Secrets of Bones

Secrets of Bones

Evolutionary biologist and master skeleton builder Ben Garrod looks at how bones have enabled vertebrates to colonise and dominate practically every habitat on Earth.

Documentary

Seasons

Size Matters

1. Size Matters

Air Date: 2014-02-18

Evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod Ben shows what bone is constructed from and how it can support animals that are both tiny (a frog) and massive (the blue whale).

Down to Earth

2. Down to Earth

Air Date: 2014-02-25

Ben Garrod discovers how the skeleton has adapted for vertebrates to move on land in many ways and explores the role of the spine in both cheetahs and snakes.

Into the Air

3. Into the Air

Air Date: 2014-03-04

Ben Garrod finds out how the skeleton has allowed vertebrates to take to the air, why the pigeon is an exceptional flier and how the albatross makes huge migrations.

Sensing the World

4. Sensing the World

Air Date: 2014-03-11

Ben Garrod delves into the surprising ways in which bone has evolved to help vertebrates sense the world around them, from wolves and sheep to the great grey owl.

Food for Thought

5. Food for Thought

Air Date: 2014-03-18

Ben Garrod uncovers the secrets of how vertebrates capture and devour their food using extreme jaws, bizarre teeth and specialised bony tools.

Sex

6. Sex

Air Date: 2014-03-25

Ben Garrod seeks out the big part that bones can play in reproduction. Through sexual selection, the skeleton has adapted to aid courtship, competition and even copulation.

Select an episode to start watching

Rating

7.0/10

Release Date

2014-02-18

Episodes

6 (1 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Production Companies

BBC Studios Natural History Unit

BBC Studios Natural History Unit