1 00:00:01,235 --> 00:00:05,339 Truly toxic creatures are crawling in every crevice, 2 00:00:05,339 --> 00:00:07,808 every corner of the planet. 3 00:00:07,808 --> 00:00:12,713 The ocean floor, the desert, your closet. 4 00:00:12,713 --> 00:00:15,249 But it's not about you. 5 00:00:15,249 --> 00:00:18,619 They just want to stay alive. 6 00:00:18,619 --> 00:00:20,654 Venom seeps out of their fangs 7 00:00:20,654 --> 00:00:24,291 or poison surges through their flesh. 8 00:00:24,291 --> 00:00:29,196 And, sometimes, a creature wields both weapons. 9 00:00:29,563 --> 00:00:40,774 (♪♪♪) 10 00:00:47,147 --> 00:00:51,251 Their beauty's undeniable. 11 00:00:51,251 --> 00:00:54,321 Their diversity, striking. 12 00:00:54,321 --> 00:00:58,825 They have both male and female reproductive organs. 13 00:00:58,825 --> 00:01:03,297 And the rare ability to breathe through their skin. 14 00:01:03,297 --> 00:01:07,401 They're armed with tiny, toxic grenades. 15 00:01:07,401 --> 00:01:12,806 And eat poison, to become poison themselves. 16 00:01:12,806 --> 00:01:16,710 A terrifying alien invader? 17 00:01:16,710 --> 00:01:22,749 The freakish result of an experiment gone horribly wrong? 18 00:01:22,749 --> 00:01:25,085 Neither. 19 00:01:25,085 --> 00:01:31,325 They're nudibranchs, also known as sea slugs, 20 00:01:31,325 --> 00:01:38,098 albeit far more stunning than the term slug suggests. 21 00:01:38,098 --> 00:01:40,867 There are over 3000 known varieties 22 00:01:40,867 --> 00:01:47,174 that range from the poles to the tropics. 23 00:01:47,174 --> 00:01:50,544 Nudibranchs thrive in diverse ecosystems. 24 00:01:55,882 --> 00:02:00,654 Their name is as strange as the reason they have it. 25 00:02:00,654 --> 00:02:05,125 Nudibranch means naked gill. 26 00:02:05,125 --> 00:02:09,196 Unlike fish, their gills are on the outside of their body, 27 00:02:09,196 --> 00:02:12,132 feathery and flowing. 28 00:02:12,132 --> 00:02:16,837 They breathe through these external plumes. 29 00:02:16,837 --> 00:02:21,341 These colorful creatures are often finger-sized, 30 00:02:21,341 --> 00:02:25,479 although some can be more than a foot long. 31 00:02:25,479 --> 00:02:31,585 They can drift and twirl in a flamboyant display. 32 00:02:31,585 --> 00:02:36,723 They have a head, but it's not always easy to find. 33 00:02:36,723 --> 00:02:38,692 Their two simple eyes are only capable 34 00:02:38,692 --> 00:02:43,330 of detecting light and dark. 35 00:02:43,330 --> 00:02:45,499 You'd think predators would easily snap up 36 00:02:45,499 --> 00:02:49,669 these tiny creatures, but nudibranchs have many ways 37 00:02:49,669 --> 00:02:52,839 to defend themselves. 38 00:02:52,839 --> 00:02:57,644 Turns out, they don't really need eyes. 39 00:02:57,644 --> 00:03:02,349 Instead they have rhinophores. 40 00:03:02,349 --> 00:03:04,084 These antennae-like structures 41 00:03:04,084 --> 00:03:08,522 are key to a nudibranch's survival. 42 00:03:08,522 --> 00:03:12,125 They sense predators by chemoreception, 43 00:03:12,125 --> 00:03:16,296 which means they can smell danger. 44 00:03:16,296 --> 00:03:18,465 But if and when danger appears, 45 00:03:18,465 --> 00:03:21,635 their flashy colors and patterns are nature's way 46 00:03:21,635 --> 00:03:28,075 of warning would-be hunters that they're a toxic tidbit. 