itself straight out of that.

0:06:54 > 0:06:56So, your answer to the statement

0:06:56 > 0:06:59"a punch from a mantis shrimp can break glass" is?

0:06:59 > 0:07:01I'm definitely going yay.

0:07:01 > 0:07:02- Are we going yay, Chris?- Yay.- Yay.

0:07:02 > 0:07:05And you're right.

0:07:05 > 0:07:06APPLAUSE

0:07:09 > 0:07:13It can actually break glass up to a quarter of an inch thick

0:07:13 > 0:07:15with its punch. You've won yourselves

0:07:15 > 0:07:18another part of your curious creature.

0:07:23 > 0:07:24Goodness.

0:07:24 > 0:07:26Here's your statement, Steve.

0:07:26 > 0:07:28"Lions are very efficient hunters,

0:07:28 > 0:07:31"catching their prey around 80% of the time."

0:07:31 > 0:07:32Ah, OK.

0:07:34 > 0:07:38So, they're, obviously, a very unusual cat, in the fact that they,

0:07:38 > 0:07:40obviously, are non-solitary hunters.

0:07:40 > 0:07:44So, they are more successful than lots of other cats, because they,

0:07:44 > 0:07:45obviously, do it as a pride.

0:07:45 > 0:07:49But they are not that good, actually.

0:07:49 > 0:07:53The one pack animal that really is up in that 80% mark

0:07:53 > 0:07:57is your wild dog, your painted dog. In fact,

0:07:57 > 0:08:00as soon as we start to be able to film these animals at night,

0:08:00 > 0:08:03we find out actually that the lion, who is supposed to be the king of

0:08:03 > 0:08:08predators, is actually a bit of a bully boy and steals prey.

0:08:08 > 0:08:12I don't think a lion is successful 80% of the time.

0:08:12 > 0:08:15So, your answer to "lions are very efficient hunters,

0:08:15 > 0:08:18"catching their prey around 80% of the time" is?

0:08:18 > 0:08:19- A neigh.- Neigh.

0:08:19 > 0:08:21You are absolutely right.

0:08:21 > 0:08:22APPLAUSE

0:08:27 > 0:08:32As you said, Steve, if the lions are hunting as a group, as a pride,

0:08:32 > 0:08:36they might be 30% successful in getting their quarry.

0:08:36 > 0:08:41As individuals, much less success rates, 17 to 19%.

0:08:41 > 0:08:42Well done, you've won yourselves

0:08:42 > 0:08:44another part of your curious creature.

0:08:44 > 0:08:45Very good.

0:08:48 > 0:08:49Cuddly.

0:08:49 > 0:08:51Huggable.

0:08:51 > 0:08:54So, as our curious creatures begin to take shape,

0:08:54 > 0:08:59we move on to Round Two, which today is called Who's The Daddy?

0:09:02 > 0:09:05Each team will see a baby animal.

0:09:05 > 0:09:09All they have to do is figure out who its daddy and mummy are.

0:09:09 > 0:09:13So, Chris and Miranda, have a look at this.

0:09:15 > 0:09:16Any thoughts?

0:09:18 > 0:09:19It's a bird.

0:09:19 > 0:09:20LAUGHTER

0:09:21 > 0:09:24You can come back again. Yes, absolutely.

0:09:24 > 0:09:25I think I know what it is.

0:09:25 > 0:09:28- I think you know what it is too, yeah.- Yeah.

0:09:29 > 0:09:36Quite an unusual looking bill, which I believe grows to sort of...

0:09:36 > 0:09:40It turns down and grows quite large.

0:09:40 > 0:09:43And I think it becomes my least favourite colour,

0:09:43 > 0:09:44although I think I'm wearing it.

0:09:44 > 0:09:47But I'll also tell you about their ridiculous nests as well.

0:09:47 > 0:09:50I think birds should build nests out of twigs,

0:09:50 > 0:09:52because that's what you learn at school,

0:09:52 > 0:09:54or fluffy bits of down or something.

0:09:54 > 0:09:58Something, I don't know, a bit comfortable to lay their eggs in.

