Season 1

1. A Winning Design

From the tiniest bat to the massive blue whale, all mammals share the ability to nurture their young on milk and regulate their own temperatures.

2002-11-20 • 58 min

2. Insect Hunters

Mammals from tiny shrews to giant anteaters have specialised in eating insects. Some have even pursued their prey into the skies.

2002-11-27 • 58 min

3. Plant Predators

The plant eaters take on the largely indigestible, spiny and poisonous defences of plants with some spectacular physical adaptations to diet.

2002-12-04 • 58 min

4. Chisellers

Special tools like chisel sharp front teeth and underground dwelling enable this group of mammals to feast on roots and seeds.

2002-12-11 • 58 min

5. Meat Eaters

Predators and prey must evolve speed, endurance and manoeuvrability to outwit each other, and the pack hunters must maintain order in the ranks.

2002-12-18 • 58 min

6. Opportunists

A mammal capable of having a varied diet can be highly adaptable and exploit new environments including the cities where they thrive.

2003-01-08 • 58 min

7. Return to the Water

With perfect streamlined bodies and great underwater speed, seals, dolphins, porpoises and whales became the new hunters of the sea..

2003-01-15 • 58 min

8. Life in the Trees

A range of adaptations from sucker-feet to gripping tails help the tree dwellers to survive, and in the dark forest super senses come in to play.

2003-01-22 • 58 min

9. Social Climbers

In the daily hubbub of monkey life, only those with a talent for social wheeler dealing get ahead, driving the shift towards larger brains.

2003-01-29 • 58 min

10. Food for Thought

The natural world was transformed when one great ape began to walk upright - us. But why has this led to the development of our extraordinary brains?

2003-02-05 • 58 min