47 00:03:28,075 --> 00:03:30,544 Some species are able to transform the poisons 48 00:03:30,544 --> 00:03:33,480 that they ingest, and re-use it as a defense 49 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,350 by releasing it through their skin. 50 00:03:37,350 --> 00:03:41,588 Other nudibranchs can defend themselves with their cerata, 51 00:03:41,588 --> 00:03:44,224 translucent, horn-like growths that extend 52 00:03:44,224 --> 00:03:46,860 from the nudibranchs' body. 53 00:03:46,860 --> 00:03:50,263 Inside each one of the appendages is sticky thread 54 00:03:50,263 --> 00:03:54,401 and poison-filled barbs. 55 00:03:54,401 --> 00:03:57,637 When predators like fish and crustaceans close in, 56 00:03:57,637 --> 00:04:00,774 these defense mechanisms kick in. 57 00:04:00,774 --> 00:04:06,379 Water rushes into the tentacle, pressure builds, 58 00:04:06,379 --> 00:04:09,082 until the barbed thread shoots outward; 59 00:04:09,082 --> 00:04:14,054 so fast it can pierce a crab's shell. 60 00:04:14,054 --> 00:04:16,156 Not necessarily lethal, 61 00:04:16,156 --> 00:04:19,993 but it can be enough to make predators think twice. 62 00:04:24,097 --> 00:04:28,101 But the hunted is also the hunter, 63 00:04:28,101 --> 00:04:34,141 and these showy sea slugs are voracious eaters. 64 00:04:34,141 --> 00:04:40,847 They will attack jellyfish, and even other types of sea slugs, 65 00:04:40,847 --> 00:04:46,419 but their all time favorite food is coral. 66 00:04:48,188 --> 00:04:51,525 Sensitive to amino acids released by living coral, 67 00:04:51,525 --> 00:04:56,796 they move in once they catch the scent. 68 00:04:56,796 --> 00:05:01,301 These little jewels are survivors, and an unusual 69 00:05:01,301 --> 00:05:07,040 mating ritual helps these exquisite creatures thrive. 70 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:13,413 They're equipped with both male and female sex organs. 71 00:05:13,413 --> 00:05:15,415 When two nudibranchs connect, 72 00:05:15,415 --> 00:05:21,454 they cross-fertilize each other and both will bear offspring. 73 00:05:21,454 --> 00:05:24,658 And they do it often. 74 00:05:24,658 --> 00:05:27,427 With just 40 days between generations, 75 00:05:27,427 --> 00:05:32,532 it means they can be prolific. 76 00:05:32,532 --> 00:05:36,469 That doesn't mean they're easy to locate. 77 00:05:36,469 --> 00:05:40,340 To most of us, nudibranchs are as extraordinarily alien 78 00:05:40,340 --> 00:05:44,511 as any organism could be. 79 00:05:47,280 --> 00:05:50,717 Cold and calculating. 80 00:05:50,717 --> 00:05:54,421 Skilled and stealthy. 81 00:05:54,421 --> 00:05:57,524 Specialized Killers. 82 00:05:57,524 --> 00:06:01,161 We know them as assassins. 83 00:06:01,161 --> 00:06:05,098 The insect world is full of these cold-hearted killers, 84 00:06:05,098 --> 00:06:09,202 where survival is the name of the game. 85 00:06:09,202 --> 00:06:11,738 In fact, if you're a predatory insect, 86 00:06:11,738 --> 00:06:16,643 you were born to be an assassin. 87 00:06:16,643 --> 00:06:18,745 But one bug family in particular 88 00:06:18,745 --> 00:06:23,049 has earned the name assassin. 89 00:06:23,049 --> 00:06:28,221 This extensive family includes 7,000 species. 90 00:06:28,221 --> 00:06:30,290 So what sets these killers apart 91 00:06:30,290 --> 00:06:32,192 in the brutal insect world 92 00:06:32,192 --> 00:06:36,696 where murderous mayhem fills every minute of every day? 93 00:06:36,696 --> 00:06:39,566 They kill with lightning speed. 94 00:06:39,566 --> 00:06:44,471 And they're equipped with deadly venom. 95 00:06:44,471 --> 00:06:50,310 When assassin bugs go for the kill, they almost never fail. 96 00:06:50,310 --> 00:06:54,281 Some assassin bug species actively hunt. 97 00:06:54,281 --> 00:07:00,420 Others lie in wait, and ambush unsuspecting prey. 98 00:07:00,420 --> 00:07:05,659 Long, front legs pull the victim close with freakish strength. 