0:09:58 > 0:10:03And these birds just get a load of mud and build a nest full of mud...

0:10:03 > 0:10:06Made of mud which raises the eggs above the, sort of,

0:10:06 > 0:10:09caustic water that it's surrounded by.

0:10:09 > 0:10:13- Well, that's a good thing, surely? - Until the water comes up.

0:10:13 > 0:10:15Until it rains, basically.

0:10:15 > 0:10:18Well, now you've been so fabulously cryptic about it.

0:10:18 > 0:10:19Do you want to name it?

0:10:19 > 0:10:21It is a flamingo chick.

0:10:21 > 0:10:25I can't tell you which species of flamingo chick it is, but...

0:10:25 > 0:10:26Let's see if you're right.

0:10:26 > 0:10:28I would say it's definitely a flamingo chick.

0:10:28 > 0:10:30You're absolutely right.

0:10:30 > 0:10:31APPLAUSE

0:10:33 > 0:10:36They get that colour, carotene, from the food

0:10:36 > 0:10:38that they strain with their beaks.

0:10:38 > 0:10:40When they first started keeping them in captivity...

0:10:40 > 0:10:42I was going to say, when they're kept in captivity

0:10:42 > 0:10:45they have to be given extra carotene in their diet

0:10:45 > 0:10:48otherwise they lose this amazing pink colour.

0:10:48 > 0:10:49They go white, don't they?

0:10:49 > 0:10:52Well, you have just won another part of your curious creature.

0:10:52 > 0:10:53Congratulations.

0:10:53 > 0:10:54APPLAUSE

0:10:59 > 0:11:01Lucy and Steve...

0:11:01 > 0:11:05- Yes.- Your beautiful babe is this.

0:11:09 > 0:11:12OK. So, I'm guessing as a vet, Steve,

0:11:12 > 0:11:15you like to identify animals by...

0:11:15 > 0:11:19By what they've come out of, normally.

0:11:19 > 0:11:22- Normally that's the best way. - Yeah, that's quite a good clue.

0:11:22 > 0:11:24Because you've had a hold of both those feet,

0:11:24 > 0:11:27- you're going, "You all right there, Mum?" So, yeah.- Yeah.

0:11:27 > 0:11:30What do you think you would have pulled those rather long legs out of?

0:11:30 > 0:11:32It's looking very cow-like...

0:11:32 > 0:11:34- Yeah.- I'm just thinking could it...

0:11:34 > 0:11:36- What kind of wild...? - There's wildebeest.

0:11:36 > 0:11:38- It could be wildebeest.- I was thinking it might be a wildebeest.

0:11:38 > 0:11:40They're very... And this is the weird thing.

0:11:40 > 0:11:43When you see them for the first time, I thought they were going to

0:11:43 > 0:11:45be the size of cows, which are great, big things.

0:11:45 > 0:11:47They're actually really small. Adult wildebeest are tiny.

0:11:47 > 0:11:51Is there anything else that could fit that description?

0:11:51 > 0:11:54- Yeah, that's what I'm thinking... - So there's buffalo, obviously.

0:11:54 > 0:11:57- Yeah, there's bison... - Yup.- There's buffalo.

0:11:57 > 0:11:58This is on grassland.

0:11:58 > 0:12:00This is on a big savannah-y type thing.

0:12:00 > 0:12:02It could be buffalo. They could be Cape Buffalo.

0:12:02 > 0:12:06That's very... Obviously, they're large and black when they're adult.

0:12:06 > 0:12:07I think it could be...

0:12:07 > 0:12:09It could be buffalo. Come on, say buffalo.

0:12:09 > 0:12:12- I think...- Buffalo.- Totally wrong.

0:12:12 > 0:12:15If you say wildebeest now, I'm...

0:12:15 > 0:12:18That is a gnu-born baby. It is a wildebeest.

0:12:18 > 0:12:20You are a Cruella de Vil.

0:12:20 > 0:12:23So, all in all, you didn't get it right.

0:12:23 > 0:12:25No sulking.

0:12:25 > 0:12:31This is the point in the show where we ask Is It Bigger Than A Chicken?

