Forests

Forests
Season 1, Episode 5

Title
II
IV
V
VII

Air date

May 27, 2022

Writer

Paul D. Stewart

Director

Adam Valdez

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“ A journey through an underground cave in North America turns perilous when a young Triceratops is separated from its mother. ”

― The official Apple TV+ episode synopsis for Forests

Forests is the fifth and final episode of the first season of Prehistoric Planet.

Segment I: Austroposeidon[]

In the first segment of the episode, a herd of Austroposeidon journey through a forest, snipping the young leaves from the tips of the branches within reach. For those that come across trees too tall for their necks to feed on, they simply push the trees over with their tall shoulders and thick chests to bring their desired food down to their level.

“ Success. But life in the forest is always a battle, especially when new space is created. Plants race to claim the light, and use every kind of method to gain the upper hand. The gap in the canopy is soon closed. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Though the feeding habits of the sauropods open up huge open areas in the forest canopy, plants competing to take advantage of the sunlight quickly rise, with some wrapping around their neighbors like parasitic vines, and others growing spines to get rid of plants using such methods and even shred through the competition. Eventually, the gaps formed by the Austroposeidon herd is quickly closed up.

Segment II: Triceratops[]

	Forests, Segment II
	Setting Lance Formation, Wyoming, USA

Forests, Segment II

Setting
Lance Formation, Wyoming, USA

“ Many different species of dinosaur live in forests. Triceratops, one of the biggest in North America. They can be 26 feet long. The huge frills on their heads can be used for protection when they fight. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

In the second segment of the episode, a herd of Triceratops are seen making their way through a forest. Having eaten plants that developed toxins against them (and such toxins could severely poison the juveniles), the Triceratops journey to a cave in the mountains. While the cavern is familiar to most of the herd, who have regularly visited the cave by that point, it is unfamiliar to the youngster among them, who had to be urged to continue further in by his mother. The herd makes their way in via a passage carved over the course of thousands of years by an underground river. Now in the deep, dark part of the cave system, the Triceratops navigate their way blindly to their destination. Given the absence of light, the juvenile tries to stick close to his mother in order to not get lost, but in the crowded passageway, the many adults end up kicking the calf, momentarily disorienting him and causing him to lose contact with the rest of the herd. Soon, the youngster was alone in total darkness, lost in the chambers of the cave, left to stumble around blindly and cry out for the rest of the herd.

“ At last, the herd reaches the place they need to visit. This is the antidote; a special clay. These are known as clay licks, and they're visited time and again. But someone is missing. Where is her calf? ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

The herd eventually reaches a part of the cave with the sun filtering through an opening to the surface, just out of reach. It is here that the herd finds what they've come for, the special clay coating the walls of the cave, which they scrape off with their hooked beaks or horns, then consume to counteract the toxins of the plants they digested. One mother Triceratops, finally noticing that her calf is missing, calls out to him. Fortunately, the juvenile manages to make it out of the dark passage and find his way back to his mother, who promptly scrapes some clay from the wall for him to eat.

“ Luck was on the youngster's side. Once he's lined his stomach with clay, he too will be protected from the poisons in the leaves on which he feeds. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Though hesitant to eat the clay, the youngster, for the sake of his continued survival, must consume it. Eventually, the Triceratops herd will head out of the cave, back to the forest and daylight.

Segment III: Carnotaurus[]

“ In Patagonia, the thick vegetation stretches unbroken for hundreds of miles. But occasionally, there are mysterious clearings, like this one. It's the work of a two-tonne, 12 foot-tall Carnotaurus, a male. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

The third segment of the episode returns to South America, where a male Carnotaurus is seen cleaning up a patch of the forest under an area of the forest that is more open. His purpose is to serve as a stage on which he can attract females. After tidying up the area, he lets out a low-pitched, rumbling growl through the forest. He ends up attracting a female bigger and more powerful than he is.