99 00:07:05,659 --> 00:07:11,398 A dagger-like proboscis penetrates the exoskeleton. 100 00:07:11,398 --> 00:07:13,500 A potent and highly complex venom 101 00:07:13,500 --> 00:07:17,737 is injected directly into the victim. 102 00:07:17,737 --> 00:07:21,207 Within seconds, cell membranes are destroyed, 103 00:07:21,207 --> 00:07:26,346 and paralysis, not death, ends the struggle. 104 00:07:26,346 --> 00:07:30,417 Then, the venom liquefies the insides of the prey, 105 00:07:30,417 --> 00:07:35,488 so that the Assassin bug can suck up the nourishing liquid. 106 00:07:37,724 --> 00:07:40,527 Males and females can find their prey 107 00:07:40,527 --> 00:07:44,631 in the forests, scrublands and grasslands in warmer climates 108 00:07:44,631 --> 00:07:48,168 on almost any continent. 109 00:07:48,168 --> 00:07:49,636 But they're too worldly to settle 110 00:07:49,636 --> 00:07:52,539 for those out of the way places. 111 00:07:52,539 --> 00:07:54,274 If given the chance, 112 00:07:54,274 --> 00:08:01,147 assassin bugs will happily move into a house. 113 00:08:01,147 --> 00:08:03,683 There are lots of places to hide, 114 00:08:03,683 --> 00:08:08,655 and plenty of other insects to feed on in a human home. 115 00:08:08,655 --> 00:08:13,026 During the day they keep a low profile, 116 00:08:13,026 --> 00:08:15,495 but in the dead of night, they emerge from their 117 00:08:15,495 --> 00:08:22,435 tiny catacombs and begin the hunt for a meal. 118 00:08:22,435 --> 00:08:27,707 Not another insect, not a pet. 119 00:08:27,707 --> 00:08:34,547 A human at its most vulnerable: asleep. 120 00:08:34,547 --> 00:08:38,818 Human blood straight from the source. 121 00:08:38,818 --> 00:08:42,389 These assassin bugs are not the first or the last insect 122 00:08:42,389 --> 00:08:46,059 to lay claim to human flesh. 123 00:08:46,059 --> 00:08:48,428 Some assassin bugs, the conenose bugs, 124 00:08:48,428 --> 00:08:51,631 are known for biting humans on the lips. 125 00:08:51,631 --> 00:08:54,567 Like their cousin, the bedbug, these species 126 00:08:54,567 --> 00:08:59,172 are attracted to the carbon dioxide humans exhale. 127 00:08:59,172 --> 00:09:00,507 A ghoulish practice, 128 00:09:00,507 --> 00:09:05,412 and the reason these assassins are known as kissing bugs. 129 00:09:05,412 --> 00:09:07,480 But a venomous kiss can bring with it 130 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:11,251 something far more insidious. 131 00:09:11,251 --> 00:09:17,157 In the Americas, it can bring Chagas, a parasitic disease. 132 00:09:17,157 --> 00:09:22,529 The symptoms are usually mild, and often undetectable, 133 00:09:22,529 --> 00:09:28,268 but other times Chagas can cause grave damage to major organs, 134 00:09:28,268 --> 00:09:30,703 and could lead to death. 135 00:09:30,703 --> 00:09:33,573 An unnerving thought. 136 00:09:33,573 --> 00:09:37,444 Seems like we'd be better off without them. 137 00:09:37,444 --> 00:09:42,081 Strangely enough, it's not that simple. 138 00:09:42,081 --> 00:09:47,187 Our relationship with these notorious bugs is complicated. 139 00:09:47,187 --> 00:09:51,124 Just like the cold-blooded killers they're named after, 140 00:09:51,124 --> 00:09:56,362 these bugs can be commissioned to do our bidding. 141 00:09:56,362 --> 00:09:59,365 They're excellent predators, and their ferocious hunting prowess 142 00:09:59,365 --> 00:10:03,136 is of great benefit to farmers. 