0:12:34 > 0:12:38Our teams will take it in turns to ask me questions about a mystery

0:12:38 > 0:12:43animal, to which I must be able to answer only yes or no.

0:12:43 > 0:12:44Each time they get a yes,

0:12:44 > 0:12:47a small part of the animal is revealed on the screens.

0:12:47 > 0:12:51Whoever guesses the animal correctly wins another part of their team's

0:12:51 > 0:12:52curious creature.

0:12:52 > 0:12:57There is just one other rule which must be abided by.

0:12:57 > 0:13:00The first question must always be, audience?

0:13:00 > 0:13:03Is it bigger than a chicken?

0:13:03 > 0:13:04Thank you very much, indeed.

0:13:04 > 0:13:05So, Miranda.

0:13:05 > 0:13:07- Hello.- We'll start with you.

0:13:07 > 0:13:10What would you like your first question to be?

0:13:10 > 0:13:11Right, well.

0:13:12 > 0:13:16I think I've got to ask you, Kate, is it bigger than a chicken?

0:13:16 > 0:13:21I can begin with a big, resounding yes.

0:13:21 > 0:13:26So you get your first little bit of the mystery animal.

0:13:26 > 0:13:27- Here we are.- OK.

0:13:27 > 0:13:29Do you want to tell me what that is?

0:13:29 > 0:13:30Fur.

0:13:30 > 0:13:33- It's fur.- So, yeah.

0:13:33 > 0:13:35- Does that narrow it down somewhat for you?- Yes, probably.

0:13:35 > 0:13:38I think we're probably talking about a mammal!

0:13:38 > 0:13:39That's probably about it.

0:13:39 > 0:13:40You don't have to reveal it,

0:13:40 > 0:13:43but do you have a suspicion what it might be just from that square?

0:13:43 > 0:13:45I have a suspicion. Do you?

0:13:45 > 0:13:49Yeah, I've probably got about ten suspicions of what it could be.

0:13:49 > 0:13:53- OK. OK.- But I wouldn't at this point proffer them in public.

0:13:53 > 0:13:55I think that's probably very wise.

0:13:55 > 0:13:57What would you like to ask me, Steve?

0:13:57 > 0:13:58- Now...- We want to get a yes answer.

0:13:58 > 0:14:00I do want to get a yes answer.

0:14:00 > 0:14:04Is it smaller than a blue whale?

0:14:06 > 0:14:09Hang on, let me think. Yes, it is.

0:14:09 > 0:14:12There we go. I think I've got the measure of this quiz.

0:14:12 > 0:14:15Let's have a look at your second clue.

0:14:17 > 0:14:18Ah, OK.

0:14:18 > 0:14:20There you are.

0:14:20 > 0:14:23So, we'll shrink it back and see where it fits in the picture.

0:14:23 > 0:14:25I think we probably want to make some kind of a guess.

0:14:25 > 0:14:28Yeah. I'm thinking, one of my favourite...

0:14:28 > 0:14:30- You thinking Madagascar?- No.

0:14:30 > 0:14:31- Right.- I'm thinking...

0:14:31 > 0:14:34I'm thinking, um Tarka.

0:14:34 > 0:14:36You're thinking Tarka?

0:14:36 > 0:14:37Wowsers.

0:14:37 > 0:14:38OK.

0:14:39 > 0:14:41- OK.- Or I know what you're thinking...

0:14:41 > 0:14:43- Yeah.- Yeah. But it could be.

0:14:43 > 0:14:46You're thinking predator, aren't you?

0:14:46 > 0:14:47Yes, I am.

0:14:47 > 0:14:50Yeah, yeah. A very unusual predator.

0:14:50 > 0:14:52Yes, exactly, yeah. From Madagascar.

0:14:52 > 0:14:56Yeah. They have no idea because we've been in such code there.

0:14:56 > 0:14:58They have no idea...

0:14:58 > 0:15:00Were we talking about a fossa?

0:15:00 > 0:15:01Who's got a coin? Who's got a coin?

0:15:01 > 0:15:03I think fossa, you think otter.

