The Odd Creatures Of The Corals | Critters Documentary | Real Wild

graceful deceptive cautious the cast of alien characters live out their lives in a world where lightning reflexes are mastery of disguise and the art of self-defence ensure survival if this is not science fiction nor creatures from light-years away but a world within our world teeming with inhabitants as weird as any we might expect from another planet to underwater photographers they are affectionately known as fruit [Music] the island arc of Indonesia joining Asia and Australia is the meeting place for the waters of two oceans the Indian and the Pacific at the heart of this marine paradise is Sulawesi the epicentre of marine biodiversity here in this inaccessible world evolution has run right rich warm waters have been the cradle for some of planet Earth's richest marine life where imagination is surpassed by the inventiveness of nature the numerous inlets and bays headlands and Islands are magnets drawing scientists and divers from around the world it even in these well searched waters there are still surprises and nowhere more so than below the busy waters that form the narrow strait [Music] Swift currents sweep through the Straits and the first appearance is of a desolate and lifeless lunar landscape an algae strewn seabed where Tufts are wafted to and fro by the movement of the water yet all is not what it seems hidden within the perfect camouflage of the lifeless green cotton wool algae conceal from predators Ambon scorpionfish take full advantage of the open volcanic sand with fins developed into fingered hands a pair stumble in search of food drifting like seaweed but seaweed with a bite a cavernous mouth ready to suck in any passing prey to stay on the bottom rather than swim in mid-water is one strategy for survival and for many of the fish of lem bay walking is the best means of getting around they rarely swing another tactic for survival is that they grow long filaments of algae on their bodies to blend in with their surroundings even crabs have adopted this technique at surviving [Music] with long arms extended this hairy red orangutan crabs swings from the coral like it's jungle namesake by day with the addition of bits of algae and other debris the camouflage becomes complete it's red coloring makes it almost invisible at night when red is the first color of the spectrum to disappear even seahorses take on a hairy coat for protection but the seahorses first line of defense is to remain absolutely still and can by its tail the perfect little chess piece is intent that its shyness will save it from discovery retiring nature isn't its only strategy as it roams the undersea plains of Lambie if caught in the open its last resort is a body covered in bony armor like spectral starships searching for a landing site the weird ghost pipefish resort to mimicry for their survival snout down they hover just above the sand surface ready to Hoover up the tiny animals that are their food hanging in the current a para wafted back and forth like blades of sea grass Algy is only part of the cockatoo waspishes cover story mimicry of a dead leaf is a preferred survival key other two or three fish in that clump or are they just leaves blown in from the nearby land in a barren landscape a leaf can be a lifesaver and none away stood a decorator crab converts a pile of dead leaves into perfect camouflage if you must risk all by roving across the open sea floor what better way than disguises a clump of leaf litter [Music] other bits of the seabed just seem to get up and walk away while many creatures beneath this busy shipping channel rely on disguise for their defense others roam the barren bottom of the Strait with attitude spiny skin is all that the cruising starfish needs as it skims a surface in search of its prey with barely a ripple to mark its passing the asteroid star hovers on a carpet of tiny feet each a tube tipped by a sucker for grip and strength the ghost pipefish strays from its home on the reef to hunt over the undersea plane perhaps its spiky appearance gives it protection a flash of bright colors sometimes does the trick but this spiny devil fish leaves nothing to chance the highly colored petrol and tail fins are a stern warning to keep away or else hidden amongst that camouflage are venom tip spines for bottom living fish most threats come from above so a long spine on the back or a spiky dorsal fin give them the protection they need and the confidence to move across the open sea bed the delightful and rare SEMA relies on armored skin and concealment to protect it from predators able to change shades it blends perfectly with the broken shells and gravel over which it hunts for food seldom straying far a pair will remain together for life and may be found in the same spot year after year like a battle tank the slipper lobster lumbers along protected by its armor when threatened its flattened streamlined shape is perfect for shoveling beneath the sand needle sharp spikes are the ultimate deterrent but not just for the sea urchin young fish also find sanctuary among the bristling spines