The Animal Show- Clownfish and Oxpecker Part 1

Stinky and Jake: Here on the Animal Show.

Here on the Animal Show.

Here on the Animal Show!

Bunnie Bear: From under the ocean, over the clouds, and around the world…

Armstrong the Chickenhawk: Here comes the wild side of wild life.

Bunnie: The Animal Show!

Armstrong: And now, let’s have a wild welcome for your furry friends-

Bunnie: Stinky and Jake!

Stinky and Jake: Now it’s The Animal Show!

Jake: Hello, all you animals out there!

Stinky: I’m Stinky.

Jake: And I’m Jake. And today, we are going to meet the clownfish and the oxpecker, both of which are animals that are symbiotic.

Stinky: What does symbiotic mean?

Jake: Symbiosis, Stinky. It’s when two animals help each other out. For example, a suckerfish may attach itself to a shark to eat the parasites that may harm the shark.

Stinky: Would it be symbiotic for me if I helped around with the show?

Jake: I guess, but we really don’t need your help. (Stinky runs off anyway to the next scene)

Armstrong: And now, it’s time for…

Bunnie and Stinky: That’s amazing!

Bunnie: Stinky, what are you doing here?

Stinky: I’m gonna pop up from time to time to help out with the show.

Bunnie: We’d appreciate it very much! Anyway, for today’s That’s Amazing, we look at an unusual friendship between a hippo and a tortoise: Owen and Mzee!

Stinky: How do they help each other?

Bunnie: Not much, but they have become great friends. Twenty years ago, Owen was separated from his herd by a storm, but humans adopted him, and he immediately bonded with a tortoise named Mzee.

Armstrong: Why is he called Mzee?

Bunnie: Mzee is Swahili for ‘old man’.

Stinky: Are they still friends?

Bunnie: Humans aren’t sure, but from what I heard, I heard he had a calf with another hippo named Cleo.

Armstrong: Now that’s something that will make you say…

Jake: That’s amazing! But where’s Stinky? (Stinky runs back to join Jake)

Stinky: Here I am! And now, from the tropical oceans of the world, here is our first guest Clarence the Clownfish!

(Bunnie carries over Clarence in a glass of water)

Clarence: Hi, Stinky. Hi, Jake.

Jake: I thought clownfish were orange with white stripes.

Clarence: Not all clownfish are orange. Others come in black, red, and white.

Stinky: How are clownfish symbiotic with other animals?

Clarence: Just look at the screen.

Stinky: What’s that clownfish doing in that plant?

Clarence: That’s no plant- That’s an anemone.

Stinky: What’s an anemone?

Jake: They’re like jellyfish, but they stay in one place.

Stinky: You live in a JELLYFISH?! But don’t you get stung?

Clarence: No, because we’re protected by a special mucus.

Stinky: Mucus? Yuck!

Jake: Stinky, frogs have mucus.

Stinky: Oh. I knew that. How do enemies help clownfish?

Clarence: Well, the anemone provides us with protection and shelter, while we provide nutrition in the form of waste.

Jake: So, that means if a predator tries to eat you from inside the anemone, it will get stung?

Clarence: Correct! We also scare away fish that may eat anemones, such as butterfly fish. We clownfish can be very aggressive.

Stinky: Really? Then try biting my finger.

Clarence: Okay, but you’ll be sorry. (Stinky places his finger in the jar, only for Clarence to bite it)

Stinky: Ow!

Clarence: Told ya! Can Bunnie take me back to the ocean? I’m homesick.

Jake: Sure. And while we wait for Bunnie, here’s another edition of…

Jake and Stinky: Baby talk!

Ant 1: Why do we have to take care of these nymphs? They’re not even ants!

Ant 2: Their droppings taste just like honey! That way, we don’t have to bother the bees.

Ant 2: Maybe I was taking you for granted. Besides, you’re cuter than my own children!

(later)

Leafhopper nymph: Who are you? Are you a leafhopper?