143 00:10:03,136 --> 00:10:06,139 They exterminate thousands of pests, 144 00:10:06,139 --> 00:10:11,211 protecting precious crops in the process. 145 00:10:11,211 --> 00:10:15,615 Most species are rarely more than an inch long, 146 00:10:15,615 --> 00:10:18,618 but with their speed and potent venomous attack, 147 00:10:18,618 --> 00:10:23,256 they can kill insects several times their size. 148 00:10:23,256 --> 00:10:29,496 Like earwigs, caterpillars and beetles. 149 00:10:29,496 --> 00:10:32,165 Like them or not, our entanglement with these 150 00:10:32,165 --> 00:10:36,669 compact killers isn't going away any time soon. 151 00:10:36,669 --> 00:10:41,741 As the global temperature warms, they're moving into new regions, 152 00:10:41,741 --> 00:10:44,677 and they're bringing all of their dangers and benefits 153 00:10:44,677 --> 00:10:47,213 with them. 154 00:10:47,213 --> 00:10:54,187 So good night, sleep tight, and don't let the kissing bugs bite! 155 00:10:58,591 --> 00:11:04,564 Deep below the surface of warm tropical seas, 156 00:11:04,564 --> 00:11:06,165 an unlikely killer, 157 00:11:06,165 --> 00:11:09,202 as beautiful as a richly colored nudibranch, 158 00:11:09,202 --> 00:11:14,240 makes its way across the ocean floor. 159 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,777 This is the flamboyant cuttlefish. 160 00:11:17,777 --> 00:11:20,179 In the large family Sepiidae, 161 00:11:20,179 --> 00:11:24,717 that's filled with strange members, it stands out: 162 00:11:24,717 --> 00:11:27,453 for its brilliant iridescent color, 163 00:11:27,453 --> 00:11:31,357 for its preference to walk rather than swim, 164 00:11:31,357 --> 00:11:37,397 and for the lethal poison it can deliver. 165 00:11:37,397 --> 00:11:41,100 But all cuttlefish have one thing in common: 166 00:11:41,100 --> 00:11:47,206 they're considered some of the greatest hunters on earth. 167 00:11:47,206 --> 00:11:51,144 With some 120 species, they traverse the sea-bottom 168 00:11:51,144 --> 00:11:55,782 and coral reefs in equal measure. 169 00:11:55,782 --> 00:11:59,185 But don't be fooled by their gentle, fluid grace. 170 00:11:59,185 --> 00:12:01,521 Cuttlefish are ruthless, 171 00:12:01,521 --> 00:12:06,292 with a hoard of weapons in their arsenal. 172 00:12:06,292 --> 00:12:09,362 These big-brained creatures are highly evolved, 173 00:12:09,362 --> 00:12:14,567 and extremely intelligent. 174 00:12:14,567 --> 00:12:16,736 Being super smart is a big advantage 175 00:12:16,736 --> 00:12:21,174 in this marine world of cut-throats. 176 00:12:21,174 --> 00:12:24,310 Cuttlefish learn fast, adapting to new environments 177 00:12:24,310 --> 00:12:27,380 in a heart-beat, to quickly scope out the food supply 178 00:12:27,380 --> 00:12:31,517 and the best way to get it. 179 00:12:31,517 --> 00:12:37,390 Their extraordinary eyesight is a weapon unlike any other. 180 00:12:37,390 --> 00:12:41,561 Two giant eyes, very large in relation to their bodies, 181 00:12:41,561 --> 00:12:46,499 are sophisticated marvels. 182 00:12:46,499 --> 00:12:49,369 Even though cuttlefish are color blind, they can spot 183 00:12:49,369 --> 00:12:54,540 details that humans can't even comprehend. 184 00:12:54,540 --> 00:12:59,112 Cuttlefish can see in low light but, more impressively, 185 00:12:59,112 --> 00:13:02,782 their eyes can see polarized light, 186 00:13:02,782 --> 00:13:08,154 allowing them to detect even the slightest motion. 