Female Carnotaurus meets a male — Female *Carnotaurus* meets a male

“ At last, a female arrives. She's bigger than the male, and more powerful. Now, somehow, he must impress her... and he may only get this one chance. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Starting out with a slow dance, bowing, waving his tail, turning around, and swaying, he rears up, flicks out his arms, and begins dancing more energetically, doing the same moves at a faster pace while twirling his arms, highly mobile due to the ball-and-socket joints by the shoulders. The male finishes his dance and rears up, his arms extended to their fullest extent.

“ He doesn't have huge antlers, nor a spectacular tail, though he does have a pair of tiny, apparently useless arms. And each has a ball-and-socket joint at its base that enables him to move them independently. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Once he has finished his dance, the female sniffs him, and, unfortunately, decides he is unworthy for some unknown reason, and walks away.

“ Not today. How could he have done better? Who knows? For now, it's back to litter-picking. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Dejected, the male returns to tidying up his small patch of land in the forest in preparation for his next, hopefully more successful attempt.

Segment IV: Corythoraptors and Qianzhousaurus[]

“ This is east Asia. In these mountain forests, autumn arrives early. This is when many trees produce their fruit, and amongst the most highly-prized are the nuts of the gingko tree. A bonanza for dinosaurs called Corythoraptors. These have found a particularly abundant fall of fruit, but such gatherings can attract unwelcome attention. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

In the fourth segment of the episode, as autumn takes hold of the temperate woods of Southern China, a group of Corythoraptors feast on an abundance of fallen gingko nuts. But as they enjoy their banquet, a predator watches them from a distance.

“ Qianzhousaurus, the top predator in these Asiatic forests. This is a female, over 30 feet long. If she is to catch a Corythoraptor, she'll have to get close. There's not much cover here. But her prey have still not noticed her. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Even with little cover to hide her, the flock of oviraptorids have yet to notice the tyrannosaur. However, as she took one step closer to her chosen prey, they pick up the sound of leaves rustling under her foot. Deciding that she is close enough, the Qianzhousaurus rushes at the members of the flock, all of which manage to scamper away, squawking.

“ She has failed. But then, most hunts throughout the history of life fail most of the time. As the seasonal winds strengthen, many of the trees in these temperate forests start to lose their leaves. Winter will be a time of hardship. Nevertheless, a storm does create a brief opportunity for hunters. She's trying again. She's less-conspicuous in the gloom, and the gusting wind is distracting. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Even so, the Qianzhousaurus tries again. As a storm forms over the forests, foreshadowing the arrival of the winter, the tyrannosaur takes advantage of the gloom concealing her and the loud gusts of wind drowning out the sound of her footsteps. Sensing the predator incoming, a Corythoraptor tries to dash away, but by that time, it is too late, and with a single lunge, the Qianzhousaurus grabs the oviraptorid by the back, finishing the job by crushing her prey's neck.

“ An 80-pound prize. All the more valuable since winter is now closing in. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Having earned her meal, the Qianzhousaurus picks up the dead Corythoraptor by the base of its neck and walks away, either to feed on it herself, or to share it with family.

Segment V: Horseshoe Canyon Forest Fire[]

“ In the forests of North America, there is an additional annual hazard for forest-dwellers. Fire, started by a strike of lightning. As it spreads, temperatures rise to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. The flames rise several hundred feet into the air. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

In the fifth segment of the episode, an upland forest in the Horseshoe Canyon Formation is set alight by a strike of lightning. As the trees go up in flames, some animals, like an Edmontosaurus and her two offspring, flee down the slopes of the mountain to escape.

“ This may look catastrophic. But remarkably, some plants must be burned if they are to complete their life cycle. The intense heat is needed to open the cones of the pine trees, and release their seeds. And only a few hours after the fire has passed, animals begin to return. Beetles are among the first. They start to lay their eggs. When they hatch, the larvae will be the first to feast on the near-limitless supply of dead wood. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

In the aftermath of the event, the area has been grayed out and blackened by ash. Among the trees, the pinecones begin to shed their seeds, dropping them to the ground as beetles wander around for a good nesting place. They aren't the only ones to return to the forest, however, as one gets snatched up by a dromaeosaur.

