The initial episode explores the secrets behind the thriving existence of reptiles and amphibians, examining their methods of temperature control, approaches to raising young, and the vastly different timescales that govern their lives.

The second programme delves into the lives of amphibians, encompassing some six thousand known species. Attenborough journeys to Australia to reveal how these creatures were the first vertebrates to conquer land – tracing their lineage back…

The third episode explores the remarkable diversity and social behaviours of lizards. Though masters of camouflage, they sometimes reveal themselves to challenge rivals. David Attenborough presents an anole with a mirror, prompting it to di…

The fourth episode turns its attention to the most recent arrivals in the reptile family: snakes, and investigates how these creatures have thrived despite their distinctive, elongated form. Attenborough details their evolution from subterr…

The programme explores the oldest lineages of reptiles: crocodiles and turtles. In the Galápagos Islands, amidst the giant tortoises, Attenborough reveals how these creatures evolved their shells as protection from predators. This is striki…