Ant 3: We’re ants, and your, eh, gifts, are nutritious to us. C’mon, Anthony!

Leafhopper nymph: This is embarrassing. Time to take out my secret weapon.

Anthony: You didn’t tell me he had a dew gland. That’s it! Let’s hunt a worm or something.

Tizzy the Bee: Hi, everyone! Time for a quiz! (cuts to the screen below)

How do gobies help snapping shrimp? Give it a think. Back in a buzz!

(Tizzy flies back to Stinky and Jake, who are having a hard time finding the answer)

Jake: Since you’re being the helper today, why don’t you help answer Tizzy’s quiz.

Stinky: I already forgot the question.

Tizzy: Maybe you should hear the question again. (flies back to the previous screen) How do gobies help snapping shrimp? The goby helps watch for animals that eat shrimp. Bee-lieve it!

Snapping shrimp are great diggers, but they have poor eyesight. Luckily, the goby has good eyesight, and it helps the shrimp serve as a bodyguard. When the shrimp finishes digging the hole, it shares it with the goby. Bee-lieve it, because it’s true!

Ton be continued in Part 2...

The Animal Show- Tuatara and Salamander Part 2

Jake: And now, let’s see what’s cooking in the kitchen with Yves St. La Roche.

(cuts to Yves in his kitchen)

Yves: Bonjour, bonjour little animals out there! Today, we will make fly soup. First, you need soup. Easy, no? (grabs a can of soup and pours it into a bowl) Now, we wait for flies. (flies soon fly around the soup) Look, flies. Now, we need to trap them. (places a small dome over the bowl) There. Simple, no? Now, we bring this to our next guest, who I’ve been told is a salamander, which eats flies.

(cuts back to Stinky and Jake)

Jake: And now, from the swamps of the world…

Stinky: World.

Jake: Give it up for Ned the Salamander!

Stinky: Wow, you’re huge!

Ned: I know. I’m a Japanese giant salamander. (Yves runs over to give Ned his soup)

Yves: Here you go! Fly soup. (takes off the dome, only for the flies to fly off and laugh)

Jake: Sorry to see your lunch fly away.

Ned: That’s okay. I’ll still have the soup! (eats the soup while Yves walks off)

Stinky: You have legs like a frog, and a tail like a fish. That means you’re not a lizard.

Ned: Of course, not. We’re amphibians!

Jake: Tell us more about giant salamanders, Ned!

Ned: Glad to.

We normally need to live in water at all costs, but if necessary, we can walk on land. While other animals have two lungs, giant salamanders only have one.

Stinky: One lung?! That must be tough. Can we see more salamander species?

Ned: Sure!

This is a mole salamander. He’s called that because he likes to dig burrows.

Here’s my cousin from Iberia, the gold-striped salamander. You can guess what it’s named after.

Stinky: The gold stripe on his back?

Ned: Correct!

And this is my blind cousin from Europe, the olm.

Stinky: Blind? Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.

Ned: Not really blind, but their eyes are underdeveloped due to living in caves their whole lives. It makes up for it with a strong sense of smell and hearing.

And finally, here’s some newts, which is what many people think is a separate species.

Jake: So, that means newts are a type of salamander?

Ned: Correct! Before I leave, can I sing a song to encourage those tadpoles out there?

Stinky: Can I join, too? I have a washboard I got from my beaver friend Harvey.

Jake: Alright, Stinky. And now, here’s Ned singing ‘Take the First Step’ with Stinky and Armstrong as backup singers.

Ned: Tadpoles, get your chins up. It could be worse.

You could have your feet stuck down in the Earth!

But I don’t see roots growing from your toes.

Just four stubby little feet, and they’re revving to go!

Armstrong and Stinky: Take the first step!

Ned: And soon, you will see

Just how brave your heart can be!

Come on up to the sky and take that first step!

Stinky: And kiss those fears goodbye!