0:15:03 > 0:15:05So, you're making a guess?

0:15:05 > 0:15:07What are you plumping for, Mr Leonard?

0:15:07 > 0:15:08What do you want? Fossa your answer?

0:15:08 > 0:15:10Well, it's up to you.

0:15:11 > 0:15:14- Otter.- So you're saying otter?

0:15:14 > 0:15:15Are you right?

0:15:17 > 0:15:19You're not. You're not.

0:15:19 > 0:15:23So, Mr Packham, you have a chance here.

0:15:23 > 0:15:24What would you like to ask me?

0:15:25 > 0:15:29Is this animal predatory?

0:15:29 > 0:15:32Yes. It is.

0:15:32 > 0:15:36So, you get a third part of the mystery animal jigsaw.

0:15:36 > 0:15:38It's definitely not an otter!

0:15:38 > 0:15:39LAUGHTER

0:15:42 > 0:15:44Would you like to see it in context

0:15:44 > 0:15:46with the other parts already revealed?

0:15:46 > 0:15:47I think it's almost certainly a tail.

0:15:47 > 0:15:49Let's put it there for some scale.

0:15:49 > 0:15:50OK, there we go.

0:15:50 > 0:15:52There it is, yeah.

0:15:52 > 0:15:54Do you want to have a guess?

0:15:54 > 0:15:55You don't have to have a guess, Chris.

0:15:55 > 0:15:57No, you don't have to have a guess.

0:15:57 > 0:15:58- OK.- So you're not going to guess?

0:15:58 > 0:16:00- No, I'm not.- Excellent.

0:16:01 > 0:16:03Lucy, ask me a question.

0:16:03 > 0:16:06OK. Is it a member of the cat family?

0:16:06 > 0:16:07No.

0:16:09 > 0:16:10It's not.

0:16:12 > 0:16:15- Miranda?- That's really thrown a spanner in the works.

0:16:15 > 0:16:18So we've got to get a yes answer for the question.

0:16:18 > 0:16:21A question I would suggest that we might ask is

0:16:21 > 0:16:24- is this an arboreal predator? - Ah, OK.

0:16:24 > 0:16:28Is it one of those catlike animals which spends a lot of time

0:16:28 > 0:16:31dashing around up trees?

0:16:31 > 0:16:35- That's what I'd ask.- OK, I will ask Chris's question.

0:16:35 > 0:16:38- Which is? - Is it an arboreal predator?

0:16:38 > 0:16:39Yes.

0:16:40 > 0:16:41It is.

0:16:41 > 0:16:44Oh, so I was right.

0:16:45 > 0:16:46It is, yeah.

0:16:47 > 0:16:50So, the groans from the other team over there...

0:16:50 > 0:16:52It's an otter. Damn it.

0:16:52 > 0:16:54- Definitely.- STEVE:- Damn it.

0:16:55 > 0:17:00So, I would like to propose that is in fact what you guys thought it was

0:17:00 > 0:17:02earlier on. It's a fossa.

0:17:02 > 0:17:03- STEVE:- You knew, and I'm sorry.

0:17:03 > 0:17:05It absolutely is a fossa.

0:17:05 > 0:17:06APPLAUSE

0:17:06 > 0:17:07But thank you very much.

0:17:07 > 0:17:10Oh, wow!

0:17:10 > 0:17:13Oh, man. I'm so annoyed about that.

0:17:13 > 0:17:15SHE GROANS

0:17:15 > 0:17:19- You should have stuck to your guns. - But not a member of the cat family.

0:17:19 > 0:17:21Should we have a look and see one in action?

0:17:21 > 0:17:22- Oh, yeah.- Here they are.

0:17:22 > 0:17:23Well, they behave like cats.

0:17:23 > 0:17:28They're very quick, fast-moving arboreal predators of lemurs.

0:17:28 > 0:17:30I'm going to hate fossas now.

0:17:30 > 0:17:32Previously, I had really liked fossas.

0:17:32 > 0:17:34I thought they were really excellent,

0:17:34 > 0:17:36extraordinary creatures from Madagascar, but no longer.

