Secrets of the Rainforest

The strength of the leafcutter ant lies in numbers--four million foot soldiers form a single unit, their domain spanning an area of two or more football fields. Aptly named for their scissor-like jaws, they collect leaves for fertilizer, earning their reputation as sophisticated agriculturists.

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute is working tirelessly to save many of Panama's diverse frog species. Susceptible to a deadly fungus, these frogs are being bred in captivity by researchers in hopes of preventing the mass extinction of several vulnerable amphibian populations.

For bats, the mating calls of Panamanian frogs stand out like coordinates on a map, allowing the winged predators to zero in with precision on future meals. Researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute are learning how these mating calls disadvantage a species already in danger.

When glass frogs emerge during the rainy season, researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute follow their migration out of the forest and along streams. These transparent leaf-lying frogs are mysterious to experts who are only now starting to track their mating rituals and behavior.

After spending weeks building a nest of woven plant fibers, animal hair, and spider silk, the work of an expecting long-billed hummingbird isn't over. The mother still needs to find food for her newly hatched chicks and protect her blind, featherless kin from predators lurking below.

In the wild, social groupings appear to have their obvious merits. But for white-faced capuchin monkeys, established groups that travel and gather food together aren't exactly cheerful democracies. See how alpha males hoard food and enforce a strict hierarchy over their fellow members.

Rainfall is a vital source of life in the Panamanian rainforest. At the height of the wet season in August, it can receive upwards of 20 inches of rain in a single month. Watch wildlife flourish as the streams flow for the first time all season.

Little is known about the kinkajou, a cousin of the raccoon that behaves like a monkey. Join researchers from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute as they embark on an unprecedented behavioral study of one of the Panamanian rainforests' most mysterious inhabitants.

One of the smallest creatures of the rainforest is also one of its mightiest leaders: Azteca ants build cities of nests that stretch up to 9 feet long and house armies of millions. But perhaps what's most impressive is the vital effect their refuse has on the growth and vegetation of the rainforest.

While life on the rainforest floor is often dark and dank, the bright, hot realm of the canopy is completely different territory. Journey through lush treetops for breathtaking views of this abundant ecosystem.

The male fiddler crab looking to mate doesn't have it easy--it's a race against time (and thousands of other male crabs) before high tide in the hopes of finding a female. Join these tiny creatures as they elude preying seabirds and compete for a safe place to settle.

The loudest animal in the Americas wakes the rainforest every morning, staking claim to territory and sending a piercing call that echoes for miles. Meet the howler monkey and see how its mighty vocal cords ensure neighboring troops stay away.