The great majority of the known species are invertebrates, animals with no spinal cord and a relatively simple nervous system. Of these, some, such as sea-anemones and limpets, are capable of only very simple behaviour; others, such as the octopus and many insects, lead more complicated lives and to some extent can learn and remember. Fishes are the simplest of the vertebrates, animals with a spinal cord like our own. In this programme the speakers describe the behaviour of some of these animals and consider how far it can be related to the complexity of their nervous systems.
Speakers: John Carthy of Queen Mary College, University of London; N.B. Marshall of the British Museum (Natural History); Professor G.E. Newell of Queen Mary College, University of London