0:17:36 > 0:17:39Very well done. Chris and Miranda get another part

0:17:39 > 0:17:41of their curious creature.

0:17:45 > 0:17:50However, Lucy, we can offer you a bonus question.

0:17:50 > 0:17:55Which is, the fossa is related to the mongoose,

0:17:55 > 0:17:58but what is different about their claws?

0:17:58 > 0:18:01It's very, very catlike.

0:18:01 > 0:18:04So, the one thing it needs is razor-sharp claws.

0:18:04 > 0:18:07And the way that cats do that is they retract them,

0:18:07 > 0:18:09where as all of the other mustelids

0:18:09 > 0:18:12like mongoose, badgers, honey badgers,

0:18:12 > 0:18:14you know, wolverines, they're out full-time.

0:18:14 > 0:18:17And if you look on there, you can see their feet.

0:18:17 > 0:18:19And when you saw that foot before...

0:18:19 > 0:18:21- Yeah, it looked catlike, didn't it? - Yeah. So, I think...

0:18:22 > 0:18:26I got it completely wrong, so I can only advise.

0:18:26 > 0:18:30So, we think that although fossa are related to mongoose,

0:18:30 > 0:18:33they CAN retract their claws.

0:18:33 > 0:18:34You're absolutely right.

0:18:34 > 0:18:35Good.

0:18:38 > 0:18:43Which means you have added another part to your curious creature.

0:18:43 > 0:18:46Very good.

0:18:46 > 0:18:47There we are. Very pretty.

0:18:48 > 0:18:52And with all that kerfuffle, I can say well done to everybody,

0:18:52 > 0:18:56and we are now fervent fans of the fossa.

0:18:56 > 0:18:57APPLAUSE

0:19:02 > 0:19:04And now we march on to Round Four,

0:19:04 > 0:19:07which today is called Pecking Order.

0:19:12 > 0:19:14So as the name suggests, teams,

0:19:14 > 0:19:16your task is to put in order

0:19:16 > 0:19:19three animals according to a certain attribute.

0:19:19 > 0:19:22Chris and Miranda, we'll start with you.

0:19:22 > 0:19:26I give you a killer whale, a Virginia opossum,

0:19:26 > 0:19:29and an African bush elephant.

0:19:29 > 0:19:32And I want you to rank them in order of the average length of their

0:19:32 > 0:19:35gestation, from shortest to longest.

0:19:35 > 0:19:37- OK.- Discuss.

0:19:37 > 0:19:40Should we start with potentially the longest, then?

0:19:40 > 0:19:41OK, well.

0:19:41 > 0:19:46I think elephants are famed for the fact that they have the longest

0:19:46 > 0:19:50gestation period of any animal, which is a couple of years.

0:19:50 > 0:19:52Yeah. Just under two years, isn't it?

0:19:52 > 0:19:55- Two years.- So, they are going to be the longest.

0:19:56 > 0:19:59And I think your opossum is probably going to be the shortest.

0:19:59 > 0:20:02Unless they do something weird. Do they do something weird?

0:20:02 > 0:20:04That's the thing. Do they do something weird?

0:20:04 > 0:20:06- Is there a trick?- There could be a trick with the opossum.

0:20:06 > 0:20:10So you get delayed implantation, which things like badgers will do,

0:20:10 > 0:20:13which is whereby the developing embryos

0:20:13 > 0:20:17implant into the side of the uterus wall and they're successively

0:20:17 > 0:20:18reabsorbed by the female

0:20:18 > 0:20:21depending on how much body weight she's got,

0:20:21 > 0:20:23depending on how much food is available to her.

0:20:23 > 0:20:26All of which is fascinating, but we're not talking about badgers.

0:20:26 > 0:20:29We are talking about opossums, killer whales, and elephants.

0:20:29 > 0:20:31We're thinking that the opossum might do the same.

0:20:31 > 0:20:33Yes, I think they could mate in the summer,

0:20:33 > 0:20:37and they could implant the embryos and birth them the following year.

0:20:37 > 0:20:40And killer whales, you know...

0:20:40 > 0:20:42When you think of the growth rate of a young killer whale...

