Episodes

6 episodes in this season

Adaptability

28 min

Moving

28 min

Protection

28 min

Now Playing

Communication

28 min

Defence

28 min

Sensing

28 min

Secrets of Skin

TV Series

201928m

Documentary

Now playing

Communication

Season 1 · Episode 4 · Dec 18, 2019

Why are male mandrill faces (big bold primates from West Africa) red and blue? How are birds' feathers so colourful? What do ringtail lemurs do to talk to one another? Their skin holds the key. As Professor Ben Garrod explores how animals communicate with one another, he uncovers a myriad more wonderful ways.Skin has evolved in some remarkable ways to enable animals to communicate with each other, from vibrant displays of colour to skin pouches to amplify sound. Ben shows how animals have evolved to use skin to make themselves heard loud and clear. Birds are notable for their use of coloured feathers to attract mates, show status and as displays of aggression. But, as Ben discovers, long before birds evolved their unrivalled use of colour, it is now believed that their ancestors, the dinosaurs, could well have been using colour to communicate. Ben also uncovers how one species of fish communicates using electricity, and a common British bird has been secretly communicating for years, without us ever knowing.

More details

Secrets of Skin

TV Series

201928m

Documentary

Now playing

Communication

Season 1 · Episode 4 · Dec 18, 2019

More details