WildCreatures

Every spring, yellow-spotted salamanders migrate to vernal ponds to breed. The result is a frenzy of activity that lasts only 2-3 nights each year. It is a spectacle to behold. The salamanders make their long journey from the surrounding forest under the cover of darkness, usually after a rainfall. The males arrive at the pond first, depositing spermatophores on the leaves and branches in shallow water. The females come soon after, gathering up the spermatophores to fertilize the eggs that they are waiting to deposit. Soon after the eggs are fertilized, the female will attach herself to a submerged plant stem or twig and she will release the eggs. The eggs are protected by a sticky, gelatinous mass that deters predators as the eggs develop for approximately 30 days. The eggs hatch into tadpoles, similar to frogs and toads. They spend their first few months in the water, breathing through gills. Salamanders are amphibians. Once they leave the water, they spend most of their lives underground, occasionally coming out of their burrows to feed and also for breeding season in March to May each year. They are rarely seen, although they are plentiful in the forests that they inhabit. Salamanders excrete a toxic, milky fluid when they are threatened. Salamanders are a major food source for birds, raccoons, foxes and other animals. Salamanders feed on earthworms, spiders, slugs, snails, and other insects. They have the amazing ability to grow a new tail and new limbs if one is severed. A salamander has the unique ability to lay two different types of egg masses. One type has a water-soluble, protein-based gel. The other type has a hydrophobic protein-based gel. This is believed to prevent predation by wood frogs. These eggs are combined with an algae that produces oxygen and removes carbon dioxide and nitrogen waste from developing embryos. The complex relationships between organisms are only beginning to be understood. The health of our forests and our ecosystems depends on the survival of all species, no matter how small.

The Maldives are one of the most magnificent destinations of the planet. The beauty above the waves is striking, and the scenery is magnificent. But what most people don't get to see is the phenomenal world under the waves. These divers from Canada take you on a journey into a magical and mystical world beneath the waves. Scuba divers are among the most fortunate people on the planet. They strap on air tanks, allowing them to venture into a world where humans were never meant to go. They see things that humans were never meant to see. The animals are bizarre. Gorgeous. Ferocious. They are beautiful and spectacular and they live in a world where the balance between being predator and prey is delicate and can change in an instant. From tiny fish to gigantic manta rays, this video shows you magnificence and colour that is beyond what we can see on land.

Copinaco's Floating Bar is a unique and ingenious business that brings the pina coladas right to you as you wander the beach. Roatan is home to some of the most beautiful shorelines in the world. Tourists come here for the beauty and for the island warmth. The sun and the sand make this beach a pleasure to stroll and a sight to behold. What makes it even better is the fact that this gentleman, Sammy delivers one of the world's best pina coladas as you dip your toes in the ocean. He paddles his kayak up and down the shore, starting his day at 10:00 and ending it when the last pineapples or coconuts are sold. Loading the kayak with hundreds of pounds of fruit, rum, pina colada mix and straws, he sets out along the shallows, searching for thirsty tourists who need some refreshment. Dave, a visitor from Canada heard the call for drinks as he strolled. Eager to support a hardworking businessman, he rushed down to greet this mobile bartender. In his hurry, Dave almost took a few beanbags in the head as he barged through a game in progress. Sammy threw out his anchor, a small concrete block and he set to work preparing a very fresh drink for Dave. At $10, this monstrous drink was a bargain and the experience added to the value. Sammy earned his money and a tip. In a world where it is hard to make ends meet, this brilliant entrepreneur has created a solid business model and developed a niche market that makes him very comfortable. Sammy is a huge hit among the locals and the tourists in this little paradise, and it's easy to see why.

Decorator crabs are known for their ability to attach algae and small animals to their shells to conceal themselves from predators, but the process is more complex than it appears, and it suggests higher intelligence than we once understood these crabs to have. If the shells of these crabs are cleaned, they will immediately set about replacing their camouflage with the same care and precision as they showed in their first concealment. There are several species of crabs that use plants, animals, and debris from their environment to adorn their shells. Some chew the algae and then carefully hook the pieces onto velcro-like hooks on their shell. They occasionally use anemones or other sedentary animals. They attach the matter to their shells with great precision and care, suggesting that they are purposefully imitating the surfaces around them. When moved from one environment to another, these crabs will quickly replace their adornments with items from the new location, seemingly understanding the need to blend in with specific surroundings. Their disguise is not random or haphazard. Decorator crabs will make use of toxic plants or animals as further deterrence for potential predators. Described by scientists as "perhaps unrivalled" mastery of concealment, these are highly specialized behaviours. Understanding the purpose of their covering, these crabs remain still during the day and they freeze in place when threatened. Some species use only sponges, others use only noxious alga. One species selects stinging anemone for it's protective covering. The anemone benefits from an increased supply of food that is available as it moves around with the crab. Octopus have shown a tendency to avoid these crabs when they are adorned with anemone. The intelligence and purpose of the smallest and seemingly less significant animals is becoming more understood. Perhaps, as we gain greater insight we will also gain greater appreciation and desire to protect them. The balance of nature is a delicate one and humans frequently disrupt this balance in their ignorance of what goes on around them.