0:20:42 > 0:20:44- Yeah.- They put on...

0:20:44 > 0:20:48They're fed this incredibly rich, fatty milk,

0:20:48 > 0:20:50and they grow incredibly quickly.

0:20:50 > 0:20:54So surely the growth rate during gestation would be large as well.

0:20:54 > 0:20:56So, do you know what?

0:20:56 > 0:20:59I'm gravitating towards the order in which they're displayed.

0:20:59 > 0:21:02OK, so you are saying that the killer whale

0:21:02 > 0:21:04has the shortest gestation,

0:21:04 > 0:21:09that the Virginia opossum has the second shortest gestation,

0:21:09 > 0:21:11the elephant the longest.

0:21:11 > 0:21:13Let's put them in the correct order.

0:21:16 > 0:21:17Oh, damn.

0:21:17 > 0:21:19Miranda, you were absolutely right.

0:21:19 > 0:21:24The African bush elephant does have the longest gestation of our group,

0:21:24 > 0:21:2522 months.

0:21:25 > 0:21:27So almost two years.

0:21:27 > 0:21:29It has the longest of any land animal.

0:21:29 > 0:21:31Longest gestation of any land animal.

0:21:33 > 0:21:38The killer whale, you said probably less than a year gestation.

0:21:38 > 0:21:39It's actually 15 to 18 months.

0:21:39 > 0:21:41- Is it?- Yup, yup.

0:21:41 > 0:21:45And the Virginia opossum is not like the badger.

0:21:45 > 0:21:47It just jolly well gets on with it,

0:21:47 > 0:21:51and can produce young in just 12 to 13 days.

0:21:51 > 0:21:56So, I'm afraid you don't add a new part to your curious creature.

0:21:58 > 0:22:00Now, then.

0:22:00 > 0:22:06Lucy and Steve, I'd like to present you with these three lovelies.

0:22:06 > 0:22:08The great bustard...

0:22:09 > 0:22:10..the golden eagle...

0:22:11 > 0:22:14..and the great white pelican.

0:22:14 > 0:22:17They're among the heaviest birds capable of flight,

0:22:17 > 0:22:20but could you please put them in order

0:22:20 > 0:22:24of just how heavy they are, starting with the lightest?

0:22:24 > 0:22:25So, I've held...

0:22:26 > 0:22:29..golden eagles in my hand a couple of times, they're not that heavy.

0:22:29 > 0:22:30- Big bird. Massive...- Lot of plumage.

0:22:30 > 0:22:33Yeah, lot of lovely plumage.

0:22:33 > 0:22:35But the thing is, this is an animal that, you know,

0:22:35 > 0:22:38is designed to carry huge amounts of weight,

0:22:38 > 0:22:41but it actually doesn't weigh that much.

0:22:41 > 0:22:45Which makes sense, because it's an incredibly agile predator.

0:22:45 > 0:22:46So, if it was heavy,

0:22:46 > 0:22:48it would never be able to make the manoeuvres it needs

0:22:48 > 0:22:50in order to be able to hunt the way that it does.

0:22:50 > 0:22:54So, I think that's probably the lightest of the three now.

0:22:54 > 0:22:57The bustard has got a big, old heavy body on it.

0:22:57 > 0:23:00It has, yeah. If you think of one of the heaviest flying birds,

0:23:00 > 0:23:03which is the swan, you know that's a difficult animal to get off into the

0:23:03 > 0:23:04air on the water.

0:23:04 > 0:23:06So that takes an enormous amount.

0:23:06 > 0:23:07And I think bustards do...

0:23:07 > 0:23:10You know, they take those big, long legs

0:23:10 > 0:23:12to really power them up and get going.

0:23:12 > 0:23:13And they use a big spring to get up.

0:23:13 > 0:23:16- Yep.- Whereas your pelican's got quite small legs.

0:23:17 > 0:23:18I think maybe they're in the middle.

0:23:18 > 0:23:19- Yeah.- The pelican...- Yeah.

0:23:19 > 0:23:22Then we've got the golden eagle as the surprise lightest.

