Islands

* Title
* II
* V
* VI

***“ On a small island, a monumental display takes place as the giant Hatzegopteryx reveals his gentler side to woo a mate. ”***

― The official Apple TV+ episode synopsis for *Islands*
***Islands*** is the first episode of the second season of Prehistoric Planet, and the sixth episode of the series overall.

## Segment I: *Zalmoxes*

***“ The mouth of a river in southern Europe, 66 million years ago. In the aftermath of a tropical storm, debris is drifting downstream. And amongst the wreckage, rafts of wreckage ripped from the land. For a weary pterosaur, this one may be a welcome place to rest. But it's far from safe... ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
In the first segment of the episode, a weary adult *Alcione* rests on a collection of vegetation in southern Europe, a raft drifting out of a river into the sea. For a moment, it feels safe, flapping its wings as the raft drifts on peacefully. But suddenly, sensing that something is wrong, the *Alcione* takes to the skies just as a hungry *Prognathodon* lunges at its raft.

Seeing yet another easy meal, the mosasaur approaches another raft, where a *Zalmoxes* begins to panic. Barely able to keep his balance on the drifting log, the ornithopod jumps into the water as the *Prognathodon* closes in on him. Paddling frantically, he manages to clamber up on a larger drifting island, retreating into the safety of the trees. However, he senses that he is not the first on the large raft, and looks around, sniffing.

***“ He is not the first here. Another castaway, a female. Their raft is drifting out to sea. Sometimes, castaways on rafts like these are washed up on the shores of distant islands. If they're very lucky, this pair could become pioneers... and may establish a new population, which eventually becomes a new species, unlike anything seen before. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
Emerging from the vegetation is a female *Zalmoxes*, which turns towards him in surprise. Together, the pair look out to the open seas, then turn to each other, nuzzling. The segment ends with the two *Zalmoxes* continuing to look ahead of them, with the waters stretching out for miles around them, and the afternoon sun shining down on their raft.

## Segment II: *Tethyshadros* and *Hatzegopteryx*

**Islands**, Segment II
**Setting**
Liburnia Formation, Trieste, Italy

**Filming Location**
Thetford Forest, Norfolk and Suffolk, England

In the second segment of the episode, by the small islands of southern Europe, a herd of strange, elusive herbivores graze through a field of pine saplings. These creatures, known as *Tethyshadros*, are just a quarter of their mainland cousins, the adults standing no taller than a human being. For a moment, all is peaceful, with the herd foraging through the tough vegetation with their unique, serrated bills. But as the breeze blows, an air of unease takes hold of the island. One adult, sensing threats around, rears up and finds, to its horror, a flock of *Hatzegopteryx* coming down from the sky. The entire herd panics as the azhdarchids, numbering around four males and three females, land and gallop after them (with one of the hunters even grabbing a juvenile upon landing). Most of the herd's members rush to the safety of the forest, where the trees are too tightly-packed for their pursuers to come through, thwarting the pterosaurs and causing one male to bellow in frustration. Not all *Tethyshadros* have escaped to the safety of the woods, however, with three juveniles left hiding in the fields.

***“ The youngsters' best hope is to stay completely still... and not to run. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
From the forest, the mother of the juveniles calls out to her children. Due to this, the predators realized that there are still some hadrosaurs out there that they can still hunt, prompting them to try and scour the clearing to flush out prey that might still be there, with the fearful juvenile hadrosaurs trying to stay completely still. As one male *Hatzegopteryx* approaches their hiding spot, one baby *Tethyshadros* panics and tries to run for the forest, with the rest following suit now that their cover is blown. One juvenile is promptly snatched up by the male *Hatzegopteryx*, while two other juvenile *Tethyshadros* make it back to their mother during the commotion. A female *Hatzegopteryx* tries to grab the male's hard-earned catch, only for the male to turn away and swallow the juvenile as the female continues to pester him.

***“ These two are lucky to be back with their mother... the island-hopping pterosaurs move on to try their luck elsewhere. The hadrosaurs can return to feeding. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
After what appears to be a brief conversation via the clacking of beaks, the *Hatzegopteryx* males agree to leave for another island. One by one, they fly off to hunt elsewhere, with the last of the four males carrying yet another dead juvenile *Tethyshadros* in his beak. When all the azhdarchids have finally left, the *Tethyshadros* herd leave their forest sanctuary to continue grazing.

