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Australia’s Greatest Leapers Defy Gravity

Season 1 | 3m 52s

Hopping is key to the most efficient form of locomotion on land. Unlike running animals, when a kangaroo speeds up its legs don’t have to move faster. Simply by altering the angle of take off they can increase the distance they fly with each hop.

Extras
A flock is one of the most spectacular sights in nature – but how does it work?
Every night an arms race is played out between bats and moths for domination of the sky.
For its size the Anna’s Hummingbird has the fastest courtship display in the animal world.
The Brazilian free-tailed bat is one of the most versatile flyers in the animal kingdom.
Albatross are masters of low cost, longhaul travel, using the power of the wind to fly.
To keep their huge bodies airborne, these beetles twist their wings for extra thrust.
The jumbo jet of the bird world needs a runway and carefully applied power.
Flying squirrels can find food fast in winter and short flights help them avoid owls.
It’ll be two weeks before they can fly. They have to jump for it.
Caracals are adapted to catch birds in flight and capable of leaping up to 3m high.