{959}{1035}The most fearsome predator|of the Jurassic {1038}{1093}is watching his prey. {1095}{1143}Peering through the water, {1143}{1220}the carnivore|fixes on his unwary victim, {1220}{1287}waiting for the perfect moment|to strike. {1850}{1949}Under these azure waters|lies the future continent of Europe, {1951}{2009}but now,|in the late Jurassic period, {2011}{2107}all that exists here|are a few scattered islands. {2109}{2172}The break-up of the old continents {2172}{2263}has pushed up the ocean floor|and raised sea levels, {2265}{2368}flooding the lowlands|and creating vast shallow seas. {2481}{2567}Here, dinosaurs do N0T rule. {2625}{2692}Instead, giant marine reptiles|have evolved, {2694}{2788}perfectly adapted to life|in these beautiful waters. {2790}{2910}All of them are air-breathers,|like this eight-tonne Cryptoclidus. {2913}{2999}0n the land,|they are cumbersome hulks, {3001}{3066}but in water, they are transformed. {3270}{3344}All sea reptiles once lived on land, {3347}{3399}but 75 million years ago, {3402}{3469}their ancestors took to the water {3471}{3519}and their legs became flippers. {3649}{3704}They share this shallow sea {3706}{3819}with other strange Jurassic|creatures, like the ammonites, {3821}{3886}that snare small prey|with their tentacles. {3989}{4039}These rich, sunlit waters {4042}{4121}are on the northern edge|of the ancient Tethys 0cean - {4121}{4217}the sea that separates|the Earth's two continents, {4219}{4308}one in the north|and one in the south. {4308}{4363}0nce a year, they are the stage {4366}{4454}for a remarkable natural drama. {4572}{4668}It starts with|a single pregnant 0phthalmosaurus, {4670}{4752}followed by hundreds more|of her kind. {4754}{4867}All are gathering here|from deeper water to give birth. {4996}{5054}These are the oldest|of marine reptiles {5056}{5145}and most completely adapted|to aquatic life, {5147}{5210}with streamlined fish-like bodies. {5756}{5804}Most other marine reptiles, {5807}{5886}like Cryptoclidus,|use all four flippers {5888}{5974}to chase the blizzards of fish|through the water. {6197}{6300}Flapping like underwater wings,|the flippers can be used separately {6305}{6370}to give them huge manoeuvrability, {6372}{6468}or together,|for sudden bursts of speed. {6679}{6734}This unique method of locomotion {6737}{6814}is destined to disappear|from the ocean {6816}{6902}at the end of the age|of the dinosaurs. {7013}{7082}The animals|on the small islands above {7084}{7180}also depend on the sea's bounty|for their survival. {7243}{7336}Among the jagged rocks|live a colony of flying reptiles. {7339}{7437}These sea pterosaurs|are called Rhamphorhynchus. {7502}{7576}They have evolved a way|of catching fish {7576}{7636}without getting their wings wet. {7641}{7701}Their beaks skim through the water, {7703}{7763}grabbing anything in their path. {8137}{8233}The teeth of these flying reptiles|may look bizarre, {8235}{8348}but they are ideal for snatching|slippery fish from the water. {8394}{8499}However, swallowing their catch|is a different matter. {8566}{8626}(Harsh squawking) {8741}{8806}(Low growling) {9072}{9149}The 0phthalmosaurus|are starting to give birth. {9151}{9259}Most sea reptiles lay eggs on land,|but not 0phthalmosaurus. {9290}{9305}They give birth to live young. {9305}{9367}They give birth to live young. {9367}{9429}This frees them from the need|to crawl out of the water, {9432}{9530}and has allowed them to evolve|their fish-like shapes. {9583}{9645}A female has two to five pups, {9648}{9707}but since they are air-breathers, {9707}{9763}the young must be born tail first, {9794}{9808}or they would drown|before they escaped from the mother. {9808}{9914}or they would drown|before they escaped from the mother. {10295}{10379}The newborn pups|have just a few seconds {10381}{10475}to reach the surface|and take their first breath. {10647}{10729}As soon as they are born,|the pups are vulnerable. {10731}{10774}These waters are full of predators. {10777}{10870}Even adult 0phthalmosaurus|will eat the offspring of others {10873}{10959}to increase the chance of survival|for their own pups. {10959}{11074}The only real safety|is amongst the crags of coral. {11182}{11252}Birth is a dangerous time|for the mothers, too. {11254}{11309}This female is trying desperately {11309}{11374}to expel her unborn offspring. {11376}{11472}Fighting for air,|she stays near the surface. {11503}{11570}Her struggles are a lure to sharks. {11573}{11635}These predators have acute hearing, {11640}{11755}and the sound of splashing|betrays an animal in distress. {11837}{11918}As perfectly evolved|killing machines, {11920}{11976}sharks patrolled the oceans {11978}{12050}long before|marine reptiles appeared. {12201}{12285}After 20 minutes,|her exertions are exhausting her. {12287}{12378}She is having|to breathe more frequently. {12417}{12486}The