PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Evolved from the era of the dinosaurs, today's reptiles are the ultimate success story. They are as deadly as dinosaurs, as beautiful as birds, and as caring as mammals. Their image as ancient, unchanging creatures couldn't be further from the truth: they are in fact some of the most adaptable creatures. This series brings reptiles out of the shadow of dinosaurs and reveals what it's like to live in their world.

"This programme will not make you feel warm and gooey towards reptiles, but it may increase your respect." The Times

DURATION
3 x 50'

Episode synopses

PROGRAM 1: RULING REPTILES

The extinction of the dinosaurs left a power vacuum. Enter the dragons: powerful modern reptiles which still dominate large areas of our planet. This show reveals how crocodiles, giant lizards, monster turtles and venomous snakes outwit warm-blooded birds and mammals, and asks which ones we still need to fear.

Ruling Reptiles goes in search of the modern reptiles which have inherited the dominant role once held by the Dinosaurs. Most of the 8,000 reptile species alive today are predators. Crocodiles are ambush specialists, armed with massive, tooth-studded jaws and an amazingly efficient system of temperature-control. They effectively control the water supply of tropical rivers and lakes, exacting a tax in flesh from thirsty animals. Giant tortoises and turtles are protected by a tough shell which acts as a mobile home, allowing them to thrive in some of the world’s most inhospitable terrains. Marine turtles grow to a huge size and have conquered the world’s oceans. The dragon-like monitor Lizards are adept at climbing, running, swimming and digging, and armed with a ferocious bite. The mighty Komodo dragon co-operates with deadly super-bugs to poison its prey, while the gila monster has developed venom as a chemical weapon. Some snakes’ venom is so deadly that just the sight of a snake can strike terror into most other animals, including us. Could fear be the greatest of all reptile weapons?

PROGRAM 2: SMART REPTILES

Are reptiles the bio-technology wizards of the animal world? If you count sprinting on water, shooting blood from their eyes, spitting poison at their enemies, navigating using magnetic fields, converting ribs into a hang-glider, or communicating emotions in colour, then yes, they are!

Smart Reptiles reveals surprising reptile behaviour stories and extraordinary bio-technology. Turret-eyed chameleons express their emotions in pulsating colour. Bellowing alligators send coded messages using infra-sound and show off by vibrating their flanks, causing water to dance on their backs! The sun-loving marine iguana turns its body into a storage heater and slows down its heart to enable it to feed ten metres down in a chilly sea. The green turtle uses tiny magnetic crystals in its brain to navigate across a vast ocean... Reptiles are master escapologists too: super-sprinting iguanas run on water; camouflaged dragon lizards suddenly spread vibrant wings to glide away through the forest canopy; armadillo lizards form a living wheel and roll to safety; and the spiky horned lizard even squirts blood from its eyes to repel attackers. But perhaps most remarkable of all are the snakes which use their forked tongue to sniff out their prey, then hug it to death, or destroy it with cell-busting and nerve-blocking chemicals. The ultimate snake, the king cobra, has even developed immunity to the venom of other snakes. Watch this programme and you will never underestimate a reptile again!

PROGRAMME 3: FUTURE REPTILES

Alligators on golf courses, geckos in hotels, chameleons in the garden and pampered pet pythons - reptiles are invading our space! So what will be the future role for these living cousins of the dinosaurs? Will reptiles give us better biotechnology and medicines? Or Jurassic Park?

Today’s reptiles may have outlived the dinosaurs, but now they’re on a collision course with a fast changing world. On a planet where alligators stalk golf courses and boa constrictors live as status pets, reptiles are adapting age-old skills to very new situations. Some, like the ancient turtles, are finding it hard to keep up with the pace. But many reptiles are more flexible: aquatic crocodiles have taken up residence in the heart of the Sahara desert; chameleons are moving into gardens, komodo dragons have adapted to a fast food diet, and geckos are using their ‘stick to anything’ feet on man made structures. We’ve even discovered that crocodiles are clever enough to be trained. But when dangerous reptiles start invading our space, there’s bound to be trouble! Escaped pet terrapins cause chaos in British parks, house-breaking cobras frighten South African residents and monster crocs terrorize Australian fishermen. In the Pacific, brown tree snakes have even taken over an entire island! But it isn’t all bad news. Research into reptiles’ amazing abilities is providing us with new medicines and technology. It looks as if the strange and wonderful reptiles are here to stay, and who knows, perhaps they’ll even out live us!