Toad Plays Dead As Water Snake Zeroes In
Transcript
00:00 These pools are known locally as wadis, the Arabic word for valley.
00:11 The wadi lies in the mountains, rising along the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
00:17 The Al Hajar mountain range stretches 310 miles from the United Arab Emirates in the
00:23 north into the Sultanate of Oman in the south.
00:29 This wadi, dwarfed by barren rock faces and towering mountains, may not look like much,
00:35 but this rare oasis offers a lifeline for wildlife.
00:41 Toads are one of only a handful of animals that can exist here year-round.
00:46 Unsurprisingly, amphibians are extremely rare in arid Arabia.
00:54 Just nine species are found here.
00:58 Toads are confined to the cooler coastal areas.
01:01 The Arabian toad is the only species to have penetrated the drier interior, and it is entirely
01:09 dependent on the wadi.
01:13 The toad's sudden movement catches a predator's eye.
01:20 A wadi racer is on the hunt.
01:27 This deadly specialist lives up to its name.
01:32 The four feet long snake uses lightning speed to hunt in the pools.
01:44 The racer produces a mild venom, but since it lacks fangs, it must chew on its prey for
01:50 the toxin to penetrate its victim.
01:59 Its favorite food is toad.
02:08 The snake's vision is especially sensitive to movement.
02:13 Each time the toad hops, the visual hunter draws closer.
02:25 If the toad keeps perfectly still, the snake can't detect it.
02:33 It is a battle of nerves.
02:36 Incredibly, the snake's tongue seems unable to pinpoint its target, even at point blank
02:42 range.
02:49 The toad's bravery pays off.