“ This Atrociraptor is an opportunist. Quick to return when there's food on offer. And there's something else to be gained here. Smoke is an insecticide, and it can help an animal to get rid of its parasites... but you do have to be careful. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Taking advantage of the recently-burned forest, the Atrociraptor proceeds to grab a smoking stick to cleanse its feathered coat and clear away parasites. Upon sensing a larger presence in the area, the Atrociraptor flees to continue its activities elsewhere.

“ A two-tonne ankylosaur. It also finds something worth eating after a fire. Charcoal. It will bind with many of the plant toxins in its stomach, and neutralize them. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

The newcomer, a two-tonne Anodontosaurus,^{[DN 1]} approaches a burned-up tree stump to munch off its top, which has been reduced to charcoal, in order to neutralize the toxic plants in its stomach.

“ The female Edmontosaurus is leaving the forest. Against the odds, she's lead both her babies to safety. They will have to find new pastures until the forest plants recover. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

The segment ends with the female Edmontosaurus and her two juveniles leaving the forest in search of another place to feed.

Segment VI: Therizinosaurus[]

“ Even where fires are rare, trees do not live forever, and after they die, they become food for a very different kind of organism. At night, some of them become eerily conspicuous. Down on the forest floor, fungi appear and start to glow. They produce their light by chemical reactions deep within their tissues. But why they do so is a mystery. It may be because the light attracts insects, which then help to spread the spores of the fungus. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

In the sixth segment of the episode, on the floor of a forest in Central Asia, fungi of all kinds begin to sprout in the middle of the night, feeding and flourishing on long-dead trees, producing an eerie green glow, their bioluminescence attracting insects to help spread their spores.

“ Here in central Asia, the nighttime forest is filled with strange sounds. Giant sauropods are asleep. There are air sacs in their head and neck, which reduce their weight, but also amplify their snores. But not everyone is asleep. For smaller creatures, it's safer to be out in the darkness than during the day. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

As the sauropods of the forest sleep, their pneumatized skeletons amplifying their snores, a trio of six month-old Therizinosaurus wander around in search of food, briefly feeding on some surrounding plants before finding a beehive up on a tree. Two of them successfully scale the tree while the third one watches from the ground.

“ Angry bees produce a Mexican wave to warn intruders to keep away... or suffer the consequences. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

The bees begin forming a warning signal on their hive as they begin swarming the juveniles. However, these youngsters press on, and one takes a bite out of the hive, provoking the bees into assaulting them. The juveniles fall from the tree as the bees continue to swarm them.

The claws of l, and weighing fiv are the longest in the animal kingdom

“ An adult Therizinosaurus. It's huge, nearly 30 feet tall, and weighing five tonnes. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Soon after, the three juveniles, sensing a large presence coming close, scurry away and hide. The three juveniles watch in awe as the majestic giant, an adult Therizinosaurus, walks in and briefly nibbles on the beehive. When the bees try to attack it, the adult knocks the beehive down to the ground with a single swat of its claws, and bites off most of the hive.

The claws of Therizinosaurus are the longest in the animal kingdom — The claws of *Therizinosaurus* are the longest in the animal kingdom

“ At last, a little treat, and a few more stings. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Once the adult went on its way, the juvenile Therizinosaurus trio emerged once more to feast on what remained of the hive, with the remaining bees trying to sting them to no avail.

Segment VII: Hatzegopteryx[]

	Forests, Segment VII
	Setting Hațeg Island, Romania

Forests, Segment VII

Setting
Hațeg Island, Romania

Juveniles Zalmoxes rushing down a fallen tree, hoping to make it to the other side without getting spotted by hunters — Juveniles *Zalmoxes* rushing down a fallen tree, hoping to make it to the other side without getting spotted by hunters

“ Even by day, it's still dark in the understory of the dense forests, such as this one in Europe. Animals of any kind are difficult to distinguish. Yet, they're everywhere. Telmatosaurus seldom breaks cover. And equally inconspicuous, Zalmoxes, the last of a very ancient dinosaur lineage. This forest is one of their few remaining strongholds. Seven inches tall, baby Zalmoxes are no more than snacks for many predators... but snacks are nonetheless worth eating, so they have to be cautious. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

The seventh, final segment of the episode takes place in the dark understory of a forest in Europe. As a Telmatosaurus keeps a low profile amongst the lush vegetation, five juvenile Zalmoxes warily look around, as they are about to cross a log over the river, out in a more open area of the forest. As they rush down a log, the last one to cross is suddenly snatched up and swallowed alive by the giant beak of a pterosaur.

