Tetrapod Zoology - Details

I hope everyone has been enjoying my write-ups ofInside Nature's Giants(ING), series 2 (for comments on episode 1 gohere, and for thoughts on episode 2 gohere). Time to look at ep 3: the big cat one.

Given that big cats are more popular (among the general populace) than are either sharks or snakes, it's predictable that this was the most discussed, most anticipated episode. Like the others, it was excellent [adjacent image © Windfall Films/Channel 4].

And let me say again how good the whole of ING series 2 was: well done to everyone involved, you left us wanting more. And to those who haven't seen the series (yet), I hope these articles serve as useful promotional tools - it's certainly not my intention to steal proverbial thunder. WARNING: total, epic spoiler ahead...

Episode 2 of series 2 ofInside Nature's Giantswas devoted to pythons (for an article reviewing ep 1, gohere). Specifically, to Burmese pythonsPython molurus. And, quite right too. Snakes are among the weirdest and most phenomenally modified of tetrapods: in contrast to we boring tetrapodal tetrapods with our big limb girdles, long limbs and less than 100 vertebrae, we're talking about tubular reptiles with a few hundred vertebrae, stretched organs, distensible jaws and a total or virtual absence of limbs and limb girdles [montage above shows Simon Watt with captive Burmese python (© Windfall Films), a CG proto-snake (© Windfall Films/Channel 4) and an alligator and a python in combat (photo Lori Oberhofer)].

WARNING: major spoiler ahead - last warning!

Earlier this year (in June), Channel 4 television here in the UK broadcast series 2 ofInside Nature's Giants(ING from hereon... titledRaw Anatomyin the US, you poor, poor people). You may haveheard it here first. Hopefully you're familiar with ING series 1 - it looked at the anatomy of elephants, baleen whales, crocodiles and giraffes - and, if you're not, be sure to check out the Tet Zoo articles startinghere. My praise for series 1 was extreme, by which I mean that I thought it was excellent: a real triumph and a major event in both the world of broadcasting, and in bringing good science to the masses.

I'm pleased to say that this was widely recognised: many TV critics said positive things about ING (very memorable example), and in June 2010 the team behind the series (Windfall Films) won a BAFTA award (= British Academy of Film and Television Arts).Naturefeatured an interview with anatomist Joy Reidenberg - the main [human] star of the series - in June (Gilbey 2010). The interview touched on the educational significance of the series, the importance of bringing evolutionary perspectives on nature to a wide audience, and the fact that anatomy is not a dead, Victorian science (far from it: we arein the midst of an anatomical revolution). Clearly, expectations for series 2 were pretty high.

WARNING: major spoiler for ep 1 ahead, and further spoilers to follow.