Ep 4. Termites vs. Tongues

In Wild Kratts season 2 episode 4, titled "Termites vs. Tongues," our favorite creature adventurers, the Kratt brothers, go on another exciting quest to learn more about the world around them. This time, they're curious about the differences between termites and tongues, two seemingly unrelated organisms that have interesting—and sometimes strange—habits.

As the episode starts, the Kratt brothers land in the African savanna, eager to observe some of nature's biggest and strongest creatures, including the elephant and the rhinoceros. However, they quickly discover that there are much smaller, but equally important, animals living in the savanna as well: termites.

The Kratt brothers observe how termites live together in huge mounds, made up of a sophisticated system of tunnels and chambers. They witness how termites work together to gather food, maintain their homes, and protect their queen from harm. They also learn about the fascinating ways termites communicate with each other, using pheromones and vibrational signals to coordinate their activities.

As they're observing the termites, the Kratt brothers suddenly hear a commotion nearby. They follow the sound and find a group of baboons gathered around a termite mound, clearly excited about something. The Kratt brothers investigate and realize that the baboons are using their tongues to extract termites from the mound, a behavior known as "termite fishing."

The Kratt brothers are fascinated by this behavior, and start to wonder if there's a connection between termites and tongues. They hypothesize that perhaps the tongues of certain animals have evolved to be especially adapted to catching termites, the way some birds have evolved beaks for cracking open seeds. To test this hypothesis, the Kratt brothers decide to investigate the anatomy and behavior of different animals' tongues.

Throughout the episode, the Kratt brothers travel to various locations and observe a wide range of creatures, from anteaters to pangolins, all in the quest to uncover the secrets of termites and tongues. Using their Creature Power Suits, the Kratt brothers are able to get up close and personal with these animals and see how their tongues work in action. They also use their trusty Creature Pod to analyze the different structures and functions of the animals' tongues.

As they learn more about different animals' tongues, the Kratt brothers are able to piece together a larger understanding of the relationship between tongues and termites. They discover that many animals, including aardvarks, anteaters, pangolins, and even certain species of birds, have evolved specialized tongue structures that help them catch and eat termites. These structures include long, skinny tongues that can reach deep into termite mounds, sticky tongues that can grab termites and hold on tight, and even ant and termite-specific bacteria on the tongues that help break down and digest the insects.

But the Kratt brothers also discover that tongues are just one part of the larger ecosystem that supports termites. They observe how the termites' activities create healthy soil and provide an important food source for many other creatures. Without termites, the habitats of many animals would be drastically altered.

Ultimately, the Kratt brothers' investigation highlights the incredible diversity of life on our planet and the intricate relationships between different organisms. By understanding the connections between termites and tongues, they gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and wonder of the natural world.