Synopsis
A toad deploys its defence mechanism in order to evade a toad eating tarantula.
- Programme: Life
- Episode: Reptiles and Amphibians
- Channel: BBC One
- Broadcast year: 2009
- Biology | Ecology | Adaptations, interdependence and competition | Adaptations
Licence: ERA Licence required
UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted
Add Notes
More clips from Life
2: Reptiles and Amphibians | Life
2: Reptiles and Amphibians | Life
David Attenborough reveals the strategies used by reptiles and amphibians to conquer their shortcomings, whether for safety, breeding or ca...
Chameleon challenge | Life
Chameleon challenge | Life
While searching for a mate across the huge barren Namib desert, a female Namaqua chameleon seeks shade in the knowledge that tasty desert beetles ...
2: Reptiles and Amphibians | Life
2: Reptiles and Amphibians | Life
David Attenborough reveals the strategies used by reptiles and amphibians to conquer their shortcomings, whether for safety, breeding or ca...
Chameleon challenge | Life
Chameleon challenge | Life
While searching for a mate across the huge barren Namib desert, a female Namaqua chameleon seeks shade in the knowledge that tasty desert beetles ...
2: Reptiles and Amphibians | Life
2: Reptiles and Amphibians | Life
David Attenborough reveals the strategies used by reptiles and amphibians to conquer their shortcomings, whether for safety, breeding or ca...
Chameleon challenge | Life
Chameleon challenge | Life
While searching for a mate across the huge barren Namib desert, a female Namaqua chameleon seeks shade in the knowledge that tasty desert beetles ...
2: Reptiles and Amphibians | Life
2: Reptiles and Amphibians | Life
David Attenborough reveals the strategies used by reptiles and amphibians to conquer their shortcomings, whether for safety, breeding or ca...
Chameleon challenge | Life
Chameleon challenge | Life
While searching for a mate across the huge barren Namib desert, a female Namaqua chameleon seeks shade in the knowledge that tasty desert beetles ...
More resources about Animal adaptations
Bone evolution | Secrets of Bones
Bone evolution | Secrets of Bones
Large land mammals bone structures are perfectly adapted to help them to survive.
1: A Cat's Eye View | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
1: A Cat's Eye View | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
Liz Bonnin and a team of experts conduct a groundbreaking scientific study of cats, revealing how cats exper...
3: Cat Talk | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
3: Cat Talk | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
Liz Bonnin and a team of experts conduct a groundbreaking scientific study of cats. They reveal the secret language ...
Adaptation of the Arctic Fox | Life In The Snow
Adaptation of the Arctic Fox | Life In The Snow
An exploration of how the artic fox's coat has adapted to survival in arctic winters.
Adaptation of the Owl | Life In The Snow
Adaptation of the Owl | Life In The Snow
An exploration of how the great grey owl has adapted to catching it's prey.
Adaptation of the Reindeer | Life In The Snow
Adaptation of the Reindeer | Life In The Snow
An exploration of how reindeer have adapted to living in freezing climates.
Canopy dweller | Secrets of Bones
Canopy dweller | Secrets of Bones
Gibbons are the acrobats of the primate world, perfectly adapted to life in the trees.
Chemical messages | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
Chemical messages | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
Cats leave chemical messages to other cats, which can be picked up with their exceptional sense of smell, whic...
Echolocation | Secrets of Bones
Echolocation | Secrets of Bones
Sperm whales have extraordinary sensory capabilities, and use echolocation to hunt and locate their prey.
Finding Food in the snow | Life In The Snow
Finding Food in the snow | Life In The Snow
How wolverines have adapted to finding and eating food in the snow.
From tabby to tiger | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
From tabby to tiger | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
All cats are born with an innate desire to hunt, but most are taught how by their mothers.
Hunting heritage | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
Hunting heritage | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
Cats continue to have characteristics inherited from their ancestors.
Meow Meow | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
Meow Meow | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
Domesticated cats have evolved to be able to communicate as effectively with humans as with other felines.
Over land and sea | Penguins: Meet the Family
Over land and sea | Penguins: Meet the Family
Penguins are adapted to survive and thrive both in the sea and on land.
Penguin chicks | Penguins: Meet the Family
Penguin chicks | Penguins: Meet the Family
Penguin chicks are extraordinarily adapted to survive in harsh environments.