and if your own armor isn't enough then why not borrow someone else's a spiny urchin makes a perfect bodyguard for the carrier grab the fishermen heading home after days fishing on the reef pays little attention to what he thinks is the barren sea floor of the strait here directly below him is one of the weirdest and cleverest of the inhabitants of this inner space the flamboyant cuttlefish unique amongst the cuddles it prefers to walk when stalking its prey but can use jet propulsion for a quick getaway pulsating with color its communications cross language barriers as it flees an enemy or approaches prey superbly adapted to this other world it is alien in many ways with colors toned down it assumes the familiar harmless clump of algae look at the final approach dealing death to its victim with laser-like precision and speed appearances can be very deceptive but it's not all hiding and deceit on the seabed the gloriously colored nudibranch go out of their way to announce themselves perhaps the most colorful animals in the area these soft succulent slow-moving sea slugs ought to be an easy mouthful for many other animals [Music] amongst the colors of the reef their patterns help them to blend and disappear on the sand they are a blatant advertisement that repels rather than attracts [Music] the bright colors broadcast the fact that all of them exude chemicals which leave a very nasty taste in the mouths of any predator this chemical defense system is especially useful when you carry delicate feather like gills exposed on the outside of your body for some acid is the chosen weapon while others produce toxins so powerful that one sea slug can kill a bucket full of crabs or fish in an hour weaponry is also the main defence of other soft bodied creatures anemones emerge from hiding in the sand to gather food armed with thousands of stinging Barb's the tentacles are used for both attack and protection for the shrimps that can live among the venomous tentacles an impregnable Haven delicate long-legged ballerinas the fragile shrimps seem to go out of their way to show off many of these vibrant creatures live by soliciting fish for a cleaner the tail wagging motion of these anemone shrimps is a real come-on for passing fish the shrimp's reward he gets to eat the parasites loose scales and other body debris it's willing hosts most cleaners advertised with their long stripy arms but others use obvious body markings the tail wagging hips swinging movements have earned this the most uncrossed station light name of sexy shrimp put a hinge beat shrimp it is safety numbers that affords protection with so many others in the same swarm it is less likely that you are going to be the one that gets picked out for a meal like a barbed wire entanglement the fronds of a hydroid offer a safe hunting ground for a pair of spider crabs the protection gained by the almost perfect blend of these creatures onto their hosts is further enhanced by the stinging cells of the hydroid a relative of jellyfish and anemones in this world of strange creatures it seems no surface is safe for colonists even the skin of a foraging sea cucumber provides a landscape of its own where every Valley or spiny tip Hill is part of the territory for the emperor shrimp searching for its next meal the waste from its host [Music] look for the eyes in the sound is good advice for prey and predator alike all flatfish start life as normal shape fish but one eye migrates across the head the fish becomes two-dimensional in a flurry of distracting sound the soul disappears before your very eyes where sand and sea meet is a semi-liquid world a hiding place for some a hunting ground for others the banded snake heel makes easy work of burrowing into the sediment just a few twists of its sinuous body drive the eel beneath the sand to safety the wonderful is an expert in disguise resorting to mimicry when leaving the soft substrate for open sound if stripes resemble those of a venomous sea snake or toxic lionfish even the heavily armored spanner crap doesn't put all its trust in wrench like pincers and thick shell [Music] when an enemy approaches it makes for cover and sinks beneath the sand leaving only its snorkel like breathing tube and store ties in contact with the world above [Music] the snake eel hunts by night by day iris is closed to a slit against the daylight glare they to bury themselves with only the head above the sand to maintain a flow of water over the gills [Music] changing sexes and color as it grows older a juvenile ribbon eel shares a burrow with a blue adult nail as the eel becomes female it turns greenish yellow but not all the inhabitants of the substrate live in such harmony a couple of Orientals snake eels fight out a disputer the territory [Applause] what makes this patch of seabed worth the battle is known only to them [Music] the keen-eyed mantis shrimp checks out the area for threats before dumping its load of sand [Music] burrowers are at home amongst the sediment but the price paid for security is a never-ending struggle to keep the borough clear of rubble [Music] spiny arms of this mantis are