Nat Geo Wild Premieres KINGDOM OF THE OCEANS Tonight

Nearly three-quarters of Earth is covered by water, yet surprisingly little is known about the incredible marine life that inhabits our oceans. From tropical waters to icy glaciers, from the deepest depths of the ocean floor to its sun-kissed surface, millions of resilient, remarkable and utterly bizarre creatures call the oceans home

Kingdom of the Oceans, premiering tonight, March 10 and Sunday, March 17, 2013, with two back-to-back episodes at 8 and 9 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD, dives into the planet's waters for a breathtaking look at the splendor of the underwater world. Hosted by Alexandra Cousteau and shot at more than 50 locations and with 80 different species, this four-part, high-definition special offers a visual feast of natural history cinematography. Experience the thrill of the chase as predators stalk their prey. Come face-to-face with creatures of every shape, size and color. Cameras splash into the depths of the seas to bring viewers one step closer to understanding the great watery unknown.

Before the first animal set foot on dry land, life conquered the marine world. There are masters of camouflage that disappear into the sands, fish that actually walk across the ocean floor and "cows of the sea" that graze on seaweed. There are fish that come on land to eat, and land animals that must swim to catch their next meal. There are vibrant mountains of underwater coral, endless forests of seaweed and vast sandy expanses of barren ocean floor. With millions of years of evolution on their side, we are just beginning to understand the complex and fragile ecosystems of what many oceanographers call the "final frontier."
Kingdom of the Oceans focuses on four different themes:

Kingdom of the Oceans: Predator's Paradise
Premieres Sunday, March 10, 2013, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Explore the living, breathing, colorful mountains of coral that shelter an extraordinarily diverse group of species of every color, shape and behavior. See how these living gardens protect the egg of a tiny zebra shark about to hatch, and how a hermit crab latches onto venomous anemone for protection. The coral even offer a peaceful lagoon for the mother whale and her newborn calf. Experience a beautiful underwater snowstorm that happens only once a year, when thousands of tiny eggs rise from the polyps and are released into the ocean currents.

Kingdom of the Oceans: Fire & Ice
Premieres Sunday, March 10, 2013, at 9 p.m. ET/PT
Examine the paradox of whales, penguins, iguanas and dolphins that inherited a burdensome legacy from their land-dwelling ancestors: they must breathe in open air. Visit Charles Darwin's living laboratory, the Galapagos Islands, where evolution still experiments with life's ebb and flow between land and sea. Here, we'll get up close to fascinating creatures found nowhere else on Earth, including the marine iguana that spends its days perched on lava rocks but can also hold its breath for a full hour underwater. We'll see how the slippery, slimy mudskipper fish rides the tide to shore, and flops around the beach to find food. Over on the South American coast, witnesses an orca whale family teach their young the dangerous art of beaching to hunt sea lions. On the Antarctic ice, the most seagoing of all birds, emperor penguins, care for their land-locked, adorable baby chicks before their fluffy white coats transform into waterproof black-and-white diving suits.

Kingdom of the Oceans: Giants of the Deep
Premieres Sunday, March 17, 2013, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Hitch a ride on the ocean's superhighways as giants of the deep ride the currents in perpetual search of their next meal. Get uncomfortably close to the world's largest animal, the massive blue whale, with a heart as large as a small car, a tongue as heavy as an elephant and a tail as wide as an airplane wing. Witness the grace and precision of a great white shark attack. Swim with hordes of yellowfin tuna and jump through the waters with spinning dolphins. In the deep blue sea, there is no place to hide, and little fish must find shelter in unheard-of places. Some stowaway on blue sharks, others ride floating plumes of krill and others even seek refuge among the venomous tentacles of the giant Nomura jellyfish.

Kingdom of the Oceans: Sand Wars
Premieres Sunday, March 17, 2013, at 9 p.m. ET/PT
The sandy plains of the seabed can appear empty, but they actually hide multitudes of bizarre creatures, including masters of camouflage that disappear into the sands, fish that walk across the ocean floor and fish that appear to dance on their heads while hunting prey. Other marine life must hit the beaches to survive. Witness the Epic journey that a leatherback turtle faces, dragging its 1,000-pound body to the top of the beach to lay its eggs. Underwater forests of giant seaweeds and coral play host to another group of strange creatures lurking in the deep. The endangered dugong, or "cow of the sea," grazes on underwater grasses day and night, rooting for them with their bristled, sensitive snouts and chomping them with their rough lips.

Kingdom of the Oceans is produced for Nat Geo WILD by Galatee Films and Mizar Films. For Galatee Films and Mizar Films, producers are Jacques Perrin and Nicolas Mauvernay. For Nat Geo WILD, executive producer is Ashley Hoppin, and executive vice president and general manager is Geoff Daniels.

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