Now on ScienceBlogs: The significance of 2/13
Musings on evolution, the fossil record, and our place in nature
Laelaps is the blog of freelance science writer Brian Switek. This blog frequently features his musings on paleontology, evolution, and the history of science. Switek also blogs for Smithsonian magazine's Dinosaur Tracking, and he is a research associate at the New Jersey State Museum.
« Photo of the Day #883: A jar full of sharks | Main | Photo of the Day #884: Musk ox »
Category: Reptiles • Television
Posted on: March 20, 2010 12:06 PM, by Brian Switek
The Brazilian pygmy gecko is mind-bogglingly small. As this clip from the recent BBC documentary Life illustrates, it is so minuscule that it is effectively watertight and can rest effortlessly on the surface of the water. It still amazes me that vertebrates can be that tiny.
LIFE will air starting Sunday night on the Discovery Channel (though, as it is narrated by Oprah in the US, I suggest you pick up the David Attenborough-narrated version on DVD instead).
Life ScienceTrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/134076
Orac 02.09.2012
Tim Lambert 02.01.2012
ERV 11.26.2011
Jason Rosenhouse 02.12.2012
Tim Lambert 09.12.2011
Comments
By Oprah?! Yes, people should definitely get the Attenborough version! The chapter on Fish was simply fascinating, especially the bit on mudskippers. To say I was enthralled when I first watched it was a terrible understatement.
Posted by: Dan | March 20, 2010 1:10 PM
Ever read The Snouters? It contains a chapter suggesting that some parasitic worms are actually vertebrates.
If you haven't read it, you want to. It's both the best book on imaginary animals and the funniest science humor ever.
Posted by: Sean Craven | March 20, 2010 4:02 PM
i agree--i love David Attenborough!
Posted by: Nanette | March 20, 2010 4:12 PM
Dang that pygmy gecko is too cute! Love how the camera close up at the start tricks us into thinking the gecko is a huge dinosaur.
Thanks for posting this, as a note though, not sure if others are getting it too but the a/v is out of sync on my video.
Posted by: mel | March 21, 2010 7:54 PM
The series is fantastic, especially if you see it in HD. As for Oprah, she's great at lots of things, but why change it when you have Attenborough ?(my wife has just got a letter from him, in connection with her work, and keeps smiling at the mere thought of it).
Get the Attenborough version, and considering the Blu ray version is only $7 more, go HD if you can.
Posted by: MikeB | March 25, 2010 3:20 PM
Wow! Thanks for posting this - my kids and I were enthralled and watched it several times.
Posted by: mitzimi | March 26, 2010 7:48 AM