Episode
The Life of Mammals: Plant Predators
Overview
The plant eaters take on the largely indigestible, spiny and poisonous defences of plants with some spectacular physical adaptations to diet.
Details
- Series
- The Life of Mammals
- Season
- Season 1
- Episode
- Episode 3
- Air date
- 2002-12-04
- Runtime
- 58 min
Episode context
Plant Predators is Episode 3 in Season 1 of The Life of Mammals. It aired on 2002-12-04. The runtime is 58 min.
Previous / Next
Episode 2: Insect Hunters
Mammals from tiny shrews to giant anteaters have specialised in eating insects. Some have even pursued their prey into the skies.
Episode 4: Chisellers
Special tools like chisel sharp front teeth and underground dwelling enable this group of mammals to feast on roots and seeds.
More episodes from this season
Episode 1: A Winning Design
From the tiniest bat to the massive blue whale, all mammals share the ability to nurture their young on milk and regulate their own temperatures.
Episode 5: Meat Eaters
Predators and prey must evolve speed, endurance and manoeuvrability to outwit each other, and the pack hunters must maintain order in the ranks.
Episode 6: Opportunists
A mammal capable of having a varied diet can be highly adaptable and exploit new environments including the cities where they thrive.
Episode 7: Return to the Water
With perfect streamlined bodies and great underwater speed, seals, dolphins, porpoises and whales became the new hunters of the sea..
Episode 8: Life in the Trees
A range of adaptations from sucker-feet to gripping tails help the tree dwellers to survive, and in the dark forest super senses come in to play.
Episode 9: Social Climbers
In the daily hubbub of monkey life, only those with a talent for social wheeler dealing get ahead, driving the shift towards larger brains.
Episode 10: Food for Thought
The natural world was transformed when one great ape began to walk upright - us. But why has this led to the development of our extraordinary brains?