:12:03
As he scurries about looking for
that lovely, stinking food he can smell...
:12:07
...he does a good job
of pollinating the flower.
:12:09
When he finally realizes he's been tricked,
he flies off in disgust.
:12:13
But he has done
something useful for once.
:12:17
In a few short weeks
after the rain...
:12:19
...this plant grows quickly to maturity,
bears seeds, and dies.
:12:23
But even after death,
it protects its seeds...
:12:26
...in those strange-looking
pods for a year or more...
:12:28
...until the rain comes again.
:12:31
Then the moisture
causes those dead parts...
:12:33
...to move like bizarre living creatures,
and they open up.
:12:50
And then the moisture triggers
little springs inside the pods.
:12:55
The seeds are
shot out in a hurry...
:12:57
...to germinate and grow
while the soil is still wet...
:13:00
...so they can bear more seeds
to start the next generation.
:13:13
An incredible variety of animals...
:13:15
...have accepted the challenge
of living in the Pre-Namib...
:13:18
...where you are never sure
whether it'll rain this year or next year.
:13:22
The scaly anteater, who looks like
a tired medieval knight in armor.
:13:27
The wart hog, who's
so ugly, he's beautiful...
:13:30
...and who always goes
into his home tail-first.
:13:36
Porcupines, who should
know better than anyone...
:13:39
...not to go through
the same door at the same time.
:13:51
The scorpion, who carries
her babies on her back.
:13:55
The chameleon, whose
eyes move independently...
:13:58
...so he can see where he's going
and where he's been.