Hatzegopteryx walks through a forest — *Hatzegopteryx* walks through a forest

“ Hatzegopteryx stands 15 feet tall. It is in fact, a pterosaur, a reptile with wings that, here, as it stalks through the trees, it has to keep tightly folded. This forest, so rich in small creatures, is one of its regular hunting grounds. It stands on the southernmost edge of Europe. This is the heaviest animal ever to fly, and there is nowhere else here where it could open its gigantic wings, which are over 30 feet across. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

After gulping his snack down, the majestic Hatzegopteryx slowly weaves through the forest, at one point stopping by to check out one moss-covered tree before continuing his casual but regal walk, eventually making it to the beach, where he spreads his large wings, flapping them to keep them warmed up before picking at them, grooming himself.

Hatzegopteryx leaves Hațeg Island — *Hatzegopteryx* leaves Hațeg Island

“ Many of the forest's permanent residents regularly come down here, because the plants are coated with sea spray, and are a welcome source of salt. Here, sauropods can meet one another, renewing family bonds, and creating new ones. But for Hatzegopteryx, the beach is a launching pad. Now, his wings will carry him to yet another forest where life proliferates more variously and more abundantly than anywhere else on our Prehistoric Planet. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Some Zalmoxes are seen amongst the vegetation, looking around as a small herd of Telmatosaurus feeds on the salted vegetation, with one even licking a propped-up piece of wood on the beach. Two titanosaurs make their way down to the beach, affectionately rubbing their heads and necks against one another. And as the sun sets, Hatzegopteryx spreads his wings once more and finally leaves the island, flying off into the horizon.

Uncovered Segment: Armed for Seduction?[]

	Armed for Seduction?
	Subject The small arms of theropod dinosaurs, as well as their purpose as courtship displays. Experts Dr. Darren Naish, Professor John Hutchinson

Armed for Seduction?

Subject
The small arms of theropod dinosaurs, as well as their purpose as courtship displays.

Experts
Dr. Darren Naish, Professor John Hutchinson

Coelophysis evolves into Ceratosaurus, which evolves into Carnotaurus — *Coelophysis* evolves into *Ceratosaurus*, which evolves into *Carnotaurus*

“ Everyone knows that T. rex had small arms. But dozens of predatory dinosaurs from all around the world had small arms too. They all evolved from earlier dinosaurs that had much longer arms, but over millions of years, these dinosaurs came to rely more on their mouths more for killing prey, so their heads became more powerful, and their arms became smaller. ”

― Dr. Darren Naish, Lead Scientific Consultant

This Uncovered segment, based on the arm-twirling dance segment of Carnotaurus, is focused on the discussing the small arms of some dinosaurs. Carnotaurus, along with other abelisaurs, had the smallest arms in proportion to their body size, even shorter than those of tyrannosaurs, with no defined elbows or wrists. Their fingers also likely didn't even have claws. Hence, these arms appeared to be nothing more but leftovers much like a human's tailbone, useless and vestigial.

But given its ball-and-socket joint by the humerus (upper arm bone), right where it meets the shoulder, held by many powerful muscles, it appears that, contrary to being worth nothing, the arms were highly mobile, implying that they had a purpose of some sort. The most likely use they had was for display.

“ In the natural world today, highly-specialized body parts that appear to have no other function also turn out to be used for display and to attract mates. These range from colorful feather plumes to long, cumbersome horns and antlers. In many cases, the owner of such appendages puts up with the cost of having them because they are so attractive to potential mates. In modern-day birds and reptiles, iridescent colors also help visible displays to stand out, and the same could be true for Carnotaurus's arms. ”

― David Attenborough, Armed for Seduction?

The justification is that brightly-colored appendages combined with a wide range of motion is definitely eye-catching, though of course, despite all attempts and efforts in putting on the best display, potential mates can still prove very selective when it comes to their choices.