Watch Salamanders Skydive! | Deep Look

When a hungry bird comes near them, wandering salamanders can jump off the tallest trees in the world, California's coast redwoods, skydiving to a safe branch. Researchers decided to put them in a wind tunnel to investigate their daring moves in slow motion.

DEEP LOOK is an ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.

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The wandering salamander lives at the tops of coast redwoods in California, which can grow as tall as 30-floor skyscrapers. The salamander can spend the entirety of its 20-year-long life up there, never once touching the forest floor. But the tiny salamanders have a special trick up their sleeves for evading danger. When predators get too close, the wandering salamander goes skydiving up in the trees, controlling their pitch, roll and yaw midair to more safely navigate the skies and prepare for landing.

--- How big is the wandering salamander?

The wandering salamander is about 4 inches (10 centimeters) long, just a little longer than a credit card.

--- Can the wandering salamander really spend its whole life up in a tree?

Yep! Researchers tracked salamanders over a 20-year span and found they were often in the same trees year after year.

--- How long can these giant California coast redwoods live?

The towering evergreen trees can live for 2,000 years or longer! Some of the oldest coast redwoods were thought to be around during the Roman Empire!

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This Incredible Little Starfish Has a Secret

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[TubeofHO]

Things I didn't know I'd see today: Salamanders flying in a wind tunnel.

[SeanBoborano]

Salamander came home after wind tunnel experiment:
"You will not believed what I just experienced"

[PrehistoriaFan]

Not only is the narrating so appealing, the important part is that we hardly know about these tiny treasures, thanks so much!!! 😊

[DanKillam]

Hard to articulate how intensely satisfying it was watching that little guy falling with style

[thechickenwizard]

So I actually just moved to humboldt this week for college, and have been obsessed with these little guys. After spending hours looking for them i actually found one yesterday, they're some of the most interesting salamanders I've had the privilege of encountering. Thanks for posting this great video on these little skydivers at such a perfect time!

[fidecheyt]

Your chances of getting whapped on the head by a skydiving salamander is low.

But never zero.

[deetlebee]

The part showing the salamanders in the wind tunnel absolutely made my day. Thank you!

[CrescentTheWolfFurry]

My friend asked what I was watching, so I replied with:
"Uh... skydiving salamanders."

[BlackReaper]

that's so cool, they have way more control than I expected.

[prettypic]

As a Californian, part of what I love so much about this series is that you focus on creatures that are native here. I've seen plenty of great nature documentaries about Antarctica, The Amazon, and the Serengeti, but it's extra special to see videos about my own backyard!

[plumey]

Props to the musician(s) for these videos, it is always a delight to hear whimsical instrumentation accentuate the footage!

[chillsahoy]

Nothing could prepare me for how adorable the salamanders look while they're in the wind tunnel.

[ariannasv]

I love the pattern on its skin, so pretty!

[Rjfgafzgfhnkl]

Seeing the blood cells in the 2:55 shot was insane 😯. Great video btw

[VictoriousJia]

Scientists will see a tree climbing salamander and say: “put that creature in a situation”

[dustykeebs]

I can't wait to show this to my 7 yr old daughter. She absolutely adores salamanders and will be so amazed to learn about one that glides in the treetops! Thanks for being my favorite channel on youtube!

[MasterBoop]

that salamander is having the time off his life

[sleepdeprivedcactus]

give the music guy a raise, they always capture the "mood" of the animal perfectly!

[moderanger]

The little guy's literally falling with style.

[raistlin]

Scientist: "What is your secret?"

Salamander: "There is no spoon."