Did Lethal Toxins Kill the Dinosaurs?
In Did Lethal Toxins Kill the Dinosaurs?, naturalist Steve Backshall discusses an extremely deadly toxin, Clostridium botulinum, that was likely responsible for the deaths of many dinosaurs millions of years ago. Even the smallest imaginable airborne particle of this toxin could have been devastating to a dinosaur. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Deadly Dinosaurs, a documentary series in which host Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the deadliest animals to have walked the Earth — dinosaurs — exploring features of several species and putting their abilities to the test to reveal the raw power of these creatures.
Lesson Express
Q: What’s a HAZMAT suit?
A: It’s a biohazard suit that protects a person from being exposed to dangerous microorganisms, tiny particles that can make someone sick.
Q: How much of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum can cause disease?
A: Just two-billionths of a gram of this bacteria can be deadly. For reference, a small paper clip weighs 1 gram, so try to think of two-billionths of that.
Q: How could a dinosaur spread this disease caused by such a tiny bacteria?
A: When a dinosaur died from the disease, its carcass could become food for other dinosaurs. Those that fed on the infected remains would get sick, and the cycle could continue as more animals fed on the diseased carcasses.
More Like This
In Dinosaur Killer: Floods, naturalist Steve Backshall shows how massive floods may have been responsible for killing large numbers of dinosaurs millions of years ago. Despite the size and power of dinosaurs, monsoon floods are believed to have killed many Centrosaurus dinosaurs, whose bodies did not allow for skilled swimming. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Deadly Dinosaurs, a documentary series in which host Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the deadliest animals to have walked the Earth — dinosaurs — exploring features of several species and putting their abilities to the test to reveal the raw power of these creatures.
In Meet the Desert Roadrunner witness a roadrunner in search of food. Roadrunners are built for a life on the ground and can run at over 18 miles per hour. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Dinosaur Killer: Sandstorm, naturalist Steve Backshall describes how massive sandstorms may have been responsible for killing large numbers of dinosaurs by blinding and suffocating anything in its path. Gigantoraptor was particularly vulnerable since it was extremely protective of its eggs, which were often buried in the sand. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Deadly Dinosaurs, a documentary series in which host Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the deadliest animals to have walked the Earth — dinosaurs — exploring features of several species and putting their abilities to the test to reveal the raw power of these creatures.
In All About Australian Animals, narrator Sir David Attenborough reveals how the animals living on Australia as it broke away from Gondwanaland have evolved in isolation from the rest of the world. Red flying foxes are newer residents who flew along the chain of volcanic islands linking Asia and Australia. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Dinosaur Killer: Floods, naturalist Steve Backshall shows how massive floods may have been responsible for killing large numbers of dinosaurs millions of years ago. Despite the size and power of dinosaurs, monsoon floods are believed to have killed many Centrosaurus dinosaurs, whose bodies did not allow for skilled swimming. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Deadly Dinosaurs, a documentary series in which host Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the deadliest animals to have walked the Earth — dinosaurs — exploring features of several species and putting their abilities to the test to reveal the raw power of these creatures.
In Meet the Desert Roadrunner witness a roadrunner in search of food. Roadrunners are built for a life on the ground and can run at over 18 miles per hour. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Dinosaur Killer: Sandstorm, naturalist Steve Backshall describes how massive sandstorms may have been responsible for killing large numbers of dinosaurs by blinding and suffocating anything in its path. Gigantoraptor was particularly vulnerable since it was extremely protective of its eggs, which were often buried in the sand. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Deadly Dinosaurs, a documentary series in which host Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the deadliest animals to have walked the Earth — dinosaurs — exploring features of several species and putting their abilities to the test to reveal the raw power of these creatures.
In All About Australian Animals, narrator Sir David Attenborough reveals how the animals living on Australia as it broke away from Gondwanaland have evolved in isolation from the rest of the world. Red flying foxes are newer residents who flew along the chain of volcanic islands linking Asia and Australia. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.