The Future is Wild

The Tentacled Forest (1x13)

Air date: Jun 25, 2002

The Tentacled Forest is set in the northern jungle, 200,000,000 years into the future. At this point in the future, there are no mammals, birds, reptiles or amphibians. The episode focuses on three species. Forest Flish - a smaller species of flish with hooks for feet so it can hang upside down to rest Megasquid - a four metre tall squid with rhino-like skin and three metre tentacles which patrols the forest. Its eight boneless legs are packed with muscles that act like bones. Squibbon - an arboreal species of squid with stereoscopic vision that could well be the next sapient life on the planet This forest is about the only place left on Earth where there is consistent rain and trees can grow. The trees here are lichen trees, descended from simple lichens. The forest is populated with a whole manner of creatures that would look out of place in our time. The episode shows how animals that were once aquatic have evolved to conquer the forests. It also suggests that the squibbon could become the next species to develop sapience and become the dominant force on planet Earth.