History Channel - Evolve The Ultimate Story of Survival (2008) Part 9 Venom
Innovate or die. Evolve or face extinction. It's a tough, violent, and lethal world out there, and it's been that way since the dawn of time. Roughly 99 percent of all species have become extinct. What enabled that other one percent to survive the cutthroat competition? Their ability to…. EVOLVE. For man, beast and nature, it's been a constant battlefield. This fascinating series blends spectacular live-action natural history sequences, lifelike computer graphics, epic docudrama and experimental science to illustrate the never-ending struggle to prevail. Examine every facet of a single trait, from origin to modern incarnation, through a stunning combination of dramatizations, computer animations, live action nature footage and lab work, discover the biological and behavioral innovations that have kept us all on this Earth! We see how some strategic advantages were anatomical in nature (eyes, jaws, body armor), while others were related to behavior (movement, communication, sex). Each episode attempts to explain the evolutionary origins of a particular trait of living creatures for example, Tyrannosaurus rex's 13-inch teeth, the gecko's “Velcro-like” toe pads, the bald eagle's “telescopic” vision capable of spotting a hare a mile away, and how the shark evolved its mode of reproduction, which eventually came to resemble that of humans. From dinosaurs to jellyfish, these are only a few of the creatures and many more that HISTORY analyzes to give a complete qualitative dissection of their evolution. Discover what has propelled creatures large and small to survive. Trace the history and importance of these adaptations from their earliest beginnings to today. It's nature's longest lasting battle and every creature on Earth is part of it. The EVOLVE series follows the historical trail of these adaptations from their origins to the present. It is the battle that nature has waged for centuries and in which every being on earth is and remains involved. The series premiere, “Eyes”, was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Science, Technology and Nature Programming.
Part 9 Venom
For hundreds of millions of years world's top predators have relied on speed or their size and sheer strength to over power the victims. But venom shifts the balance of power. The deadliest natural weapon employed in the animal kingdom, venom has independently evolved in creatures as jellyfish, insects, snakes, and even mammals. So how did such a vicious weapon evolve? Scientists from around the globe show how evolution adapted venom to fit the needs of the animals who wield it.
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