187 00:13:08,154 --> 00:13:13,626 All of this serves to better seek out their prey. 188 00:13:13,626 --> 00:13:17,697 Once its victim is located, the cuttlefish moves in, 189 00:13:17,697 --> 00:13:23,836 slow and stealthy. 190 00:13:23,836 --> 00:13:29,475 What happens next shows just how impressive a predator it is. 191 00:13:32,645 --> 00:13:35,515 A pair of sucker-covered feeding-tentacles moves out 192 00:13:35,515 --> 00:13:40,319 of the cuttle mantle lightning fast, 193 00:13:40,319 --> 00:13:42,155 stunning the target, 194 00:13:42,155 --> 00:13:44,257 then sucking the victim violently back 195 00:13:44,257 --> 00:13:47,060 into its gaping mouth 196 00:13:54,767 --> 00:13:58,538 For shrimp and crab caught in the crosshairs, 197 00:13:58,538 --> 00:14:01,774 the nightmare has just begun. 198 00:14:01,774 --> 00:14:06,045 Waiting in this cuttlefish's mouth is a bone-saw; 199 00:14:06,045 --> 00:14:06,946 a parrot-like beak 200 00:14:06,946 --> 00:14:12,285 that literally rips its victims apart. 201 00:14:12,285 --> 00:14:15,154 However, for large prey like fish, 202 00:14:15,154 --> 00:14:18,491 cuttlefish deploy another option: 203 00:14:18,491 --> 00:14:21,494 toxic saliva that paralyzes their victims 204 00:14:21,494 --> 00:14:26,766 long enough for them to be eaten alive. 205 00:14:26,766 --> 00:14:29,769 Oh, and if you think the cuttlefishes' toxic tendencies 206 00:14:29,769 --> 00:14:35,842 only works on marine creatures, think again. 207 00:14:35,842 --> 00:14:39,545 Besides having a toxic bite, some species of cuttlefish 208 00:14:39,545 --> 00:14:46,085 have poisonous flesh that can be deadly if consumed. 209 00:14:46,085 --> 00:14:49,188 If ingested by humans, the smallest trace can induce 210 00:14:49,188 --> 00:14:55,795 respiratory failure, cardiac arrest and sometimes death. 211 00:14:55,795 --> 00:14:58,631 But you've got to see them to avoid them. 212 00:14:58,631 --> 00:15:04,203 And that's no easy task. 213 00:15:04,203 --> 00:15:07,640 Cuttlefish are shape-shifting masters of disguise, 214 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:12,478 capable of camouflaging themselves to avoid detection. 215 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,784 When their eyes pick up subtle changes in their environment, 216 00:15:17,784 --> 00:15:23,356 it instantly triggers this color-changing mechanism. 217 00:15:23,356 --> 00:15:26,092 Covering its body are millions of tiny cells 218 00:15:26,092 --> 00:15:29,829 called chromatophores. 219 00:15:29,829 --> 00:15:34,267 These cells develop at birth, giving a cutlet the power 220 00:15:34,267 --> 00:15:40,173 to blend into its surroundings from the beginning. 221 00:15:40,173 --> 00:15:43,276 Like pixels on a computer screen, these electrified cells 222 00:15:43,276 --> 00:15:45,511 allow cuttlefish to change color 223 00:15:45,511 --> 00:15:48,648 and disappear into their environment. 224 00:15:53,252 --> 00:15:56,422 Concealed from view, the camo-wearing killer 225 00:15:56,422 --> 00:16:01,460 lies in wait, the victim hopelessly outmatched. 226 00:16:07,567 --> 00:16:10,436 In a final bizarre twist, the cuttlefish 227 00:16:10,436 --> 00:16:16,242 can also radically change its physical appearance. 228 00:16:16,242 --> 00:16:19,545 By contracting muscles on its skin it can fool 229 00:16:19,545 --> 00:16:25,251 victims and predators alike into thinking it's kelp or coral. 230 00:16:27,253 --> 00:16:29,288 Despite its formidable arsenal, 231 00:16:29,288 --> 00:16:33,159 the cuttlefish does have enemies. 232 00:16:33,159 --> 00:16:39,398 Its meat is a tasty treat for sharks, seals and dolphins. 