David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities (2013)

S01E02 A Curious Hoax?

David uncovers the fascinating artifacts that sparked claims of forgery yet prompted a reevaluation of evolutionary concepts. When explorers returned with the first duck-billed platypus specimen to England in 1799, its peculiar appearance led many to dismiss it as a mere fabrication. Meanwhile, in the 1920s, the midwife toad ignited a fierce debate within the scientific community, resulting in serious allegations of deceit.