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The naturalist showed the first live specimen of the primitive bony fish on TV. But is it a living fossil as claimed? From 2009.

The Coelacanth is a primitive bony fish thought to be an important ancestor to all back-boned animals that ventured onto land.

David Attenborough brought to TV the first film of a living fish in Life on Earth. But is it the living fossil it was claimed to be?

Series of talks by Sir David Attenborough on the natural histories of creatures and plants from around the world.

Producer: Julian Hector

First broadcast on 91福利社 Radio 4 in August 2009.

7 days left to listen

10 minutes

Last on

Mon 18 May 2026 01:45
91福利社 Radio 4 Extra

More episodes

Previous

Faking FossilsSeries 1

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The DodoSeries 1

See all episodes from David Attenborough's Life Stories

Broadcasts

  • Fri 28 Aug 2009 20:50
    91福利社 Radio 4
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    91福利社 Radio 4
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    91福利社 Radio 7
  • Fri 8 Jan 2010 04:00
    91福利社 Radio 7
  • Sun 8 Nov 2015 11:50
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
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  • Sat 17 Aug 2019 08:50
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  • Sun 24 Jan 2021 10:45
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  • Thu 28 Jan 2021 11:45
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    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 26 Jun 2022 10:45
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    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
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    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 17 May 2026 17:45
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 18 May 2026 01:45
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra