The Reptiles: Alligators and Crocodiles looks at the ultimate predators at the margins of the water and the land. Some amuse us, others terrify us. They slither, swim, walk and crawl, leap and lunge, and some spend their entire lives contained within a shell. Their ranks include some of the most skillful predators on Earth. And their long-departed dinosaur ancestors are an unending source of fascination to humanity, both in fiction and scientific endeavor. They are “The Reptiles,” the fascinating subjects of a four-part NATURE miniseries. With guidance from leading experts on Alligators and Crocodiles, the first episode reveals that the world of these creatures is a lot more complex than we ever imagined. Some of the most surprising sequences reveal that the crocodile is not only the ultimate predator in the natural world but also a highly intelligent animal. The progam explores what the future holds for these living dinosaurs.
NATURE’s The Reptiles: Snakes reveals the secrets, surprises, and strangeness of two-headed snakes and other amazing reptiles. The Reptiles continues with a look at the reptiles that humans may fear most: Snakes. But the film does not portray snakes as evil creatures. Rather, it takes us into their secret and very strange world to try to understand them better. Even though most snakes are not lethal to humans, many people are still terrified of these slithering reptiles. The program illustrates how venomous snakes bite humans only in self-defense and would much rather not confront us. Snakes also provide a valuable service by controlling the rodent population.
NATURE’s The Reptiles: Turtles and Tortoises takes a close look at ancient creatures marching slowly through the millennia. A turtle’s shell is among the most peculiar but successful pieces of design in the natural world. Unchanged for 200 million years, it has allowed the various species of turtles to populate almost everywhere in the world. But the limitations of life in a shell are causing turtles problems in today’s world. Over exploitation by humans has caused many turtle species to become extinct or endangered. This episode introduces some inspirational people who are trying to help them.
The Reptiles: Lizards explores the world of the great escape artists of the wild, and looks at their remarkable bag of tricks. The Reptiles series concludes with the most extraordinarily diverse of all reptiles. Lizards can be found on mountain tops, in the oceans, and in deserts and forests. Viewers meet some of nature’s most spectacular and beautiful varieties, ranging from giants more than ten feet long to tiny creatures no larger than a child’s finger. Lizards bite, lose their tails, have tongues longer than their entire body, and some can even walk on water. The show travels across the globe to feature some of the most fascinating varieties of lizards, including Indonesia, for a look at the deadly Komodo dragon. The program also looks at people who form strong attachments to the animals, such as Henry Lizardlover, who changed his name to express his feelings for the reptiles. Henry sells photographs of his many lizards posed in a variety of humorous settings.