‘Mammals’ (2024) Recap: ‘Heat’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Still from Episode 105 of ‘Mammals’ Courtesy of BBC America.

​Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Mammals’ (2024). To revisit the previous episode, click here.

It really is quite amazing, what mammals have accomplished since the dinosaurs went extinct. For not only did mammals thrive, but they truly took over the world, and found their way into every corner of the planet. That of course, includes humans. Because humanity truly is the apex mammal, and our collective intelligence has allowed for us to spread across the globe and live in just about biome possible and of course… we are not alone in such feats. Because for every city, or shack that serves as a home to humans, there are plenty of mammals thriving alongside us. For our fates are intertwined in that wild way and that includes finding unique ways to adapt to our respective environments.

After all, humans have shelter and technology to help them adapt to places that are normally hostile to people. Which is why we have thriving science stations in places such as Antarctica, and why we have massive cities that function and thrive in the desert. For we can keep cool through air conditioning or just get out of the heat in a home. But since mammalian wildlife is indeed versatile in that manner, and animals in our genome live alongside us, one does have to wonder… how do they handle the stifling heat that we learned how to beat? Well thankfully, the BBC America series, Mammals, takes the time to answer that very question in its next episode, and that made ‘Heat’, quite fascinating.

For we quickly came to learn that some animals… have outright evolved to live in the heat. Take the camel for instance. For the camel has a body designed to withstand incredible heat. Since it can store water and food and go ages without needing either. Which in turn has allowed for the camel to simply thrive. Since they go about their days and years like any other animal out there, complete with unique mating rituals. Or there’s the giraffe, since they harbor a unique internal cooling system that makes sure they never overheat. But alas, that’s not the case for every mammal out there in the heat, so the vast majority of them, have simply learned and adapted to make the most of life in the heat and what they’ve come up with to survive is pretty darn inventive to say the least. 

Some mammals for instance, just know what trees help keep them cool. So, they seek them out and hug them or hide within them to enjoy that temperature drop when things are too hot to bear. Not to mention, there are squirrels out there in the wild, that use the heat to their advantage survival wise. For they are fully aware that there are certain snakes that use their extreme senses to recognize heat movements. So, these little squirrels hug the ground and slow their body functions to blend in, allowing for them to thrive. And of course, some species just bide their time regarding the heat. Since there are monkeys that hang around near crocodiles to get to their eggs, and patiently wait for the croc to overheat and go for a dip, so they can get at those eggs. 
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All of which speaks to the pure versatility of mammals, and how there is little in this world to stop them from finding a place to thrive. Because they have 66 million years behind them of learning and adapting and the end result is pretty impressive, and this episode brought about, some fascinating moments. The kind that really did inform us of how well nature can escape or beat the heat and how wildlife functions in places we dare not go, where the heat just hammers the landscape. And now that we’ve reached the end of this fascinating exploration, it will be interesting to see what other unique lessons about the wonder of mammals await us, as this series comes to a close. Until next time.

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