sharks start to move in closer. {12659}{12762}Suddenly, something lurking|in the gloom scatters the sharks. {14145}{14160}Liopleurodon - at 150 tonnes, {14160}{14222}Liopleurodon - at 150 tonnes, {14222}{14309}it is the largest|and most powerful carnivore {14313}{14371}ever to live on the planet. {14373}{14457}This male measures|a colossal 25 metres, {14460}{14517}and is big even for his kind. {14519}{14635}His size means he is probably|over 100 years old. {14783}{14879}He, too, detected the mother's|distress from a distance. {14882}{14975}Liopleurodon|has a directional sense of smell - {14975}{15023}two chambers in his nose {15025}{15095}work in the same way|as a pair of ears - {15097}{15167}pinpointing the source of a smell - {15169}{15217}a sophisticated tracking device, {15220}{15323}steering the largest|carnivorous jaws ever known. {15534}{15642}Each one of Liopleurodon's four|flippers is over three metres long, {15646}{15694}giving him enough power {15697}{15802}to guide his huge bulk effortlessly|through the water. {16239}{16308}By now,|the coral reefs around the islands {16311}{16375}are full of baby 0phthalmosaurus. {16378}{16469}This intricate network of caves|is their refuge, {16471}{16591}a safe haven from which they can|start to learn about their world. {16593}{16697}Baby 0phthalmosaurus|have prominent teeth, {16699}{16768}allowing them to cope|with the tough prey {16771}{16840}they find among the coral. {16843}{16908}But this little male|has yet to learn {16910}{17020}that ammonite shells|are too tough for him. {17526}{17610}Above the sea,|food is less plentiful. {17612}{17706}A lonely dinosaur has been forced|to swim between the islands {17708}{17766}in search of a meal. {18032}{18082}With huge marine predators|in the water, {18085}{18135}this is a dangerous journey. {18411}{18459}Large dinosaurs are rare here, {18461}{18548}and at five metres|from nose to tail, {18550}{18619}Eustreptospondylus is the biggest. {18703}{18751}They are primarily scavengers, {18754}{18823}combing the beaches|for dead animals, {18826}{18878}but on such small islands, {18881}{18989}they are always under pressure|to find more carrion. {19226}{19310}But another scavenger|has got here first. {19312}{19360}This Eustreptospondylus {19363}{19478}is picking the last rotten strips|of flesh off a dead turtle. {19480}{19552}But even these decaying remains {19552}{19636}are enough to trigger|a confrontation. {19641}{19698}(Growling) {19895}{19964}Neither will risk an injury {19967}{20063}and in the end,|it is the loudest roar that wins. {20065}{20108}(Fierce roar) {20379}{20504}The only food supply here that is|not from the sea is the insects. {20506}{20573}Bark beetles infest the trees here. {20576}{20655}They represent|a tantalising feast of protein {20657}{20705}just under the surface. {20950}{21065}This tempts a young Rhamphorhynchus|to probe for insect larvae, {21067}{21192}but this is not really a job|his beak is evolved to cope with. {21477}{21533}Now two weeks old, {21533}{21669}the young 0phthalmosaurus|are growing fast on a seafood diet, {21672}{21729}but they are still at risk... {21732}{21806}especially from shark attack. {21868}{21969}A head of coral provides|a temporary refuge for this pup. {22031}{22089}His pursuer has a deadly advantage - {22091}{22158}he does not have to return|to the surface to breathe {22180}{22213}and has only to wait|until the pup needs air. {22537}{22640}But the little reptile|has one thing on his side... {22674}{22724}..speed. {22997}{23053}Safe...|until he needs to breathe again. {23196}{23242}Having a lungful of air {23244}{23324}presents marine reptiles|with a buoyancy problem. {23326}{23386}Cryptoclidus has found one solution. {23388}{23465}He is not searching for food|in the sand. {23467}{23518}He is after pebbles and grit. {23520}{23571}Sieving off the fine grains, {23573}{23686}he retains the larger stones|in his stomach for ballast, {23690}{23801}which weighs him down and|counteracts the air in his lungs. {23865}{23935}The land represents safety|for the Cryptoclidus - {23937}{24031}they have come up|onto the rock ledges to rest, {24033}{24129}and also to be out of reach|of Liopleurodon. {24796}{24880}Darkness does not bring peace|in the restless sea. {24880}{24928}Billions of microscopic creatures {24932}{25021}rise up from the depths|as the light fails, {25023}{25119}and shoals of fish|surge into life to pursue them. {25122}{25222}0phthalmosaurus adults|are masters of hunting at night. {25222}{25273}Most have left for deeper waters, {25275}{25378}but a few remain to take advantage|of the plenty here. {25381}{25465}With their enormous|light-sensitive eyes, {25467}{25551}they pick out squid in the gloom. {25913}{25999}Their long toothless snouts|are streamlined weapons, {26002}{26117}making it e...
zenek.szlachetny