Rapetosaurus Segments

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Segments

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These are Prehistoric Planet segments which feature Rapetosaurus.

Swamps

	Swamps, Segment III
	Setting Maevarano Formation, Mahajanga Province, Madagascar Filming Location Lower Zambezi National Park, Lusaka Province, southeast Zambia

Swamps, Segment III

Setting
Maevarano Formation, Mahajanga Province, Madagascar

Filming Location
Lower Zambezi National Park, Lusaka Province, southeast Zambia

Plot

Masiakasaurus drinking from a river

“ In Northern Madagascar, conditions are already changing. The first rain in months is reviving the parched land. As pools and channels refill, the animals return. ”

― David Attenborough, Swamps

In the third segment of Swamps, as rains bring back the rivers and marshes of Madagascar, a Masiakasaurus runs across the quenched lands, and stops by a pool of water to drink. Suddenly, seeing an incoming threat, the Masiakasaurus yelps in surprise and fear.

“ And they're not all dinosaurs. Lurking in these muddy pools is a monster. Beelzebufo, the 'Devil Toad'. It's so big, it can swallow a small dinosaur whole. But this male isn't here to hunt. He is looking for a mate. ”

― David Attenborough, Swamps

The small theropod runs off as a male Beelzebufo drives it away with a guttural bellow. However, the toad is uninterested in eating the small dinosaur, and instead returns to his muddy pool, intent on finding a mate.

“ Female devil toads are fussy, so he needs to find a good spot. Only then will he he able to entice them in. His deep croaks travel far and wide. ”

― David Attenborough, Swamps

Patiently, the Beelzebufo sits in his pool, calling out to any female in the area that might reciprocate his desire to mate. For a long while, however, nothing answers him, the half-dry muddy riverbed silent. However, he soon hears the sound of something else, something he doesn't appear pleased to hear.

A herd of Rapetosaurus arrives

“ This isn't quite what he was hoping for. Fifty foot-long Rapetosaurs. They have been attracted here by the promise of a mud bath. For Beelzebufo, their timing couldn't be much worse. ”

― David Attenborough, Swamps

A herd of six Rapetosaurus have arrived to take a mud bath in the river bed. Looking up in disbelief, the Beelzebufo flinches back for a moment before scurrying away as the sauropods stomp down on his pool and proceed to roll around in the mud.

Beelzebufo gauging how far he is from his destination

“ His pools now lie beneath 70 tonnes of sauropod. Time is short. Female devil toads will only mate at the start of the rainy season. He needs a new pool. There's one. Reaching it will be dangerous. ”

― David Attenborough, Swamps

Retreating up a log at the edge of the river, the Beelzebufo assesses the situation, watching on as the six titanosaurs relieve themselves right where used to sit. Spotting an undisturbed pool of mud beyond the sauropods, just by a patch of fresh vegetation, he tumbles off, walking and leaping across the lumpy terrain, making the risky trip to get to where he wants to be. Just as he gets close, the rolling titanosaurs splatter around some mud, which the toad nonchalantly rubs off his face before finally settling down in his new pool.

Beelzebufo disturbed by a curious Rapetosaurus

“ Finally he's got there... but he's been noticed. ”

― David Attenborough, Swamps

As he settled down, trying to get his bearings straight, one Rapetosaurus notices him, and curiously approaches him. At first, the Beelzebufo, blinking at the sight of the sauropod's muzzle slowly coming towards him, backs off, sinking slightly into his pond. Eventually, however, as the sauropod continues to inspect him, he loses his temper and leaps forward at the Rapetosaurus, growling in irritation. The titanosaur, getting the message, backs away as the frog gives out another croak of anger.

“ Time to try more singing. But he can't make himself heard above the sound of satisfied sauropods. Luckily for him, there's one thing that Rapetosaurs enjoy even more than wallowing in mud, and that is food. The hungry herd moves on, although not without leaving something useful behind. Dozens of giant footprints, full of water. Perfect for a Beelzebufo to continue his quest for a mate. ”

― David Attenborough, Swamps

Turning around, the Beelzebufo returns to his priorities for the day, calling for females to mate with. However, his croaks are drowned out by the satisfied rumbling growls of the titanosaurs. Still, he perseveres, continuing his song in hopes that a female would hear and reciprocate. Eventually, feeling hungry, the Rapetosaurus herd leaves, and the Beelzebufo, taking advantage of the deep puddles formed by their footprints, leaps into a new pool, singing his guttural song of courtship once again.

A river in the Maevarano Formation

“ A devil toad can only survive here because every year, the land is flooded by seasonal rains. However, there are places where changing climate means the rains are less certain. ”

― David Attenborough, Swamps

The segment ends with a view of the river (or, at the very least, another section of it), now fully replenished, the constantly-wet environment just right for amphibians, a sharp contrast to the setting of the following segment, which takes place in a dry basin deprived of rain for a decade.

Trivia

• The idea of titanosaurs being a nuisance for anurans reflects how, even today, large animals may unintentionally disrupt the mating and breeding activities of frogs and toads.
• Rapetosaurus tracks and wallowing traces were simulated by several tools and techniques, including a plastic bin that served as a makeshift sauropod foot.

Uncovered: How Did Dinosaurs Get So Big?

	How Did Dinosaurs Get So Big?
	Subject The evolutionary means and efficient systems that let sauropods attain their massive sizes. Experts Professor Paul Barrett, Dr. Susannah Maidment

How Did Dinosaurs Get So Big?

Subject
The evolutionary means and efficient systems that let sauropods attain their massive sizes.

Experts
Professor Paul Barrett, Dr. Susannah Maidment

Footage of Rapetosaurus, along with most of the other sauropods in the series, is used in this Uncovered segment, which is dedicated to discussing how sauropods got to grow bigger than their modern counterparts.