Ep 5. Hanimals
- October 15, 2010
In season 8 episode 5 of QI, titled "Hanmals," host Sandi Toksvig and guests Josh Widdicombe, Rich Hall, Cariad Lloyd, and Alan Davies explore the world of animals with surprising and humorous facts.
The episode begins with a discussion on the unusual habits of dung beetles. The guests are shocked to learn that dung beetles use the Milky Way to navigate their way while rolling dung balls. This information leads to a delightful tangent as the panelists discuss their favorite strange animal facts.
Toksvig then introduces the topic of hybrid animals. The guests learn that a liger, a hybrid between a male lion and a female tiger, is the largest cat in the world. The conversation then shifts to the mule, a hybrid of a male donkey and a female horse, which is sterile. Davies is flummoxed by the idea of a sterile animal while Hall leads the group in a discussion of the definition of a "species."
Next, Lloyd is challenged to identify which animal has more bones in its neck than a giraffe. Despite the guests' skepticism, she successfully guesses the number of bones in the swan's neck. This leads to a discussion about the strange things swans eat, including coins.
As the show moves onto the topic of animal senses, Widdicombe learns that the largest animal he has ever seen, the blue whale, has the smallest eyes in the animal world. The guests also learn about the fascinating sense of echolocation in bats and the different types of light that various animals, including bees and snakes, can see.
The conversation then turns to the world of animal linguistics. The guests learn that different prairie dogs have their own unique "language" and that sperm whales have dialects. Davies is also surprised to learn that there are fewer words in the English language to describe smells than there are for colors.
The final round of the show involves identifying different animal sounds. The guests are given a range of unusual noises, from an elephant call to a koala's mating cry. They also learn about the bizarre noises made by various marine animals, from the walrus's "farting" sound to the humpback whale's haunting songs.
Overall, "Hanmals" is a delightful episode that explores the world of animals with amusing and fascinating facts. The panelists' humor and curiosity make for an enjoyable and enlightening viewing experience.