Ned: Destiny is calling, so listen up please!

And you can hear the rhythm down deep in your knees.

One foot, then the other, your journey has begun.

And before you even know it, you're ready to run!

Armstrong and Stinky: Take the first step!

Ned: And soon, you will see

Just how brave your heart can be!

Come on up to the sky and take that first step!

Stinky: And kiss those fears goodbye!

Ned: Now that you’re on land, life is a breeze

You can jump and swim anywhere that you please!

Just remember that you need to keep your skin wet

And you also don’t want to end up as a human’s pet!

Armstrong and Stinky: Take the first step!

Ned: And soon, you will see

Just how brave your heart can be!

Come on up to the sky and take that first step

Stinky: And kiss those fears goodbye!

(Bunnie walks over and sees Armstrong singing)

Bunnie: Come on, Armstrong. We need to host the Animal Awards!

Armstrong: Alright. Let’s get over to the counter.

Bunnie: Today’s Animal Award goes to the animal that has been on Earth the longest! Could it be… the horseshoe crab?

Armstrong: The nautilus?

Bunnie: The sea sponge?

Armstrong: Or the coelacanth?

Bunnie: And the winner is… the sea sponge, which has been on this planet for 760 million years!

Armstrong: 760 million years?!? How long have hawks been around?

Bunnie: A few million years.

(cut back to Stinky and Jake)

Jake: And now, it’s time for a story. Today, it’s about a quail and a turkey.

Stinky: Are they examples of convergent evolution?

Jake: Yes, as a matter of fact. It's about two different birds, but they ultimately become good friends. "Once upon a time in California, there was a quail named Quincy. Quincy was shy and didn't like to make friends, but one day, a very social turkey named Tammy found Quincy sitting on a rock. 'Why are you all alone?' She asked Quincy. 'Birds of a feather flock together! 'Go away.' Said Quincy. 'I want to be alone.' 'No one should live alone! Come on and join my group!' Since Tammy was bigger than Quincy, she grabbed Quincy with her beak and placed her on her back. 'Next stop is who knows where!' Tammy exclaimed as she rejoined her flock. 'Who's that on your back?' Asked John Turkey, the leader of Tammy's flock. 'A turkey chick?' 'No, it's my new friend Quincy! He's a quail who was alone by himself, so I decided to make him my friend.' 'As long as he doesn't eat turkeys,' Said John. 'Then he's welcome to join our flock! Lunch time, everyone!' The turkeys dropped to the ground and started digging for worms. 'What are you doing?' Asked Quincy. 'We're digging for worms. Birds love to eat worms.' 'Worms? Yuck!' Said Quincy. 'I'm strictly a vegetarian. That means I eat plants, like seeds, leaves, and bulbs.' Suddenly, Quincy saw something that caught his eye. 'There's a dandelion on the ground.' 'A mountain lion?!' The other turkeys misheard. 'Run for your lives!' As the turkeys ran off, Quincy walked towards the dandelion and ate it. 'You don't have to be chicken.' He said. 'There is no mountain lion.' As the turkeys walked back, they realized that the 'mountain lion' was gone. 'Huzzah!' They cheered. 'Quincy defeated the mountain lion!' Tammy put Quincy back on her back and she started talking again. 'You know, I think we'll make the best of friends.' And so, Quincy became more social with the turkeys, and they all lived happily ever after. The end."

Stinky: That was a good story, Jake, though a little long. Don't the turkeys know the difference between a mountain lion and a dandelion?

Jake: To put it simply, Stinky, turkeys are four cents short of a nickel.

(cut to Bunnie and Armstrong in front of the habitat door)

Bunnie: Okay, Armstrong. It’s Habitat Time! Today, we’re going to New Zealand!

Armstrong: New Zealand? Where is that?

Bunnie: A few miles away from Australia.

Armstrong: So, we’re going to Australia?

