Original air date: 3 October 1990


Time indicates how long into the programme you need to go before the sequence starts. End time is only given if it does not fit with the start of the next sequence. Filming location is stated when it is given in the text. If (as happens most often in this particular programme) it is followed by No show means that Attenborough does not appear on screen. Only a cameraman is responsible for capturing that particular behaviour.
Selected material:
Crabs on Christmas Island

Distribution of sex cells in their millions … only to have most of them eaten

Sea urchins, and other similar animals, send out sex cells in their millions, but jellyfish and other filter feeders most of them out. Only a single one needs to survive until adulthood to continue the generation (final part of the series).
The development of a bird egg (27’40-29’30)

Various stages in the developments of a bird egg. Some even seem to be filmed inside the egg (top centre and top right). These are the real sequence in the episode.
Coming up:
Talking about the crabs in Christmas Island: “… They’ve survived the first of their trials, but they’ll have to face many more before, in turn, they too will have a chance to give birth.“