233 00:16:39,398 --> 00:16:43,102 And in those rare moments when the hunter is hunted, 234 00:16:43,102 --> 00:16:48,241 the cuttlefish knows when to cut and run. 235 00:16:48,241 --> 00:16:54,313 It can flee with enormous speed, leaving only an inky trace. 236 00:16:58,618 --> 00:17:03,022 Meet the giant red-headed centipede. 237 00:17:03,022 --> 00:17:06,792 Actually, you probably don't want to. 238 00:17:06,792 --> 00:17:08,561 It's one of the nastiest invertebrates 239 00:17:08,561 --> 00:17:11,731 in the American southwest. 240 00:17:11,731 --> 00:17:16,168 And it's got legs to die for. 241 00:17:16,168 --> 00:17:22,074 That's terrible news for this unsuspecting cricket. 242 00:17:22,074 --> 00:17:27,346 In a battle for survival, the cricket doesn't stand a chance. 243 00:17:31,417 --> 00:17:37,423 The giant red-headed centipede is actually only 7 inches long, 244 00:17:37,423 --> 00:17:41,560 but it has an enormous presence. 245 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:47,566 It's got a very tough shell and 42 sharp and sticky legs, 246 00:17:48,801 --> 00:17:49,802 but most importantly, 247 00:17:49,802 --> 00:17:54,640 it has venom that delivers a knock-out punch. 248 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:59,512 As the cricket is about to discover. 249 00:17:59,512 --> 00:18:03,683 Oblivious, it lingers. 250 00:18:03,683 --> 00:18:08,220 And the centipede waits and watches. 251 00:18:08,220 --> 00:18:14,327 Or it appears to be watching. 252 00:18:14,327 --> 00:18:17,730 Although the centipede has 8 eye clusters on its head 253 00:18:17,730 --> 00:18:21,600 with 200 little eyes each, 254 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:28,207 the centipede can only detect light and dark. 255 00:18:28,207 --> 00:18:34,280 Another sensory organ proves to be more useful: chemoreceptors, 256 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,183 conveniently located in the centipede's antennae, 257 00:18:37,183 --> 00:18:42,188 detect the chemical traces emitted by its prey. 258 00:18:42,188 --> 00:18:48,160 All the better to smell you with, my dear. 259 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:52,264 When the right moment comes, the centipede pounces. 260 00:18:55,234 --> 00:19:00,706 And with those appendages, resistance is futile. 261 00:19:00,706 --> 00:19:02,641 The centipede's legs are a straitjacket 262 00:19:02,641 --> 00:19:06,612 from which no insect can escape. 263 00:19:06,612 --> 00:19:11,717 And it uses as many legs as it needs. 264 00:19:11,717 --> 00:19:16,155 Once the cricket is secured, it's time for the coup de grace: 265 00:19:16,155 --> 00:19:17,723 potent venom. 266 00:19:17,723 --> 00:19:21,494 And it's there, at the ready. 267 00:19:21,494 --> 00:19:23,429 The centipede's first pair of legs 268 00:19:23,429 --> 00:19:27,133 are actually venom-filled fangs. 269 00:19:27,133 --> 00:19:31,103 The poison is rich in neurotoxins. 270 00:19:31,103 --> 00:19:34,240 Its prey is immediately paralyzed. 271 00:19:41,514 --> 00:19:44,150 The centipede's powerful jaws easily break through 272 00:19:44,150 --> 00:19:48,554 the cricket's shell. 273 00:19:48,554 --> 00:19:53,592 Wasting no time, it goes straight for the abdomen. 274 00:19:53,592 --> 00:19:58,664 Cracking it open, the centipede gets a pleasant surprise: 275 00:19:58,664 --> 00:20:02,501 eggs - unborn crickets. 