## Segment III: *Simosuchus* and *Majungasaurus*

In the third segment of the episode, on Madagascar, a *Simosuchus* navigates through an area of plants. It is then shown that they live in a group. One *Simosuchus* reaches up to grab leaves that are out of reach by rearing up and standing on top of another, while some members of the group are shown simply basking under the sun, or sleeping in the shade, not too wary of predators given how their heavily-armored bodies make them feel more secure, unaware that, from afar, a female *Majungasaurus* is observing them. She appears to have dried blood and various wounds on her, and it is revealed that her left eye has gone blind. Due to her disability, she has found it difficult to hunt, and has thus gone very hungry. She finally decides to charge at the group of *Simosuchus*, causing them to run for the burrows they set up beforehand to escape from predators. One male *Simosuchus* ends up unable to find an unoccupied burrow, and is left to face the *Majungasaurus*.

***“ The Simosuchus have a network of escape routes that lead them to their underground burrows. Once inside, they block the entrance with their heavily-armored backs. This little male is unlucky. But he's not helpless. Reverse charges, tail swipes, and aggressive kicks. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
With nowhere to run, the *Simosuchus* resorts to bluffing his way out of the situation, with reverse charges, kicks, hisses, and tail swipes, confusing and deterring the *Majungasaurus* long enough for the male to find a vacant burrow to rush for and hide in. The hunter tries to reach into the burrow, but it proves too narrow for her broad snout to fit in. As a safety precaution, the *Simosuchus* digs himself even deeper, getting dirt all over the hunter's face. Dejected and left growling in frustration due to the failure to secure a meal, the *Majungasaurus* walks off. Once the hunter has left, the *Simosuchus* warily walks back out of its burrow, looking around to make sure there are no other threats around before moving on.

## Segment IV: *Adalatherium*

***“ Simosuchus is not the only evolutionary oddity to thrive on Madagascar. The island is also home to another group of very unusual animals... Mammals. This is a female Adalatherium. She's less than two feet long, but even so, she's still one of the largest mammals to have yet evolved. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
In the fourth segment of the episode, as the afternoon sun shines down on Madagascar, an *Adalatherium* travels across the land, making her way to a burrow obscured by the exposed roots of a tree.

***“ She spends most of her waking hours searching for food. At the end of the tunnel, there are eggs, potentially a rich source of protein. But she doesn't eat this particular clutch. These are her own eggs, and this is her burrow. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
She comes across eggs within the den, and, sniffing them, she lies down and sleeps next to them, for these eggs are her own. The eggs hatch, and the juveniles, though born blind, sense where their mother is and feed on milk produced by modified sweat glands on her belly. In two months, the ten cubs have grown to more than four times their size, though still reliant on their mother's milk, so every night, she leaves the burrow to feed in order to be able to produce this nourishment. In the darkness, a serpentine figure watches her as she looks for sustenance, navigating the terrain decently, her acute hearing serving as compensation for her poor eyesight. She comes across the same injured, half-blind *Majungasaurus* that tried and failed to hunt some *Simosuchus* earlier in the day. In the presence of danger, the *Adalatherium* stays still to avoid getting noticed. Fortunately for the mammal, the theropod remained unaware of her presence, the *Majungasaurus* briefly sniffing the air before wandering off to continue looking for prey. When she is sure the predator is no longer around, she returns to digging the soil for roots and seeds to feed on.

***“ The cubs are growing fast, and so are their appetites. The female is now having to search almost nonstop for food, so her cubs are left unguarded for hours at a time. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
In the morning, after they suck milk from her yet again, the mother leaves her cubs in the burrow to search for food. Just then, a *Masiakasaurus*, also seeking food, pokes its narrow head and long neck through holes that could potentially contain a meal. However, just as the *Masiakasaurus* stalks around the tree roots just outside the burrow, close to discovering the oblivious cubs, the snake from the night before lunges at the theropod's throat, subduing its victim with its muscular coils.

***“ Madtsoia, a snake nearly 25 feet long, squeezes its prey to death. This neighborhood has now become rather dangerous. As night falls, the mother leads her young out of the burrow for the very first time. For now, at least, they must stay close together. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
Having bore witness to one potential predator kill and feed on another, just outside her burrow, the returning *Adalatherium* enters her den, settling down and letting her babies suckle on her. Deciding that the area has become too unsafe to live in, she moves out of the burrow and sets out for a better place to live in, her ten cubs following close behind. One of the cubs briefly looks back and finds the *Madtsoia* resting on a fallen tree branch, staring back at it. With this, the *Adalatherium* cub turns back around and continues to follow its mother as they leave the area.