Bunnie: Despite being next to Australia, the two countries aren’t affiliated with each other. In fact, the humans of New Zealand are closer related to those from Hawaii than Australia!

Armstrong: How about that?

Bunnie: (opens the door) Let’s go!

Even though it’s not as popular as Brazil, Africa, or Australia, New Zealand still has a unique variety of animals.

Armstrong: I thought penguins only live in the South Pole.

Bunnie: There are, in fact, some penguins found outside of Antarctica. This yellow-eyed penguin is native to only New Zealand, and is rather rare.

Armstrong: Hey, that looks like Toby!

Bunnie: That’s because it is! Tuataras have been around since the time of the dinosaurs, yet they remained unchanged. They also have a third eye on top of their heads.

Armstrong: A third eye? I don’t see an extra eye.

Bunnie: That’s because only hatchlings have visible third eyes.

Armstrong: I didn’t know there are seals in New Zealand.

Bunnie: There are, in fact. These are New Zealand fur seals, otherwise known as kekono. They were hunted by humans, but they’re now a protected species.

Armstrong: Good thing I only eat mice and poultry.

I see a lizard!

Bunnie: That’s an otago skink. Skinks are lizards found throughout New Zealand, and otago skinks are the rarest of them all.

And last, but not least, a kiwi!

Armstrong: You mean like Clive?

Bunnie: Exactly! Even though they have no wings, kiwis still thrive by digging holes in the ground. Kiwis are so iconic that humans call themselves kiwis!

Armstrong: Does that mean kiwis call themselves humans? (wetas chirp)

Bunnie: I don’t think they thought it was funny, Armstrong. Besides, we have to go home.

(Bunnie and Armstrong leave New Zealand and head back to the Animal Show studio)

Bunnie: For Habitat Time, it’s Bunnie Bear-

Armstrong: And Armstrong the chickenhawk.

Bunnie: Just back from New Zealand.

(Tizzy flies around Stinky and Jake again)

Tizzy: Tizzy here! Time for a quiz! (cuts to the screen below)

Can a tuatara grow back its tail when cut off? Give it a think. Back in a buzz!

(cut back to Stinky and Jake, who are having a hard time finding the answer)

Stinky: I think tuataras can grow back their tails. We had guests like that before!

Jake: I don’t think so, Jake. There are reptiles that cannot grow back their tails.

Tizzy: Maybe you should hear the question again. (flies back to the previous screen) Can tuataras grow back their tails? The answer is yes, but it takes a long time. Bee-lieve it, because it’s true!

Jake: Thanks for the quiz, Tizzy. That's all the time we have today, and until next time, keep seeing the world through the eyes of animals. Bye!

Author's Notes: The song that Ned sings, Take the First Step, was actually taken from the Sesame Street movie The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. However, the lyrics were tweaked a little to fit in line with The Animal Show.

Take the First Step Elmo - YouTube

There actually was a kiwi on The Animal Show before: Clive the Kiwi, and his puppet was recycled from Lindbergh on The Jim Henson Hour. Lindbergh was best described as Beauregard from The Muppet Show as a kiwi.

For those unfamiliar, wetas are a type of cricket found in New Zealand. While other crickets have wings, wetas don't have any. Weta Workshop, Peter Jackson's visual effects company, is named after this insect.

Stinky getting a washboard from a beaver named Harvey is a nod to Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, a 1977 Muppet special that I strongly recommend watching every Christmas.

Next week, you'll learn all about symbiosis when the guest stars are a clownfish and an oxpecker!

The Animal Show- Tuatara and Salamander Part 1

Stinky and Jake: Here on the Animal Show.

Here on the Animal Show.

Here on the Animal Show!

Bunnie Bear: From under the ocean, over the clouds, and around the world…

Armstrong the Chickenhawk: Here comes the wild side of wild life.

Bunnie: The Animal Show!

Armstrong: And now, let’s have a wild welcome for your furry friends-

Bunnie: Stinky and Jake!