0:23:22 > 0:23:26- Surprise lightest, yep.- Because it's the manoeuvrability and the agility.

0:23:26 > 0:23:29- Yeah. I think so. - Should we go with that? OK.

0:23:29 > 0:23:31- So, we're going to go golden eagle...- Yep.- Pelican.

0:23:31 > 0:23:33- Yep.- Great bustard.

0:23:33 > 0:23:35OK. Let's see if you're right.

0:23:37 > 0:23:39- Oh!- You absolutely are!

0:23:39 > 0:23:41APPLAUSE

0:23:41 > 0:23:42Nice. Happy with that.

0:23:44 > 0:23:46All of which means that, congratulations,

0:23:46 > 0:23:50you have won a new part of your curious creature.

0:23:50 > 0:23:52Oh!

0:23:52 > 0:23:53Well done to both of our teams.

0:23:53 > 0:23:57Now, were nearly at the end of the show which means it's time to see if

0:23:57 > 0:24:00they can identify the parts of their curious creatures.

0:24:03 > 0:24:07So, Chris. We will start with that handsome head.

0:24:09 > 0:24:12- We're happy about that one, Miranda. - I think we are happy with that one.

0:24:12 > 0:24:13Yes, indeed. It's a walrus.

0:24:13 > 0:24:15- It is.- It's a walrus. - It is two points.

0:24:15 > 0:24:17What about those ears?

0:24:17 > 0:24:20- Oh, no, these, these ears.- We are really puzzling with the ears.

0:24:20 > 0:24:23- Oh, these ears!- Because they're not symmetrical,

0:24:23 > 0:24:26I think we were struggling with identifying an animal

0:24:26 > 0:24:29- that has got ear tufts. - Which are ragged like that,

0:24:29 > 0:24:33because obviously lynx and caracal have ear tufts, but they're fine,

0:24:33 > 0:24:34upstanding tufts.

0:24:34 > 0:24:36These are droopy and straggly and unkempt.

0:24:36 > 0:24:38- They do.- We're going to have, have a stab in the dark.

0:24:38 > 0:24:40They could be a hog, a little hog.

0:24:40 > 0:24:42Are you going... Are you going with hog?

0:24:42 > 0:24:45Rather... Yeah, it might be half-baked rather than roasted

0:24:45 > 0:24:46but I'm going hog.

0:24:46 > 0:24:50- And you'd be right. - Oh, thank goodness.- Oh! Well done.

0:24:50 > 0:24:52Well done, well done, well done.

0:24:52 > 0:24:54And it is a red river hog.

0:24:54 > 0:24:56Red river hog. Oh, my goodness me.

0:24:56 > 0:24:58Yes. You have four points.

0:24:58 > 0:25:02Let's see if you can get another two, and identify the body of this.

0:25:02 > 0:25:05Oh, yes. Well, this is the Silence of the Hogs.

0:25:06 > 0:25:08- Isn't it?- Oh, no.

0:25:08 > 0:25:11This is the emblematic hawkmoth from that film.

0:25:11 > 0:25:13- Miranda, do you know it? - The Silence Of The Lambs.

0:25:13 > 0:25:16Silence Of The Lambs, yeah. This is the Death's...

0:25:16 > 0:25:17- The Chianti one.- Yes, yeah.

0:25:17 > 0:25:20A nice Chianti on a Death's-Head hawkmoth.

0:25:20 > 0:25:21It is indeed.

0:25:21 > 0:25:23Two points.

0:25:23 > 0:25:25- Now then...- Now, the legs.

0:25:25 > 0:25:27Now then, what about these leggy legs?

0:25:27 > 0:25:29Very long and muscly legs.

0:25:29 > 0:25:30Yeah, they are. I...

0:25:30 > 0:25:33What about... Is it that really long-legged...

0:25:34 > 0:25:36..long necked animal, the gerenuk?

0:25:36 > 0:25:37Is it a gerenuk?

0:25:37 > 0:25:40It could be that. They have very long legs and a very long neck.

0:25:40 > 0:25:42They're almost like a giraffe gazelle.

0:25:42 > 0:25:44It could be a gerenuk.

