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Fish

Episode 4 of 10

Nature documentary looking at the fish that dominate the planet's waters through their variety of shapes and behaviours, some like creatures from a fairytale.

Fish dominate the planet's waters through their astonishing variety of shape and behaviour.

The beautiful weedy sea dragon looks like a creature from a fairy tale, and the male protects their eggs by carrying them on his tail for months. The sarcastic fringehead, meanwhile, appears to turn its head inside out when it fights.

Slow-motion cameras show the flying fish gliding through the air like a flock of birds and capture the world's fastest swimmer, the sailfish, plucking sardines from a shoal at 70 mph. And the tiny Hawaiian goby undertakes one of nature's most daunting journeys, climbing a massive waterfall to find safe pools for breeding.

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57 minutes

Last on

Tue 8 Oct 2024 01:25
BBC Four

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Clips

See all clips from Fish (6)

Chapters

  • Fish

    Opening Titles

    Duration: 00:18

  • Speed

    Speed and precision are key skills the sailfish must use if it's to catch its prey.

    Duration: 03:29

  • Creating Life

    Flying fish not only have to protect themselves, but also thousands of their eggs. Also, the male weedy sea dragon must take the female's eggs to look after.

    Duration: 09:11

  • Home

    The young convict fish seem to help their parents feed in exchange for a place to stay, and the sarcastic fringehead must fight off trespassers on his patch.

    Duration: 06:23

  • Leaving the Ocean

    Certain fish can actually leave the water; these include the mudskipper, which can breathe oxygen, and the goby, which tries to suck its way up a waterfall so it can lay eggs.

    Duration: 09:04

  • The Odd Couples

    Some fish form a bond with the unlikeliest creature and the Jack fish bothers the shark in order to get clean. Also, male clown fish must be wary of the female as well as predators.

    Duration: 10:42

  • Working as a Team

    A shoal of anchovies come together as one to outwit a sea lion and snappers try to spawn in mass numbers.

    Duration: 08:31

  • Life on Location - Fish Out of Water

    A closer look at the making of Life, including how the cameramen filmed under water with a limited amount of air whilst trying to avoid getting caught up in the action.

    Duration: 10:43

Credits

Narrator David Attenborough
Producer Adam Chapman
Executive Producer Michael Gunton

Broadcasts

  • Mon 2 Nov 2009 21:00
    BBC One except Northern Ireland & BBC HD
  • Mon 2 Nov 2009 22:35
    BBC One Northern Ireland
  • Tue 3 Nov 2009 20:00
    BBC Four
  • Sun 8 Nov 2009 18:00
    BBC HD & BBC One
  • Mon 9 Nov 2009 00:00
    BBC HD
  • Fri 13 Nov 2009 01:05
    BBC One except Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales
  • Mon 16 Nov 2009 00:50
    BBC One Northern Ireland
  • Sat 27 Feb 2010 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Thu 6 May 2010 00:05
    BBC HD
  • Sat 30 Oct 2010 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Sat 24 Sep 2011 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Sun 25 Sep 2011 00:30
    BBC HD
  • Sun 25 Sep 2011 03:10
    BBC Four
  • Mon 15 Jul 2019 20:00
    BBC Four
  • Thu 4 Feb 2021 15:45
    BBC Two except Scotland
  • Thu 28 Sep 2023 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Fri 29 Sep 2023 01:35
    BBC Four
  • Mon 7 Oct 2024 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Tue 8 Oct 2024 01:25
    BBC Four

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