276 00:20:02,501 --> 00:20:05,337 Yum! 277 00:20:05,337 --> 00:20:07,606 The centipede uses its palps like chopsticks 278 00:20:07,606 --> 00:20:13,546 to feast on the protein-rich eggs. 279 00:20:13,546 --> 00:20:16,715 It's an easy meal. 280 00:20:16,715 --> 00:20:18,417 With the weapons it possesses, 281 00:20:18,417 --> 00:20:22,321 most meals come easily to the giant centipede. 282 00:20:22,321 --> 00:20:29,161 Even bigger and stronger prey. 283 00:20:29,161 --> 00:20:32,131 Because of its venom, it can paralyze and consume 284 00:20:32,131 --> 00:20:38,304 much larger animals such as lizards, rodents and frogs. 285 00:20:38,304 --> 00:20:41,340 So the leggy creature has no problem being aggressive 286 00:20:41,340 --> 00:20:45,778 when it's hungry. 287 00:20:45,778 --> 00:20:49,348 Once the centipede bites, a combination of intense pain 288 00:20:49,348 --> 00:20:56,255 and paralysis immobilizes its prey. 289 00:20:56,255 --> 00:21:00,259 Despite its ferocity, the giant red-headed centipede 290 00:21:00,259 --> 00:21:04,230 doesn't always prevail. 291 00:21:04,230 --> 00:21:09,635 It can become prey too. 292 00:21:09,635 --> 00:21:14,140 Birds, mammals, and even other centipedes will try their luck. 293 00:21:16,709 --> 00:21:19,111 Their bright colors are meant to be a clear signal 294 00:21:19,111 --> 00:21:23,415 to predators to stay away. 295 00:21:23,415 --> 00:21:27,319 The smart ones do. 296 00:21:27,319 --> 00:21:30,222 But for those that don't, 297 00:21:30,222 --> 00:21:35,528 the giant centipede has yet another trick. 298 00:21:35,528 --> 00:21:40,766 Its tail looks like its head. 299 00:21:40,766 --> 00:21:44,703 The would-be predator has a tough choice. 300 00:21:44,703 --> 00:21:46,238 Bite the wrong end, 301 00:21:46,238 --> 00:21:49,341 and the predator itself risks being bitten. 302 00:21:49,341 --> 00:21:54,213 And death is almost certain. 303 00:21:54,213 --> 00:21:57,583 It makes for a deadly dinnertime gamble. 304 00:22:01,754 --> 00:22:07,092 Alas, humans aren't immune to centipede venom either. 305 00:22:07,092 --> 00:22:13,098 Although most bites only cause sharp pain and swelling, 306 00:22:13,098 --> 00:22:18,671 for those allergic to its venom, a bite can be fatal. 307 00:22:18,671 --> 00:22:22,474 There's a little-known story of a confederate soldier. 308 00:22:22,474 --> 00:22:25,211 A giant red-headed centipede walked over his chest 309 00:22:25,211 --> 00:22:31,150 while he was sleeping, its legs piercing the soldier's flesh. 310 00:22:31,150 --> 00:22:34,520 Swelling, intense pain and convulsions followed, 311 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:37,656 and the soldier died just two days later. 312 00:22:42,361 --> 00:22:46,165 With the ability to disable and kill much larger animals, 313 00:22:46,165 --> 00:22:48,667 the giant red-headed centipede 314 00:22:48,667 --> 00:22:53,706 is a confident and accomplished predator. 315 00:22:53,706 --> 00:22:57,543 If you see one, beware! 316 00:22:57,543 --> 00:23:01,146 It's one of the most venomous invertebrates in the world. 317 00:23:05,818 --> 00:23:08,587 Venom and poison - 318 00:23:08,587 --> 00:23:12,791 some of nature's deadliest chemical weapons. 319 00:23:12,791 --> 00:23:16,328 Some victims face a gruesome end. 320 00:23:16,328 --> 00:23:19,632 For others, it's a nasty blow. 321 00:23:19,632 --> 00:23:22,201 But it's not personal. 322 00:23:22,201 --> 00:23:24,803 These toxic brutes will do whatever it takes 323 00:23:24,803 --> 00:23:29,008 to find a meal and to survive. 324 00:23:29,842 --> 00:23:37,816 ♪♪♪ 325 00:23:37,816 --> 00:23:45,824 ♪♪♪ 326 00:23:45,824 --> 00:23:53,699 ♪♪♪