Life in Cold Blood (ma 22.00u BBC1 / Sir David Attenborough)

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Sir David Attenborough brings viewers the final chapter of his epic overview of life on Earth as he transforms perceptions of cold-blooded animals in this landmark BBC One series Life In Cold Blood. "Reptiles and amphibians are sometimes thought of as slow, dim-witted and primitive," says David. "In fact they can be lethally fast, spectacularly beautiful, surprisingly affectionate and extremely sophisticated."

David first brought viewers Life On Earth, then The Private Life Of Plants, followed by The Life Of Birds, The Life Of Mammals and Life In The Undergrowth. Now, using the very latest in filming technology from the BBC's world-renowned Natural History Unit – including ultra-high-speed, thermal, miniature and on-board cameras – David reveals the surprising and intimate lives of the cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians, discovering the secret of their success. After all, they have ruled the Earth for nearly 200 million years and, today, there are well over 14,000 species.

From the largest and most dangerous reptiles on Earth demonstrating tender and sensual courtship, to tortoises and horned chameleons jousting dramatically, flashing anolis lizards and waving jacky dragons, the Life In Cold Blood team capture previously unseen behaviour bringing their unknown lives to the screen as never before. Tiny scarlet frogs engage in sumo wrestling, baby worm-like caecilians feast on their mother's skin, mother salamanders viciously defend their broods against marauders and spectacled caiman are filmed taking care of crèches of up to 100 young.

After each main programme, there is a 10-minute feature, Under The Skin, produced in collaboration with the Open University. It follows David as he examines the technology used by scientists that enable the team to bring this incredible animal behaviour to the small screen.

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1. The Cold-Blooded Truth
Giant crocodiles courting, tortoises jousting with 'lances' and bright red sumo-wrestling frogs... David reveals the surprising truth about the cold-blooded lives of reptiles and amphibians, as dramatic, as colourful, as tender as any other animal. What's been the secret to their sucess for the last 300 million years?

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2. Land Invaders – Amphibians
The extraordinary and intimate lives of the soft-skinned amphibians. Marsupial frogs where the father carries his young in pouches, giant metre-long salamanders staging wrestling matches and newts that display just like birds of paradise. From steamy jungles to dry deserts, David looks at the bizarre life histories that enabled the amphibians to break their ties with water and invade the earth.

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3. Dragons of the Dry – Lizards
David comes face to face with a monitor lizard that stands on tiptoe, is flashed at by anole lizards and uses a rod and line to tempt a timid skink out of its burrow. Other scaly stars include jacky lizards that wave, wrestling beaded lizards and the largest chameleons in the world jousting in the trees. He also encounters the world's smallest chameleon, no bigger than his thumbnail, and the biggest lizard in Australia.

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4. Sophisticated Serpents – Snakes
How have this most misunderstood group of reptiles used the most simple but elegant body plan to succeed on land, sea and even in the air? A CCTV stakeout of rattlesnakes hunting shows, for the first time, what clever predators they are.

David is himself on the receiving end of a spitting cobra's chemical weapons. But snakes aren't all about violence. Their tender side is displayed in the sinuous courtship of kingsnakes and the water birth of 15 beautiful yellow anacondas.

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5. Armoured Giants
David meets the reptile heavyweights to show what it's like to live within a suit of armour. He reveals a dynamic, warm and caring side to ancient giants.

Mating giant tortoises fit together like spoons. Green turtles show true passion mating in tropical seas. A mother spectacled caiman rescues a huge crèche of babies. And saltwater crocodiles ambush fish just like bears catching salmon.

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Op vrijdag 11 april 2008 10:43 schreef zakjapannertje het volgende:
er zijn trouwens weer gouden kikkers gesignaleerd, terwijl in Life in Cold Blood te zien was dat de tot dan toe laatst bekende populatie uit het wild werd gehaald om het te beschermen tegen de opmars van schimmelziektes. Hopelijk had de fotograaf zich gedesinfecteerd.:

Gouden kikker

De Belgische natuurfotograaf Guido Sterkendries stootte in Panama op een populatie gouden kikkers, die zogezegd uitgestorven waren.
http://www.knack.be/cmp/7(...)-beeldreportage.html