perfectly designed for holding debris or as formidable weapons to impale it's brain [Music] but when it faces a threat the Mantis retreats into its burrow a perfectly smooth tube of up to half a meter deep nearby the gobies gather debris in their mouths working hard to clear the furrows others have a more relaxed lifestyle and leave the hard work to their shrimp partner this is a symbiotic relationship two totally different species share the same living space each gaining benefit from the association shrimps keep the burrow clean and tidy working away knowing that they are safe from predators the Gobi is the eyes of the partnership standing guard at the Burrow entrance with the coast clear and octopus emerges horizontally slit pupils cut down daylight glare while at the same time allowing a wide field of view abandoned shells provides safe houses places from which critters can check out the surrounding seabed an opportunity not overlooked by a small and vulnerable blenny but taking the shell with you is the ideal answer for the hermit crab no object on the seabed remains empty for long [Music] the coconut shell is the perfect retreat for the pufferfish not that it needs anything more than its inflated body and spiny skin for protection [Music] for a small octopus in search of a hiding place no leaf is left unturned [Music] while a tuft of algae is a great vantage point for the watchful and if all else fails and why not take to the bottom [Music] in this inhospitable world no survival strategy is overlooked camouflage and his guys deceive burrowing and sinking in the sand take you out of sight warning colors and venomous spines keep enemies at bay even man's debris can be brought into play in the constant struggle between predator and prey a discarded paintin is just one of the man-made objects favored by Lemm Bay's strangest inhabitant the frogfish wavy only its lure it remains absolutely still waiting to attract a passing fish with in killing distance each species of frog fish uses a lure in a different way some mimic the jerking movements of swimming worms are the small circling fish also known as anglers they fish for other fish and if their bait is taken and early or bitten off they soon grow a replacement their strategy is a simple one their prey comes to them [Music] when a likely fish comes within range the cavernous mouth opens creating a vacuum which sucks the victim in with lightning speed perfectly camouflage has lumps of coral weed or sponge most passing fish are blissfully unaware of the danger that lurks close by but even the frog fish know their limits some are only the size of a human thumb while others may be as large as a football if you're a small fish all of them are lethal but even the frog fish can run out of patience and can't wait forever for its prey stirring from its stillness the fish moves to a new site by slowly crawling on feet like fins through the rocks and sponges in the open it is as vulnerable as any other animal it takes to swimming the siphon like tubes through which it exhales can clearly be seen any movement of gills when the Frog fish breeds would betray its whereabouts when waiting motionless for its prey the move was a wise one and soon a victim comes within reach of the fastest mouth in the sea [Music] the black and white stripes of the eel catfish warn predators that any bite will be repaid with a wound from a sharp venomous spike hidden in front of the dorsal and pectoral fins the frogfish has already learned this painful lesson and despite being surrounded by a shoal of fish the voracious predator resists temptation [Music] concealment amongst orange sponges on the seafloor offers protection to this pair of frog fish yet the feeding ground is only a short walk away with a mouth that opens to 12 times its normal size and a bite that takes only 6 milliseconds to engulf its prey the frogfish snatches its victim [Music] little escapes the strike zone in this strange world where what appears to be a harmless sponge hides a lightning-quick mouth nothing is as it seems the evening comes to the LEM based rate fishermen head out to the fishing grounds for the night their families of fish these waters for generations but still only a fraction of the life that thrives in these fertile seas is mental much is too small or too secretive to be caught in their nets or on their hooks [Music] underwater the coming of night signals a total change in the fish population the creatures of the day hideaway and the even stranger creatures of the night emerge from the ocean floor these critters have evolved in order to survive and hunt in the blackness hiding from daylight and only emerging when the last glimmer of light has gone darkness comes quickly underwater while the Sun is setting it is already night on the seafloor day critters are long since gone now totally different skills and defenses are needed to exist in the nighttime ocean [Music] bright lights on the fishing boats act as yours for the fish below and beneath the drifting boats the changeover in population is almost complete as the night shift takes over from the day shift