Plot Synopsis

Hosted and narrated by Sir David Attenborough, MAMMALS is a six-part natural history series that reveals how mammals have conquered the Earth, uncovering the secrets to their success with their winning design, incredible adaptability, unrivalled intelligence, and unique sociability. Sixty-six million years ago, when the reign of the dinosaurs came to an end, mammals were set free to exploit every corner of the planet. MAMMALS reveals the strategies, behaviors and traits that lie behind the astonishing success of this remarkable group of animals. Above all, the series celebrates the amazing intelligence that enables mammals to learn, remember, problem-solve, parent, and cooperate. Over six episodes and a behind-the-scenes special, viewers see how mammals have taken advantage of every major environment on earth. They are found in every ocean, and on every continent, from frozen wildernesses, dense jungles, baking deserts, even the dark depths of the open ocean and the skies above our forests. MAMMALS made its U.S. debut on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT on BBC America and was available on AMC+ the same day. Episodes include:

"Dark" (U.S. debut on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 8pm): Originally confined to the night during the time of the dinosaurs, many mammals have, with heightened senses verging on superpowers, become masters of the shadows. Today, some are even returning to the dark side as their daytime world gets more and more crowded.

"The New Wild" (U.S. debut on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 8pm): It is two decades since Sir David looked at the "Life of Mammals." In that time the issues facing mammals have grown and grown -- today, less than 6% of the world's mammal biomass is made up of wild mammals, and many face extinction. As well as bringing a fresh understanding of this remarkable group of animals, we highlight many of the problems faced by mammals in a rapidly changing world. To do this, we explore how mammals are coping living alongside perhaps the most successful mammal of all -- us, revealing both winners and losers in today's new wild.

"Water" (U.S. debut on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 8pm): Very few mammals have managed to lose all ties with land and conquer life in water, one of the greatest challenges for an air breathing mammal. Those that have are some of the cleverest of all, forming surprising bonds not just amongst their own but with other species as well.

"Cold" (U.S. debut on Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 8pm): Thanks to their great ingenuity, combined with a thick fur coat, mammals can survive where no others can, in the cold of the planet's extreme frozen worlds. Here we see a polar bear learn remarkable new hunting skills and witness the rarely seen caring side of the not so mythical wolverine.

"Heat" (U.S. debut on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 8pm): With fur designed to keep you warm, keeping cool is never going to be easy, yet mammals are found in the hottest, driest places on earth such as Australia's barren outback, where they have found remarkable ways to stays cool, find water, and beat the heat.

"Forest" (U.S. debut on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 8pm): From down in the undergrowth to high above the treetops, we see how mammals have conquered every level of the forest with perfect camouflage, secret messages, and even the power of flight, but now many face new challenges as they are forced to adapt to a changing world.

"The Making of Mammals" (U.S. debut on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 8pm): This episode goes behind the scenes with the production team of Mammals.