Andy's Prehistoric Adventures Season 2 Episode 7 Australopithecus and Hair

Andy's Prehistoric Adventures is an educational and entertaining children's program that follows the adventures of Andy Day as he travels back in time to meet prehistoric creatures and learn about their habitats, behavior, and diet. In season 2 episode 7, titled "Australopithecus and Hair", Andy travels back to Africa around three million years ago to meet a distant ancestor of humans - the Australopithecus.

As soon as Andy lands in the prehistoric African savanna, he realizes that things are very different from the last time he visited this region. The landscape is much greener, and there are huge herds of extinct animals grazing on the grasslands, such as the giant rhinos, giraffes, and elephants. The air feels moist and tropical, with colorful birds swooping overhead. Andy is excited to see a flock of passenger pigeons, a bird species that has gone extinct only a few centuries ago.

As he sets out on his adventure to find the Australopithecus, Andy notices that he is being followed by a pack of hyenas. He remembers that hyenas were common scavengers in the area during the prehistoric era and that they could pose a danger to him if he gets too close. However, Andy also knows that hyenas are intelligent animals with exceptional hearing and smell, so he decides to use their skills to his advantage. He follows the hyenas, hoping they will lead him to a source of water and possibly food.

After walking for a few hours, Andy arrives at a lush jungle filled with towering trees and thick undergrowth. The hyenas are still trailing him, but they keep a safe distance, hidden in the bushes. Andy follows a narrow, winding path through the jungle, and he suddenly stops when he hears a strange sound. It's like a mix between a roar and a grunt, and it seems to be coming from a nearby tree. Andy approaches the tree carefully, peering through the leaves, and he sees the source of the noise - a family of Australopithecus!

Andy is thrilled to see these primitive human-like creatures in person. He observes their behavior in detail, noting that they walk upright like modern humans but have much longer arms and a stooped posture. They are covered with hair all over their bodies, which helps them regulate their temperature in the hot African climate and possibly protects them from insect bites. Andy is fascinated by the Australopithecus's hair and wonders how they maintained it. He remembers that grooming is an essential behavior of many primates, so he decides to investigate further.

Using a special tool provided by his time-traveling device, Andy collects some DNA samples from the Australopithecus's hair. He also collects some hair samples from a nearby animal, a giant ground sloth, which has long shaggy fur. Andy compares the two types of hair under a microscope and discovers some similarities and differences. Both types of hair have a central shaft and a protective cuticle, but the sloth's hair is much thicker and coarser, with a more complex structure.

Andy concludes that the Australopithecus's hair must have served multiple functions beyond the obvious protection from the environment. It could have been used to attract mates, signal social status, or even regulate emotions. He also speculates that the Australopithecus might have used tools to groom their hair or to remove parasite infestations. Andy realizes that studying the hair of prehistoric creatures can reveal valuable insights into their biology, behavior, and evolution, and he promises to explore this topic further in his future adventures.

As the sun starts to set, Andy says goodbye to the Australopithecus family and thanks them for their hospitality. The hyenas are still lurking nearby, but they seem less interested in him now. With renewed energy, Andy begins his long journey back to his own time period. Along the way, he reflects on all the amazing things he has learned about prehistoric creatures and how important it is to protect the biodiversity of our planet. The episode ends with Andy coming back to his laboratory, where he adds the DNA samples to his collection of scientific specimens and starts to plan his next adventure.