Desert amphibians | Life in Cold Blood

Duration: 1'13''

Synopsis

Spadefoot toads can stay underground in a state of suspended animation for years, but when they emerge they must feed and breed before the sun rises.

Further Information

More clips from Life in Cold Blood

1: The Cold Blooded Truth | Life in Cold Blood

1: The Cold Blooded Truth | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 57'40''

David Attenborough reveals the surprising truth about the cold-blooded lives of reptiles and amphibians.

2: Land Invaders | Life in Cold Blood

2: Land Invaders | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 57'35''

David Attenborough reveals the bizarre adaptations which have helped amphibians break their ties with water as he meets marsupial frogs...

3: Dragons of the Dry | Life in Cold Blood

3: Dragons of the Dry | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 57'52''

David Attenborough reveals the surprising truth about the cold-blooded lives of reptiles and amphibians, including wrestling beade...

4: Sophisticated Serpents | Life in Cold Blood

4: Sophisticated Serpents | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 58'02''

David Attenborough reveals the fascinating lives of snakes. A CCTV stakeout of wild rattlesnakes hunting shows what sophistica...

5: Armoured Giants | Life in Cold Blood

5: Armoured Giants | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 57'49''

David Attenborough meets the reptile heavyweights, showing what it's like to live in a suit of armour, and revealing a warm and carin...

Lizard Heaters | Life in Cold Blood

Lizard Heaters | Life in Cold Blood

BBC Two | 2014 | 3'53''

Wall lizards take advantage of foul-smelling dead-horse arums.

Snake tactics | Life in Cold Blood

Snake tactics | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 2'49''

While snakes are usually feared for their bite, some use their venom to deter threats without having to bite them.

More resources about Living Things and Their Habitats

01: The Living Forest | Landmarks

01: The Living Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 19'14''

The Living Forest looks at all the animals & plants that live in the forest on the ground to the forest canopy, & shows how they live in ba...

02: People of the Forest | Landmarks

02: People of the Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 18'54''

People of the Forest looks at the Baka of the Cameroon & the Kayapo of South America & how their lives work in balance with the rainforest.

03: Destroying the Forest | Landmarks

03: Destroying the Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 19'12''

By the next century, the rainforests of the world could have disappeared for ever, destroyed by outside influences and economic pressur...

04: Saving the Forest | Landmarks

04: Saving the Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 19'16''

Despite the destruction, there are ways to save the forest, by careful harvesting, protecting, learning, replanting, policing - and campaig...

1: Cauldron of Life | Galapagos

1: Cauldron of Life | Galapagos

BBC One | 2017 | 58'05

Liz Bonnin joins a scientific team aboard the research vessel the Alucia on an expedition across the Galapagos Islands.

1: Island of Marvels | Madagascar

1: Island of Marvels | Madagascar

BBC HD | 2011 | 58'41''

Series exploring Madagascar and its unique wildlife. David Attenborough reveals the most bizarre places and their inhabitants on this ecolo...

1: One Ocean | Blue Planet II

1: One Ocean | Blue Planet II

BBC One | 2017 | 57'59''

Wildlife documentary series presented by David Attenborough, revealing new worlds and animal behaviours throughout the planet's oceans.

1: The Cold Blooded Truth | Life in Cold Blood

1: The Cold Blooded Truth | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 57'40''

David Attenborough reveals the surprising truth about the cold-blooded lives of reptiles and amphibians.

1: The Infinite Variety | Life On Earth

1: The Infinite Variety | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 54'12''

The first ever episode of the landmark natural history series Life on Earth. David Attenborough explores the wildlife and landscape t...

1: Travelling | The Private Life of Plants

1: Travelling | The Private Life of Plants

BBC One | 1995 | 49'02''

David Attenborough begins his incredible journey into the world of plants with a look at how plants move from place to place.

10: Primates | Life

10: Primates | Life

BBC HD | 2009 | 58'54''

The nature documentary examines primates, including armies of Hamadryas baboons battling on the plains of Ethiopia, and macaques in Japan lounging in the...

10: Themes and Variations | Life On Earth

10: Themes and Variations | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 52'46''

David Attenborough looks at some of the huge variety of mammals. The tree shrew has attracted great interest as it shows how mammal...

11: The Hunters and the Hunted | Life On Earth

11: The Hunters and the Hunted | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 54'15''

David Attenborough explores the eternal duel between the hunters and the hunted - one of the driving forces of evolution.

12: Life in the Trees | Life On Earth

12: Life in the Trees | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 54'01''

David Attenborough's now-legendary encounter with young gorillas is featured in this episode as he looks at the history of primates.