Stinky and Jake: Now it’s The Animal Show!

Jake: Hello, all you animals out there!

Stinky: I’m Stinky.

Jake: And I’m Jake. And today, we are going to meet the tuatara and the salamander.

Stinky: What’s a tuatara? And what’s a salamander?

Bunnie: Here’s what a tuatara looks like, Stink-a-Roo! (holds a photo of a tuatara)

And here’s a photo of a Japanese giant salamander, which is today’s guest.

Stinky: Oh, so they’re both lizards!

Jake: Not exactly, Stinky. They may look like lizards, but salamanders are amphibians while tuataras are part of their own category. It’s a case of convergent evolution.

Stinky: What?

Jake: You know how dolphins and sharks look similar?

Stinky: Yes. Why?

Jake: That’s when animals or plants that aren’t closely related evolve similar features. You’ll learn more after this.

Armstrong: And now, it’s time for…

Bunnie: That’s amazing! Today, we’ll reveal a salamander’s secret!

Armstrong: Is it embarrassing?

Bunnie: No, Armstrong. It’s a dangerous world for a salamander, so it’s very likely to lose a leg. Luckily, its legs always grow back!

Armstrong: Now, that’s an aquatic fact that will make you say…

Jake and Stinky: That’s amazing!

Jake: And now, all the way from New Zealand…

Stinky: New Zealand.

Jake: Please welcome Toby the Tuatara!

Toby: Hey, Jake. It’s a pleasure to be here.

Stinky: How come you look like a lizard, but you’re not a lizard?

Toby: Simple, really. We live alongside endemic lizards such as geckos, skinks, and lipinias.

Jake: I’ve been told that you’ve been on Earth for a very long time.

Toby: We have, indeed. Tuataras have been on the planet for 140 million years!

Stinky: Wow! Does that mean you were alive to see a dinosaur?

Toby: No, but we do have an impressive lifespan of 120 years. It takes us about fifty years to reach adulthood. That’s a lot longer than other animals take.

Stinky: What do you eat?

Toby: We eat bugs, birds, eggs, and lizards. And no. A reptile eating a lizard is not considered cannibalism.

Jake: It’s like saying a lion is a cannibal for eating zebras and gazelles since they’re all mammals.

Stinky: That’s a lot to absorb.

Toby: I know. (yawns) I better head home. I’m nocturnal, you know.

Jake: It was nice talking to you, Toby! (Toby walks off) And now, it’s time for…

Jake and Stinky: Baby talk!

Baby tuatara: I’m out of my egg! Happy birthday to me.

Come on, slowpoke! Let’s venture into the wild.

Baby tuatara 2: What’s the wild?

Baby tuatara 1: I don’t know, but maybe it’s beyond this nest.

Baby tuatara 3: I know that this is- foilage!

Baby tuatara 2: You mean foliage.

Baby tuatara 1: Let’s see what the wild has in store for us.

(splash)

Yipes!

Baby tuatara 2: Coward. Let’s see what other critters there are.

I know what you are: You’re a cricket!

Weta: I’m a weta, thank you very much. And you tuataras eat wetas.

Baby tuatara 2: So you must be supper!

Weta: Uh-oh.

Tizzy the Bee: Hi, everyone! Time for a quiz! (cuts to the screen below)

How did the fire salamander get its name? Give it a think. Back in a buzz!

(Tizzy flies back to Stinky and Jake, who are having a hard time finding the answer)

Jake: Why do you think fire salamanders are called fire salamanders?

Stinky: Maybe they can breathe fire?

Tizzy: Well, here’s the answer. People used to think fire salamanders were created from fire! Bee-lieve it!

Many years ago in Scandinavia, when people threw logs onto bonfires, salamanders would run out! This made people think that fire salamanders can survive in fire. However, we all know that most animals can’t survive in fires. To make up for it, fire salamanders are very poisonous. Bee-lieve it, because it’s true!

To be continued in Part 2.