## Segment V: *Imperobator* and *Morrosaurus*

* Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
* Callaghan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
* Alvie and Dalraddy Estates, Scotland

**Islands**, Segment V
**Setting**
Snow Hill Island Formation, James Ross Island, James Ross Archipelago, Antarctica

**Filming Location**

* Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
* Callaghan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
* Alvie and Dalraddy Estates, Scotland

***“ In the far south of the planet, on the islands of the Antarctic peninsula, winter brings months of freezing temperatures. Here, too, being part of a family brings benefits. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
In the fifth, penultimate segment of the episode, deep within a freezing hillside forest, a family of five *Imperobators* are viewed through a thermal camera. To get food for the pack and maintain the heat they have, three of them set off to find food. The three hunters travel downhill, the snow muffling the sounds of their feet, enabling to move undetected as they search for prey. In the forest, a lone *Morrosaurus* is seen struggling to forage for food through the snow, with the *Imperobators* slowly approaching it from the cover of the trees. Sensing their presence, the *Morrosaurus* immediately runs down the slope of the snowy hill, its hunters rushing out to pursue it.

***“ The chase has reached the very edge of the forest. Beyond lies a frozen lake, half a mile wide. The clear, open space could give the faster Morrosaurus an advantage. But the frozen surface is treacherous. With the Imperobator closing in, it isn't much of a choice. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
Upon exiting the forest, the *Morrosaurus* is greeted by a frozen lake. While it can better use its superior speed in this open area to lose its pursuers, the elasmarian hesitates due to the possible dangers of frozen, slippery surface, which could potentially be fragile in some places. Left with no choice due to the hunters closing in on it, the ornithopod rushes across the frozen lake, the three theropods just right behind. Swinging its tail to shift its center of gravity, the *Morrosaurus* makes a tight turn, avoiding the jaws of one of the *Imperobators* in a nick of time, causing the hunter to slip as its two other packmates behind it continue the chase.

***“ A misplaced step, a chance for the Morrosaurus to sprint beyond the predators' reach. But this is an island, so hunters and hunted will almost certainly meet again. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
As the *Morrosaurus* ultimately gets away, the two other *Imperobators* halt their pursuit. In frustration, one snaps in the direction of the *Morrosaurus*, likely insisting that the hunt be continued, while the other, just as exasperated, snaps back, forcing the other to flinch away. As vexing as it is, they must accept that the hunt is over and their prey has evaded them, though only for that specific encounter. With that, the *Imperobators* cut their losses and walk away.

## Segment VI: *Hatzegopteryx* Courtship

**Islands**, Segment VI
**Setting**
Hațeg Island, Romania

**Filming Location**
An island in Maldives

***“ Some islands are so small, that they have no large land-living residents. But they may nonetheless get visitors. Hatzegopteryx. This male has arrived carrying a 40-pound Tethyshadros carcass, a prize from a recent hunt. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
In the sixth and last segment of the episode, an older male *Hatzegopteryx*, sporting a brightly-colored crest of vibrant yellows and blues, lands on the island with an 18-kilogram (40-pound) juvenile *Tethyshadros*. However, he hasn't come here to enjoy this meal in peace. Instead, he surrounds his catch with wood picked up from the beach to form a ceremonial nest of sorts, spreading and flapping his massive wings over to entice passing females to mate with him.

***“ He has constructed a display to make it clear to any females passing overhead that he is looking for a mate. But he might have a very long wait before he gets a response... at last, a female. She seems interested, but a little more persuasion might be necessary. And he needs to be careful. One well-aimed peck from her beak could quickly bring his mating season to an end. His display must demonstrate that he has the good genes that her young would do well to inherit. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
When one arrives, he lifts up the dead *Tethyshadros* to prove that he is a great hunter, and that he is also strong for having flown a great distance to bring the body there. While impress, simply proving his strength is not enough. To convince her some more, he displays his crest and courts the female with enticing grunts, clacks, and head movements, gestures that the female appears to reciprocate well. Following a synchronized dance where both of them repeatedly clack their beaks against each other softly and stare up at the sky, he seems to have established trust with the female.

***“ Another male. He's much younger, but he could still be a rival. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
Suddenly, a younger male *Hatzegopteryx*, sporting the usual color scheme, lands down, and slowly approaches the couple. Enraged, the older male bellows and charges at the new arrival, catching the younger male completely off-guard and forcing him to slowly retreat. The older male aggressively snaps at him repeatedly and ends up grabbing his right wing. Grunting in pain, the younger male decides to back out and flies off, the older male bellowing at him to ensure that he doesn't return. In the chaos, the female flew off due to the commotion, with the old male believing that his chance is gone. Fortunately, the female returned, having seen the older male's successful assault as more proof of his eligibility.