the huge bumphead parrotfish leaves the safety of the daytime show to search the reef edge for a safe place to spend the night sighs bring security growing to over a metre in length it can afford a relaxed search for a suitable resting place the seabed comes alive as creatures of the night begin to stir keeping low over the sand eels snake from their daytime burrows slithering across the seabed and search of food for the coral cat shark the dominant sense is smell as it threads its way among the coral rubble picked out by the divers lights the pattern seems obvious but during the day when the shark rests it blends into the debris perfectly its large eyes gather the remaining traces of light alert for enemy and a victim alike bright red might seem a positive drawback for the hunting animals a dead giveaway but in the darkness of the nocturnal see the opposite is the case marine animals see things differently from humans most have tuned in to the blue end of the spectrum red simply disappears rendering the fish invisible the ultimate stealth weapon but it is seldom totally dark and those fish which use light for vision make the best of what little there is by grabbing as much as possible so large eyes are essential [Music] some is a combination of strategies large eyes so that they can detect their prey the color red so that they themselves can not be seen and even specially adapted fins which help them to feel their way through the darkness very few animals are to be seen at both ends of the day most hide away life in the night sea is very different from that in the daylight but day or night the seamoth relies on camouflage and tough armor to provide protection as it rests above the surface wandering snails rise from the sand extend their soft bodies from protective shells and forage for food the target of collectors and trinkets the tourists the exquisite shells reveal their true beauty only as living animals the mantle things tightly to the shell of the khari covered in sensitive feelers it is the animals detection equipment and is withdrawn into the shell when the carry is threatened it is hard to figure out how the snail manages to fit all that body into such a small space even less like a sea snail the hedge shield slug carries only a tiny shell on its back it uses a highly developed sense of touch to find worms its favorite prey the black of night is especially protected for soft bodied animals no longer able to withdraw into shells bright colors revealed and the lights are of most use by day they act as a warning to leave the resting sea slug below any creature rash enough to ignore the signs may be the target of chemical warfare in the form of a cloud sulfuric acid yet despite the name slug and their noxious nature these are some of the most elaborately patterned jewels of the night darkness and the Securitate brings transforms an unattractive lump of pinkish orange jelly into one of nature's most alleged performance carrying a feathery fan on its back adds the final touch to the illusion but there is a far more practical purpose these are the external gills of the nudibranch in elegant twists and pirouettes of lacy skirts the metamorphosis from ugly sea slug to delicate Spanish dancer is complete but not all soft bodied creatures are vulnerable prey some are active and voracious hunters none more so than the cuttlefish stalking cautiously in the darkness the predator moves in for the kill a strike of unerring accuracy the vivid color change of the cuttlefish communicates the excitement of the hunt and of the kill the lone cat shock makes an ideal subject for the cameraman but a cloud of animal plankton soon swarms in attracted by the strong lights one of the problems of filming during darkness sometimes a swarm is so dense that filming must stop and the only way to clear the water is to turn off the lights countless millions of these minut creatures form the basis for all other animal life in the seas a rich food resource for those brave enough to emerge from daytime hiding the nocturnal banquet Coke's is a porcelain crab from the sanctuary of the anemones tentacles to gather plankton with net light mouthparts like spacecraft cruising through glittering asteroids plankton has its own predators these larger animals put themselves at risk in the open water but darkness and transparency cloaked them in invisibility only the lights reveal them to the camera but for some patience and ambush are the recipe for survival appearing from below the sand as night falls the stargazer settles down to await its prey any passing shadow over the upturned face alerts the fish to a potential victim a victim unlikely to escape the cavernous needle toothed mouth crabs are on the menu for most predators so they enjoy the cover of darkness but have to break off whatever they're up to to beat a hasty retreat into the safety of the sand when an enemy is on the prowl even the nightshift feels threatened sometimes a quick shrug and the disappearing act is complete a sinuous heel searches for a likely hole and once found enters tail-first leaving just the head exposed until the