Pentadactyl limb | Secrets of Bones
Pentadactyl limb | Secrets of Bones
The pentadactyl limb adaptation, first seen over 300 million years ago, has helped a variety of animals to fly, from dinosaurs to bats.
Sensory adaptations | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
Sensory adaptations | Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment
Cats have sensory evolutionary advantages which enable them to be sucessful predators.
Sensory Hub | Secrets of Bones
Sensory Hub | Secrets of Bones
While skulls evolved in order to protect the brain, they've since adapted to become a sensory hub.
Smelly lemurs | Life
Smelly lemurs | Life
Smell is of particular importance to the primates of Madagascar: the lemurs.
Soar and glide | Secrets of Bones
Soar and glide | Secrets of Bones
While pigeons have adapted to be all rounders, other birds have adapted to be able to execute specialised forms of flight.
More from Sir David Attenborough
3: Deserts and Grasslands | Planet Earth III
3: Deserts and Grasslands | Planet Earth III
David Attenborough explores earth's greatest wildernesses, where extraordinary life survives in unexpected ways, and nature puts...
The mystery of the whale shark nursery | Blue Planet II
The mystery of the whale shark nursery | Blue Planet II
Nutrients from the deep provide sustenance for a large gathering of sea life.
Ant pharmacists | Natural World
Ant pharmacists | Natural World
Wood ants have a remarkable solution for avoiding disease.
3: Jungles | Planet Earth II
3: Jungles | Planet Earth II
Jungles provide the richest habitats on the planet - mysterious worlds of high drama where extraordinary animals attempt to survive in the most ...
Lizard Heaters | Life in Cold Blood
Lizard Heaters | Life in Cold Blood
Wall lizards take advantage of foul-smelling dead-horse arums.
How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth? | Horizon
How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth? | Horizon
Naturalist Sir David Attenborough investigates whether the world faces a population crisis and if it is the duty of indiv...
6: Ice Worlds | Planet Earth
6: Ice Worlds | Planet Earth
Documentary series which celebrates earth in its natural glory. How the advance and retreat of the ice in the polar regions becomes a real chall...
Weighty wanderers | Life in the Freezer
Weighty wanderers | Life in the Freezer
With a wingspan of over 3m, the wandering albatross has the biggest feeding range of any bird. Throughout the winter they remain in n...
Our Precious Isles | Wild Isles
Our Precious Isles | Wild Isles
David Attenborough celebrates the rich variety of habitats in our wild isles, the existence of which is critical for the survival of species ...
David Attenborough | The Queen's Platinum Jubilee
David Attenborough | The Queen's Platinum Jubilee
David Attenborough speaks about the environment. Also, includes footage of the drones that turn into animals.
1: Tropical Worlds | The Green Planet
1: Tropical Worlds | The Green Planet
Tropical rainforests are plant battlegrounds. New filming techniques allow us to enter the world of plants to see it from their perspec...
Greta meets David Attenborough | Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World
Greta meets David Attenborough | Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World
Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough discuss their hopes for the future of the planet.
COP26 delegates and climate scientists | Climate Change: The Facts
COP26 delegates and climate scientists | Climate Change: The Facts
COP26 delegates and climate scientist Hannah Cloke discuss their hopes for the COP26 conference.
The People v Climate Change
The People v Climate Change
Meet the 108 ordinary Brits who Sir David Attenborough says we should listen to. This warm and honest documentary reveals how everyday people fee...
Mate or die trying | Seven Worlds, One Planet
Mate or die trying | Seven Worlds, One Planet
A male Jotus spider waves it paddle-like limbs to attract a mate.
Poison dart frogs battle it out | Attenborough's Life in Colour
Poison dart frogs battle it out | Attenborough's Life in Colour
A poison dart frog fights off a contender until he's sufficiently warned off.
Self-sacrificing fish | Life
Self-sacrificing fish | Life
Flying fish can leave the water and soar great distances on their elongated fins to escape from predators below the waves. But finding a place t...
Biodiversity loss | Extinction: The Facts
Biodiversity loss | Extinction: The Facts
An exploration of the devastating impacts of the loss of insect and plant biodiversity.
David, The Ruler | Dynasties
David, The Ruler | Dynasties
One strong and determined leader, David, rules the land, but can trust no one.
Marine predators team up | The Blue Planet
Marine predators team up | The Blue Planet
A variety of marine predators team up to capitalise on a large group of migrating sardines.