13: The Compulsive Communicators | Life On Earth

13: The Compulsive Communicators | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 54'00''

David Attenborough seeks to explain how we came to dominate life on earth, tracing the African origins of humans to nearly t...

2: Building Bodies | Life On Earth

2: Building Bodies | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 53'36''

Sir David Attenborough presents a revised version of the original wildlife series about the remarkable evolution of life on our planet. Th...

2: Civilisations | H2O: The Molecule That Made Us

2: Civilisations | H2O: The Molecule That Made Us

BBC Four | 2021 | 52'13''

This episode travels to the Congo, Egypt, China and Mexico to reveal how water changed humanity's footprint on the planet.

2: Growing | The Private Life of Plants

2: Growing | The Private Life of Plants

BBC One | 1995 | 49'07''

David Attenborough continues his incredible journey into the world of plants. Remarkable time-lapse photography reveals how new leave...

2: Land Invaders | Life in Cold Blood

2: Land Invaders | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 57'35''

David Attenborough reveals the bizarre adaptations which have helped amphibians break their ties with water as he meets marsupial frogs...

2: Lost Worlds | Madagascar

2: Lost Worlds | Madagascar

BBC HD | 2011 | 58'50''

David Attenborough looks at the island's eastern coast, home to cyanide-eating lemurs and leaf-tailed geckos.

More from Sir David Attenborough

3: Deserts and Grasslands | Planet Earth III

3: Deserts and Grasslands | Planet Earth III

BBC One | 2023 | 58'19''

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

BBC One | 2017 | 3'08''

Nutrients from the deep provide sustenance for a large gathering of sea life.

Ant pharmacists | Natural World

Ant pharmacists | Natural World

BBC Two | 2017 | 1'47''

Wood ants have a remarkable solution for avoiding disease.

3: Jungles | Planet Earth II

3: Jungles | Planet Earth II

BBC One | 2016 | 58'00'''

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

BBC Two | 2014 | 3'53''

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

BBC Two | 2009 | 58'22''

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough investigates whether the world faces a population crisis and if it is the duty of indiv...

Cross-dresser | Life

Cross-dresser | Life

BBC One | 2009 | 2'22''

Some male cuttlefish are too small to fight for a mate, so have to come up with a sneaky plan if they are to get their way with the girls. Approaching a...

6: Ice Worlds | Planet Earth

6: Ice Worlds | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 58'54''

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...

Our Precious Isles | Wild Isles

Our Precious Isles | Wild Isles

BBC One | 2023 | 57'14''

David Attenborough celebrates the rich variety of habitats in our wild isles, the existence of which is critical for the survival of species ...

3: Seasonal Worlds | The Green Planet

3: Seasonal Worlds | The Green Planet

BBC One | 2022 | 58'22''

Plants of the seasonal world face constant change. They use use strategy, deception and feats of engineering to survive. Most important...

David Attenborough | The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

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BBC One | 2022 | 1'32''

David Attenborough speaks about the environment. Also, includes footage of the drones that turn into animals.

COP26 delegates and climate scientists | Climate Change: The Facts

COP26 delegates and climate scientists | Climate Change: The Facts

BBC One | 2021 | 3'06''

COP26 delegates and climate scientist Hannah Cloke discuss their hopes for the COP26 conference.

Greta meets David Attenborough | Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World

Greta meets David Attenborough | Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World

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Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough discuss their hopes for the future of the planet.

Poison dart frogs battle it out | Attenborough's Life in Colour

Poison dart frogs battle it out | Attenborough's Life in Colour

BBC One | 2021 | 1'15''

A poison dart frog fights off a contender until he's sufficiently warned off.

The People v Climate Change

The People v Climate Change

BBC Two | 2021 | 1'03'06''

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

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BBC One | 2021 | 2'46''

A male Jotus spider waves it paddle-like limbs to attract a mate.

Consumption and waste | Extinction: The Facts

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BBC One | 2020 | 3'30''

The impact of consumption and waste on biodiversity.

Tait's pups meet the pack… and honey badgers | Dynasties

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Tait introduces her tiny pups to the rest of the pack as they emerge for the very first time. But the pack is visi...

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BBC Two | 2017 | 4'10''

David Attenborough explore the role of changeable deep ocean currents in creating an oasis for a variety of marine life.

Compilation | Attenborough at 90

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BBC One | 2016 | 1'26''

A short montage of the fun and amazing moments David Attenborough has shared in his documentaries over a 70-year career.