These Caterpillars Became Hungry for Flesh But Why

Bright Side

Uncover the fascinating story of carnivorous caterpillars in Hawaii! These herbivores-turned-predators use camouflage and ambush tactics to hunt insects. Learn about their evolution and why they can't revert to herbivorous diets. Subscribe for more captivating nature stories and wildlife discoveries!    #brightside   Animation is created by Bright Side.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/   Listen to Bright Side on:  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/idhttps-podcasts-apple-com-podcast-bright-side/id1554898078 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Social Media: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/brightside/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official/ Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en Snapchat - https://www.snapchat.com/p/c6a1e38a-bff1-4a40-9731-2c8234ccb19f/1866144599336960  Stock materials (photos, footages and other):  https://www.depositphotos.com  https://www.shutterstock.com  https://www.eastnews.ru  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me

Transcript

00:00 So, there's a spooky feeding habit that caterpillars in Hawaii have been showing off.

00:07 These inchworms, called geometric larvae, are going against the norm and skipping the

00:12 whole eating leaves thing.

00:14 Instead, they hang out on leaves and stems, waiting for insects to come by so they can

00:20 quickly snatch them up with their spiny legs.

00:25 Scientists have found a bunch of these little bug hunters in Hawaii's forests and have

00:29 been raising them in the lab.

00:31 Turns out, they belong to a group of caterpillars called Eupathetia, which normally chow down

00:36 on plant stuff like flowers and leaves.

00:41 But in Hawaii, around 6 of these Eupathetia species have decided to go carnivorous, opting

00:47 for a diet of insect snacks instead.

00:50 Maybe all that protein-rich flower pollen they've been eating has helped them unlock

00:54 their inner predator.

00:57 Due to the lack of predators from the mainland, these grappling inchworms have been able to

01:02 thrive in Hawaii's ecosystem, unlike other invasive species causing trouble for native

01:07 plants and animals.

01:09 These flesh-eating caterpillars in Hawaii have evolved to occupy the ecological niche

01:15 typically filled by insects, like praying mantises in other regions.

01:19 They're known for their quick attacks, taking only about 0.1 second to strike and devour

01:25 their live prey.

01:28 Hopefully they don't get any bigger.

01:30 And hungrier.

01:33 Rattlesnakes use their iconic rattle to warn predators like coyotes and bison to stay away

01:39 or risk getting bitten.

01:41 This rattling behavior evolved from ancestral tail shaking as a form of aposematic signaling.

01:48 Rather than using the rattle to attract mates, the sound serves as a warning signal of the

01:52 danger posed by the snake's venomous fangs.

01:57 The rattling noise is created by loosely attached hollow segments of dead skin at the end of

02:03 the snake's tail that click together.

02:06 Recent research has shown that rattlesnakes adjust the speed of their rattling based on

02:10 the proximity of a predator, creating a clever auditory illusion to deter potential threats.

02:16 This sophisticated use of sound helps rattlesnakes defend themselves despite their own inability

02:22 to hear the rattle.

02:26 Scallops have a unique appearance, resembling horror movie clams with tendrils and eyes

02:31 inside their mouths.

02:33 Despite, you know, being delicious.

02:36 Scientists have discovered that these eyes, which look like berries, could be compared

02:40 to advanced telescopes.

02:42 They're like tiled mirrors, capable of creating complex images similar to those formed by

02:47 modern observatory telescopes.

02:50 Interestingly, scallops do not have a brain, yet their eyes can form blurry images of objects.

02:57 Unlike other molluscs, such as mussels, scallops have a unique eye structure similar to insects.

03:04 This may explain why scallops are among the few bivalves that can swim.

03:08 The numerous eyes on a scallop may help in creating a 3D view of its surroundings, with

03:14 some eyes having better vision than others.

03:17 These unique eyes could potentially influence the design of future telescopes, inspiring

03:22 the creation of compact, wide-field imaging devices.

03:27 So the next time you enjoy a scallop dish, remember that these creatures have up to 200

03:33 tiny telescopes looking back at you!

03:38 What is the purpose of hollow bones in birds?

03:41 Birds possess unique skeletal adaptations crucial for being able to fly.

03:46 One of these is hollow bones.

03:48 Also known as pneumocyst bones, they contain air spaces that aid in oxygen intake during

03:54 flight.

03:56 Air sacs are connected to these hollow areas within a bird's bones, allowing their lungs

04:00 to extend throughout their skeletal structure.

04:03 This intricate system helps birds absorb oxygen while breathing in and out, ultimately increasing

04:09 oxygen levels in their blood and providing them with the necessary energy for flying.