threat is gone [Music] the Stingray takes no chances as it flaps beneath the surface the tail with its formidable spine remains exposed ready to whip into action should a large animal come to close the bobtail squid feeds on the larger animals of the plankton but being small itself becomes a target for hunters sensing danger the squid sinks below the surface piling gravel onto its sticky skin until it vanishes it's instinct was correct a stalking carpet flathead modified for a low-level approach skims the seabed in search of prey also sensing danger the crab gets out of the way and only just in time a near-miss so the flat head settles itself into the sand it's just as effective as an ambush predator blending in to the seabed sharp wide-angle eyes above the surface ready to spot passing prey immediate danger having passed the bobtail moves to another hiding place and buries itself again flicking a sandy coat the total coverage but still feeling threatened it resorts to a hasty exit because the flat head isn't the only danger lurking in the darkness rouse from daytime slumbers when bright colors warn of venomous spines the lionfish drifts slowly through the night secure in the knowledge that those same patterns render it almost impossible to see in the blackness large eyes help it locate prey when a victim is spotted the pectoral fins are spread wide like a fan this distracts prey and produces a barrier to prevent escape some lionfish even drag their fins across the sand to flush out their victims the dorsal spines too often play a part they're waving motion may act as a lure for fish the menacing snake-like appearance of Moray and conger eels as they rise to the seabed debris with mouths gape has earned them a vicious reputation true hunters of the night morays are among the most effective of nocturnal predators a serpentine shape is perfect for prospecting every crevice in the reef or hole in the ceiling sharp teeth and a vice-like grip means little can escape once detected by the morays keen sense of smell expert at seeking out injured or stressed fish taking refuge among the corals eels are formidable hunters the jaw has a huge gate and Consuela's sizeable fish and even if prey is too large to swallow morays can tie themselves in a knot and draw the prey through ripping off a mouthful at a time but not all snake-like creatures of Oratia spread etre able to stretch its concertina like body up to two meters the sea cucumber emerges from the safety of its lair not to bite prey but to gather mouthfuls of sand in feather-light tentacles at night the seabed is alive with danger there seems little hope of escape yet the clumsy looking cow fish fears view of the predators beneath the toxic skin its body is protected by a bony box like armor as it hovers above the sand it is doubly protected in this alien world the cover of darkness is only ever swept away by the coming of day or divers lights after dark the anemone becomes an undersea condominium reaching bursting point as both retreat that the creatures of the day and a safe hunting ground for the seabed night life boldly patent clownfish are immune to the anemones stinging tentacles by night retreat to rest in the rising hideaway permanent residence of the anemone shrimp and porcelain crab emerged from the safety of the tentacles to pluck smaller crustaceans on the soup stream flowing past the tentacles partially closed for business the stem of the anemone provides an ideal perch for shrimps to intercept the floating bonanza with claws held wide and sensitive antennae bristling each tiny morsel is detected and plucked from the water cleaner shrimps bright colors advertise their services during daylight at night this same pattern breaks up their outline and provides protection [Music] the tube anemone rises from the sand to share in the feast with tentacles extended to trap passing prey it provides a vantage point for an opportunistic shrimp no opportunity is lost to get up into the plankton stream and very different creatures will share the same host here the crab and a shrimp jostle for position everything that squirms crawls or creeps gets in on the act a night out on the seabed always includes dinner hermit crabs take no chances soft bodied crabs with no real body armor of their own they adopt empty shells for added protection curling their bodies to follow a shell spiral and hold it in place but even that's not enough so the hermit parks anemones from the seabed to decorate its shell and provide a bit more security the anemones actors a disguise and a stinging tentacles coat an algal covering is great camouflage when it's red the crab is almost impossible to detect unless lit by artificial light [Music] fragile spider crabs also use a combination of tactics so they too can emerge to take advantage of the flowing plankton broth as night deepens the reef itself seems to break into fragments that just get up and walk away dressing for the occasion seems to be the province of nocturnal crabs decorator crabs use anything they can pull from the seabed and attach to their backs a covering of sponges tunicates or even