(Life On Earth [VHS] series, Part 5)
The evolution of fish, the first animals to develop backbones, is the subject of this episode, which includes superb underwater photography. Features parts 10 & 11 of the 16mm film version of the 'Life On Earth' series.
Part 10, The Conquest of the Waters: David Attenborough explores a variety of sea life beginning with the sea squirt, a simple structure which dates back to ancient time. Coral cliffs and dry seabeds are inspected for traces of early sea creatures. Scales, skulls and jaws have been discovered--the remains of the shark's ancestors. As fish spread to the lakes and rivers, they developed gills which enabled them to breathe in the warmer waters. Bladder bags also evolved which made the fish more buoyant in the shallow waters. Thus the origin of the modern bony fish, such as the trout (22 minutes).
Part 11, The Bony Fishes: David Attenborough explores the world of the bony fish as he snorkels amidst a coral reef. Colorful shallow water fish are photographed while Attenborough describes the unique adaptations of these specialized fish. Then, in a submersible the viewer is taken down to the murky depths of the sea floor where rare photographs of bottom dwelling fish are presented. Concludes with the remarkable journey of the salmon who Attenborough calls the paragon of fish (27 minutes).
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