***“ She's back. Seeing off a potential rival might even be another point in his favor. He continues from where he left off. One last reminder of his strength... and this is his only contribution to fatherhood. It's all over in just a few seconds... but it's the start of the next generation of these giant flying hunters. Islands like this may only be small, but like countless others around the world, they bear witness to crucial moments in the lives of some of the most unusual creatures on the Prehistoric Planet. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Islands*
After mating with the female in a relatively short span of time (with this being his only contribution to fatherhood), the female flies off as the male grooms himself and starts the courtship ritual again, ready to attract more females.

## Uncovered Segment I: Could Giant Pterosaurs Really Hunt on the Ground?

  **Could Giant Pterosaurs Really Hunt on the Ground?**
**Subject**
Where and how azhdarchid pterosaurs preferred to hunt, and their competency in terrestrial locomotion.

**Experts**
Dr. Mark Witton, Dr. Darren Naish
***“ One of the most interesting - because they are the most bizarre - are the azhdarchid pterosaurs, and to try and describe what an azhdarchid pterosaur is like is very difficult. They stand as tall as giraffes, they've got heads that may have been 2 meters long, wingspans of 10 meters... they're just some of the most bizarre things to have ever evolved on Earth. ”***

― **Dr. Mark Witton**, *Paleoartist & Paleontologist*
This Uncovered segment, using footage of *Quetzalcoatlus* and *Hatzegopteryx* (alongside other pterosaurs in the series), brings special attention to what may be considered the weirdest of the pterosaurs, the azhdarchids. Despite their size, they are stated to be well-adapted for taking flight. The question at hand is why it is believed they can hunt on the ground.

As with all pterosaurs, azhdarchids have wings supported by an elongated fourth finger, with the membrane traveling from the tip of this finger to the top of the hind leg. While this gives them massive wings that allow them to traverse great distances, they weren't agile enough to make flexible twists and turns in the air, so they couldn't have pursued other flying animals. The segment also tackles the prevalent idea of azhdarchids skimming the water to feed like the black skimmer, a type of seabird, pushing the lower jaws through the water to crash them into prey, able to withstand the forces generated with a neck built to absorb sudden impacts. Azhdarchids don't have any of the necessary adaptations to feed this way, and the strain of trying to do so would only end up breaking their necks.

***“ These tracks show they held their limbs directly under their body, giving them an upright stance. Their feet were padded, and unlike the small pterosaurs, their long legs gave them an enormous stride. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Prehistoric Planet: Uncovered - Could Giant Pterosaurs Really Hunt on the Ground?*
Without the capability to hunt aerial or aquatic prey, this meant that the only option left for azhdarchids is to hunt on the ground. The largest pterosaur tracks ever known, made 66 million years ago by a walking azhdarchid in South Korea, prove how efficiently they can move on the ground. Given their competent terrestrial walking ability, stork-like face, and throats half a meter (20 inches) wide, it is almost certain that they are predators that walked around and reached down to grab animals, with even human-sized creatures considered as viable prey. With this, while they are awe-inspiring in flight, azhdarchids can prove more impressive and terrifying on the ground.

## Uncovered Segment II: What Else Lived Alongside The Dinosaurs?

  **What Else Lived Alongside The Dinosaurs?**
**Subject**
The other weird and wonderful creatures that lived alongside the dinosaurs, from *Beelzebufo*, marine reptiles, and pterosaurs, to their successors, mammals.

**Experts**
Dr. Darren Naish, Dr. Marc Jones, Dr. Mark Witton, Professor Anjali Goswami
***“ During the age of the dinosaurs, spectacular species like this pachycephalosaur attract the most attention. But the prehistoric world was also home to a wide variety of other quite different species. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Prehistoric Planet: Uncovered - What Else Lived Alongside The Dinosaurs?*
This Uncovered segment, using footage of *Beelzebufo*, *Tuarangisaurus*, *Mosasaurus*, several pterosaurs, and *Adalatherium*, focuses on the weird and wonderful animals that lived alongside - and not necessarily in the shadow of - the dinosaurs.

***“ So what were some of the animals living alongside the dinosaurs? One of the most surprising was this. The biggest frog to have ever lived. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Prehistoric Planet: Uncovered - What Else Lived Alongside The Dinosaurs?*
The first focus is *Beelzebufo*, the 'Devil Toad'. With its armored skull and backbone and a proportionally large head that gave it a strong bite force, *Beelzebufo* proved to be "a fearsome hunter, with an appearance to match", capable of going after prey the size of juvenile dinosaurs.

