PLANET EARTH Jungles

Every layer seems to beat to a different tune. In the early morning the forest's chorus（合唱） is particularly rich. Sounds travel further in the cooler air, but few calls can penetrate as far through the dense vegetation as this one, the deep bass solo（低音贝斯独奏） of a male orangutan（猩猩）. In the middle of the day little stirs in the jungle and the hot dense air muffles（捂住） the sound. As the afternoon wears on, a different set of players begin to warm up.



Insects work in harmony, timing their calls to fall between the notes of others. Many singers stick to precise schedules and right on cue the six o'clock cicada（蝉）. Night brings out a whole new orchestra（管弦乐）. The cacophony（刺耳的声音） of competing calls seems deafening to us but frogs ears are tuned to hear only the calls of their own kind. The songs of courtship echo from all around.



Male gliding leaf frogs leap from the treetops. To slow their descent, they use their huge webbed feet as parachutes（降落伞）. These large tree frogs spend most of their lives in the high canopy and only come down when it's time to breed. Once settled, they begin to serenade their unseen females. Now it's time for the females to make their move. There's no shortage of suitors, but this female has already made her choice.