The Rip Van Winkle of the Desert Destination WILD
Transcript
00:00 Hidden underground, the desert's own Rip Van Winkle
00:05 waits for his moment.
00:06 The spadefoot toad lies in suspended animation
00:18 under the soil until it hears the welcome drumbeat
00:22 of the raindrops on the desert floor.
00:27 This is his cue.
00:30 Its first priority is to eat.
00:42 Whatever's available.
00:45 (dramatic music)
00:48 The toad expels musky secretions to ward off predators.
01:04 Though to us, it smells a lot like peanut butter.
01:06 Now fed, his next priority is to find a mate.
01:16 (toad calling)
01:18 In the nearby puddles, males gather,
01:20 trying to attract females with bleeding calls.
01:41 The resulting tadpoles are in a race against the desert sun.
01:45 They have to mature into adults
01:48 before their puddle dries up.
01:50 Luckily, they do the job as fast as any amphibian on earth.
01:54 Tadpole to toad in just 14 days.
01:59 (upbeat music)
02:04 (upbeat music)
02:07 (upbeat music)
02:09 (upbeat music)
02:12 [MUSIC PLAYING]
02:15 you