04:15 So contrary to popular belief, hollow bones do not necessarily make a bird lighter.

04:21 Studies show that bird bones are actually heavier compared to those animals of a similar

04:25 size.

04:27 In fact, the skeleton of a 2-ounce bird is denser and heavier than that of a 2-ounce

04:32 mouse.

04:33 This increased density results in stiffer and stronger thin hollow bones that are less

04:37 likely to break.

04:41 Sometimes legs are a lie.

04:44 Tell me more!

04:45 In a recent study, researchers delved into how caterpillars grow their signature chubby

04:49 legs.

04:50 They actually serve an important purpose.

04:54 Caterpillars need to eat a lot to grow quickly, so having chubby legs help them move around

04:59 leaves and stems efficiently.

05:01 Interestingly, these chubby legs aren't actually legs at all.

05:05 They're called prolegs, short nubs that help caterpillars move.

05:10 The caterpillar's real legs, which turn into its adult legs as a moth or a butterfly,

05:15 are near its head and are not used for walking.

05:18 Even if a caterpillar loses its real legs, it can still move using its fake ones.

05:25 This raises the question of what makes a leg a leg.

05:28 Is it about its structure or its function?

05:32 Caterpillars' unique legs are just one example of the fascinating adaptations seen in arthropods.

05:38 These temporary legs help caterpillars feed and move before they transform into their

05:43 final form.

05:46 This fleeting glimpse into the caterpillar's world reminds us of the transitory nature

05:50 of life and encourages us to appreciate these special legs while they last.

05:57 These bearded dragons are cool lizards from Australia that hang out in deserts, savannas,

06:02 scrublands, and subtropical forests.

06:05 They're known for being real chill pets thanks to their friendly vibes, constant smile,

06:11 and laid-back attitude.

06:14 People love keeping them as pets, calling them "beardies" because of the spiky stuff

06:18 on their necks.

06:20 There are 8 kinds of bearded dragons, with lots of different colors and patterns developed

06:25 in captivity.

06:28 Even though they're doing well in their Australian homes, some of these dragons have

06:32 ended up in other parts of the world through sneaky means.

06:35 Though they mostly stick to the ground in the wild, they can sure climb trees when they

06:39 need to show off or escape from something real spooky.

06:44 Bearded dragons are now all over the world, except Hawaii, because they're not allowed

06:48 there.

06:49 Fun fact, these dragons can regrow teeth, just like sharks and geckos.

06:55 Some bearded dragons have been seen slurping up rainwater when it's super hot and dry

07:00 outside.

07:01 Bearded dragons have some quirky sleeping habits, snoozing in weird positions even when

07:06 they're in their comfy tanks.

07:08 They can literally stand while sleeping.

07:11 They can also run pretty fast, as fast as humans.

07:14 Still, they prefer taking it easy most of the time.

07:18 When they do need to make a dash, they can stand up on two legs and zoom like a human.

07:25 Mother Nature does not always adhere to strict definitions of gender.

07:30 Some species have the ability to develop and maintain both male and female reproductive

07:35 organs simultaneously.

07:36 That's a trick!

07:39 Others have the capability to switch from one gender to another, depending on various

07:44 factors such as environmental conditions.

07:47 These changes can provide reproductive flexibility, or may be triggered by external factors, such

07:52 as rising global temperatures.

07:56 Clownfish are an example of sequential hermaphrodites, born as one gender but able to transition

08:02 to the opposite gender if needed.

08:05 In the case of clownfish, this transformation occurs from male to female, a process known

08:10 as protantric.

08:13 In a group of clownfish, only two members are fully mature, a large male and an even

08:18 larger female.

08:19 If something happens to the female, the male will transform into a female and select the

08:24 next biggest male in the group as the new partner.

08:27 Isn't that convenient?

08:31 Hawkfish are another example of a species that can change gender based on specific conditions.

08:37 They start off as females and can transition to males, a process known as protogeny.

08:43 Unlike other sequential hermaphrodites, hawkfish have the ability to switch back and forth

08:48 between male and female, depending on circumstances within the group.

08:54 Banana slugs, for example, are simultaneous hermaphrodites, able to use both male and

08:59 female reproductive organs at the same time.

09:03 While they can self-fertilize, most banana slugs prefer to mate with another slug.

09:08 Also, research has shown that some frog species are capable of changing gender, with individuals

09:14 developing fully functional reproductive organs of the opposite gender.

09:19 This change, observed in both laboratory and wild studies, may be a natural occurrence

09:24 in frog populations, rather than solely a response to environmental changes.

09:29 So now you know!

Category

Transcript

Recommended