***“ The oceans were dominated not by dinosaurs, but by marine reptiles. The largest were mosasaurs. These giant marine lizards could reach 50 feet in length, and weigh 15 tonnes. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Prehistoric Planet: Uncovered - What Else Lived Alongside The Dinosaurs?*
The second to be shown are the marine reptiles. While *Tuarangisaurus* gets a brief appearance, the true focus of this part of the segment is *Mosasaurus*, the largest and most formidable member of its family, serving as proof that they were "the greatest marine predators of all time". But while they ruled the ocean, something else ruled the skies, the pterosaurs (usually and incorrectly known as "flying dinosaurs").

***“ These were the very first animals with backbones to fly. Their wingspan ranged from 10 inches to an enormous 33 feet. The largest posed a deadly threat for even the most fearsome of dinosaurs. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Prehistoric Planet: Uncovered - What Else Lived Alongside The Dinosaurs?*
The greatest of the pterosaurs were able to pose a threat to even the fiercest predatory dinosaurs, a case driven home by footage from North America showing a pair of *Quetzalcoatlus* driving a *T. rex* away. Overall, many of the impressive creatures during the time of the dinosaurs were very different from many animals today. However, some seemed a bit more familiar.

***“ Despite people thinking that the Cretaceous was all about dinosaurs, there were tons of mammals. We find things that lived in the water, like beavers today. We see things that were running around in the trees and even gliding, and things that were living under the ground and digging into the soil. And you see mammals evolved a lot of characteristics related to being able to move around at night. ”***

― **Anjali Goswami**, *Research Leader, Palaeobiology*
With their nocturnal adaptations, warm-blooded metabolism, and brains that gradually evolved to be bigger and more efficient, the mammals were able to survive the time of the dinosaurs, perhaps even owing them their existence for all the traits they evolved under pressure. Due to this, when the 150 million-year reign of the dinosaurs was finally ended by a massive meteor strike, mammals succeeded them as the dominant lifeform on Earth until the modern day.

## Fauna

*Alcione elainus**Zalmoxes robustus**Prognathodon saturator**Tethyshadros insularis**Hatzegopteryx thambema**Simosuchus clarki**Majungasaurus crenatissimus**Adalatherium hui**Madtsoia madagascariensis**Masiakasaurus knopfleri**Imperobator antarcticus**Morrosaurus antarcticus*
## Trivia

### Filming Locations

Filming locations for the episode were confirmed on "I Know Dino: The Big Dinosaur Podcast", Episode 443: Dinosaurs on Islands. Featuring Prehistoric Planet 2.

* The first segment, set somewhere in southern Europe where a river of Hațeg Island‎‎, Romania flows into the Tethys Ocean, was shot at Noah Creek in the Daintree Rainforest, Queensland, Australia, and Wells-next-the-sea and Cromhall Quarry in England.
* The second segment, set in the Liburnia Formation, was shot in Thetford Forest, England.
* The third and fourth segments, set in the Maevarano Formation in Madagascar, were shot in Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia.
* Shooting locations for the fifth segment (which was set in the Snow Hill Island Formation in Antarctica) include Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada; Callaghan Valley, British Columbia, Canada; and Alvie and Dalraddy Estates in Scotland.
* The sixth and last segment (which likely represents an island close to or near Hațeg Island‎‎ in Romania) was filmed on an island in the Maldives.

### Scrapped Content

The episode was supposed to feature the crocodilyform *Mahajangasuchus*, a "hippo-faced" crocodyliform four meters (13 feet) long, with a robust skull and blunt, conical teeth. The plan was to show it attacking the female *Majungasaurus*, being responsible for the animal's injuries and blind left eye (with the experience likely playing a factor in why the bluffs of the *Simosuchus*, a significantly smaller and less-threatening crocodyliform, successfully held the predator at bay in the third segment of the episode).

A prop was made for it, and the scene was already well into development before ultimately being abandoned due to constraints like time and manpower limitations.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 I Know Dino: The Big Dinosaur Podcast, Episode 443: Dinosaurs on Islands. Featuring Prehistoric Planet 2
2. ↑ There was a prop made for *Mahajangasuchus*, which was originally planned to be shown attacking the *Majungasaurus* seen in Islands, being responsible for its injuries, though this plan was abandoned due to limitations like time and manpower constraints.