0:25:44 > 0:25:46So, what are you going to go for?

0:25:46 > 0:25:50Let's take a very brave stab in the dark at...gerenuk.

0:25:50 > 0:25:52- You're right.- Oh, well done!

0:25:52 > 0:25:53Very, very good.

0:25:54 > 0:25:56You can get one extra point

0:25:56 > 0:25:59despite the fact that you didn't win this body part.

0:25:59 > 0:26:01So, let's have a look at it.

0:26:02 > 0:26:04It is a fifth limb.

0:26:04 > 0:26:08So, whatever animal has that, it uses it as a fifth limb.

0:26:08 > 0:26:10So, something like a kangaroo, where they actually,

0:26:10 > 0:26:14when they balance on their hind legs they use their tail to balance and

0:26:14 > 0:26:17they can reach up and forage high up.

0:26:17 > 0:26:19- Yeah.- But is kangaroo going to be too obvious?

0:26:19 > 0:26:21I think that's a robust, meaty tail...

0:26:21 > 0:26:23I wouldn't want to be hit round the head with a tail like that.

0:26:23 > 0:26:26- I think we go kangaroo tail for that, yeah.- Kangaroo not wallaby.

0:26:26 > 0:26:28It IS a kangaroo. It's actually a red kangaroo.

0:26:28 > 0:26:31But that gets you one point, giving you a total of nine.

0:26:31 > 0:26:33APPLAUSE

0:26:33 > 0:26:36So, Lucy and Steve.

0:26:36 > 0:26:39Let's start with the head.

0:26:39 > 0:26:40Yeah, we're happy.

0:26:40 > 0:26:42We think ibis.

0:26:42 > 0:26:44Yeah. It's a black headed ibis.

0:26:44 > 0:26:45So called because it's got a...

0:26:45 > 0:26:48- Black head.- Black head. - Brilliant, there you go.

0:26:48 > 0:26:50Yeah, yeah. First most sensible bird name ever.

0:26:51 > 0:26:53So, you get two points for that. How about this body?

0:26:53 > 0:26:55- Ah.- I've swum with these in Florida...

0:26:55 > 0:26:57- Yeah.- And they look fat but they're actually, they're full of gas.

0:26:57 > 0:27:00In fact, that's what inflates them up to that size

0:27:00 > 0:27:04- and that's actually a manatee, which is...- It is a manatee, yes.

0:27:04 > 0:27:08- Should we move on...- Yeah.- Yeah. - ..to your next part, which is this?

0:27:08 > 0:27:12Now, I think it's British. I think it's a swallowtail.

0:27:13 > 0:27:15Yeah, to be honest, not my department, I'm afraid.

0:27:15 > 0:27:18Don't know how to worm it, don't know how to vaccinate it,

0:27:18 > 0:27:21it's out of my remit.

0:27:21 > 0:27:23- Are you going swallowtail? - Swallowtail.

0:27:23 > 0:27:24You're right. Two points.

0:27:24 > 0:27:27Now, then, these lovely legs?

0:27:27 > 0:27:30It's shaggy, it's brown, it's in the snow.

0:27:30 > 0:27:32- It's a bison.- You're right.

0:27:32 > 0:27:34- Oh!- Yes!- Two points.

0:27:37 > 0:27:42Now can you get level with Chris and Miranda

0:27:42 > 0:27:46and identify, for one point,

0:27:46 > 0:27:50the body part that you didn't win, which is this?

0:27:50 > 0:27:52Oh, rattlesnake, isn't it?

0:27:52 > 0:27:54- And it's...- It is a rattlesnake.

0:27:54 > 0:27:56Yeah. So, you get one point

0:27:56 > 0:27:59which means today it's a draw between Chris and Miranda

0:27:59 > 0:28:01and Lucy and Steve.

0:28:01 > 0:28:03APPLAUSE

0:28:08 > 0:28:12Thank you to all four of you curious creatures for playing the game and

0:28:12 > 0:28:15thank you to you crazy cats at home for watching.

0:28:15 > 0:28:18We'll see you next time. Goodbye.