David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities Season 2 Episode 6 Shocking Senses

David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities season 2 episode 6 titled "Shocking Senses" explores the incredible sensory abilities of the animal kingdom. In this episode, Attenborough takes viewers on a fascinating journey, introducing us to various species that possess some of the most shocking natural senses in the world.

The episode starts with a deep-sea anglerfish, which uses bioluminescence to attract prey. With the help of its unique light-emitting organ, the anglerfish lures unsuspecting prey close enough to be captured by its massive jaws. From there, Attenborough moves on to the platypus, a fascinating mammal that has the ability to detect electric fields in the water. This sense helps the platypus locate prey hidden in the muddy riverbed, allowing it to catch fish and crustaceans.

The show then introduces us to the star-nosed mole, a small mammal that lives in underground tunnels and uses its bizarre-looking nose to sense its surroundings. The star-nosed mole's nose is covered in small, fleshy bumps, each of which is packed with sensory receptors that can detect touch, temperature, and pressure. The bump-covered nose is so sensitive that the star-nosed mole can identify and capture prey in total darkness.

From there, Attenborough explores the incredible eyesight of the tarsier, a small primate that lives in Southeast Asia. The tarsier's enormous eyes give it exceptional night vision, making it one of the most effective nocturnal hunters in the animal kingdom. Attenborough then moves on to the mantis shrimp, a colourful crustacean that uses a unique form of vision to find prey. The mantis shrimp has 16 colour receptors (compared to the three found in humans), allowing it to see a rainbow of colours invisible to our eyes. Additionally, the mantis shrimp's eyes are capable of polarisation vision, which helps it identify camouflaged prey.

The episode then shifts focus to the echidna, a spiny anteater that can detect the slightest vibrations in the soil. This sense allows the echidna to locate insects and other small creatures, even when they are hiding underground. Attenborough then introduces viewers to the tube-nosed fruit bat, a tiny mammal with an incredible sense of smell. The bat's unusually long nasal tubes help it locate nectar in flowers, even when they are hidden deep inside.

Finally, Attenborough delves into the incredible sense of hearing possessed by the bush cricket. These tiny insects use their exceptionally sensitive ears to detect the calls of potential mates, even when they are drowned out by other background noises. The bush cricket's ears are so advanced that they can even detect the sounds of bats hunting them, allowing the cricket to evade capture.

Throughout the episode, Attenborough provides in-depth insights into each species' unique sense, delving into the biology and function of each. Along the way, he also highlights the many challenges faced by these animals, from predators to habitat destruction, and emphasizes the importance of protecting these incredible creatures and their natural habitats.

Overall, Shocking Senses is a fascinating and insightful look at some of the most incredible senses found in the animal kingdom, offering viewers a rare glimpse into the remarkable world of natural curiosities.