stinging anemones make an ideal camouflage [Music] dead leaves provide an excellent cover in these shallow waters close to shore we're looking like dead vegetation can mean the difference between life and death others just that nature take its course on the larvae of sponges tunicates and algae attached to the crab shells and add to their deceitful disguise so complete of a camouflaging over coats they wear is typical to tell where the crab starts and where it's living veneer finishes the algae tunicates and living sponges continue to thrive on the crabs and may even benefit from being carried from place to place Cara crabs - or opportunists will scavenge any useful defense item from the seabed unlike the decorators which plant their shells with camouflage Cara's held large objects over their backs using the last two pairs of legs for the purpose from above the fragments of rock coral or sponge not only hide the animal but also provide a highly effective shield against attack some carriers can go one stage further and will cut choice pieces from living sponges [Music] but not all crowds resort to hiding the swimming crab relies on powerful claws for defense and as a last resort will live up to its name by day the ultimate predator of Lambay is the frog fish most frog fish are content to sit and wait for prey to come to them but there is always an exception by night the hairy frogfish takes its cavernous mouth and lightning reflexes on maneuvers one of the few frog fish that actively hunts for prey it crawls along on peculiarly modified fins that look and act like feet [Music] when required it can put on quite a turn of speed accelerating across the sand with it's bright white lure flicking from side to side a visual bait for any fish to investigate the lure also emits a chemical signal the frogfish makes sure that if its prey doesn't see the lure at least it will smell it and once within range the fastest mouth in the sea opens up the bright colors of the mantis shrimp are used to their best advantage during daylight they act as warnings to potential rivals or enemies that are wounding blow from these club like appendages can cause serious injury or even death able to spot danger from all directions by means of independent and incredibly sophisticated eyes they have little to fear they even have their own built-in shield for use in combat with others of their kind the peacock pattern tail curls forward to block the blows of an adversary yet even that powerful mantis shrimps sometimes have to retreat to their barrels but the near perfect nocturnal super predator of Lambie is the octopus keen-eyed with an awesome intelligence they are unrivaled as hunters of the night the eye of the octopus is one of the most advanced among all species including our own caution is one of the greatest survival tactics and at the first sign of danger they retreat into their fortresses the tentacles are perfect for detecting prey as it passes by sneaking out from the hiding place seeking probing touching feeling alive to any living thing unfortunate enough to stray within their span crabs are the favourite prey of the octopus but there is a balance in nature and some must always escape this time the octopus fails to trap its victims a shrimp alerted to the danger sinks into the sand safe for now but once the tell-tale movements of a victim have been detected the eight-legged assassin slithers in for the kill enveloped in a net of suckers the shrimp is dragged back to the octopuses lair where it will be dismembered by the aggressive shark beep [Music] [Music] wrapped in a protective shroud about replacing suckers eyes reduced to wide viewing horizontal slits it waits patiently the tell-tale pulses of its siphon the supply pump on a fresh oxygen varying water alert and wide-eyed the octopus detects movement and peers into the gloom not food this time perhaps an enemy some time to disappear spotting trouble or prey is crucial to survival for the wonderful rising on its legs to increase its range has great advantages for a species that spends much of its life flattened against a seabed [Music] tentacles spread over the sand in search of prey like writhing snakes they penetrate every hole every crevice always on the move their combined action results in a search area out of all proportion to the size of its body a body which in the event of a threat can squeeze into the tiniest of openings in this alien environment it is us that are the intruders we can only ever hope to gain a glimpse of the strange denizens that populate the mysterious world of the nocturnal sea bed a world where you can never tell what will next pass through the beams of your lights [Music] you

Channel: Real Wild

Views: 130,195

Rating: 4.7268128 out of 5

Keywords: nature documentary, full documentary, documentary movie, big cats, wildlife documentary, discovery channel, national geographic, natgeo wild, Nature documentaries - topic, Animals - topic, planet earth, david attenborough, Full Animal Documentary, wild animals, wild animal

Id: H_BVo3GdWag

Length: 52min 20sec (3140 seconds)

Published: Sun Oct 20 2019