My Living World

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Living World

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

The Living World

Getting up close and personal with wild nature in Britain and beyond.

Intimate encounters and extraordinary observations of wild nature in Britain and beyond.

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Living World: My Living World: The Spined Loach

The Spined Loach

BBC Radio 4 - Living World, My Living World, The Spined Loach

Keen naturalists Hannah Stitfall and Dom Davies compare notes on Spined Loach.

Keen naturalists Hannah Stitfall and Dom Davies compare notes on a rather unusual fish when they review a programme about Spined Loach from the Living World archive.

Keen naturalist Hannah Stitfall is joined by wildlife film researcher Dom Davies to review another programme from the LIVING WORLD archive. The subject today is Spined Loach - a fish you might never heard of because, whilst locally they are abundant, they are classified as a rare protected species and are only found in a handful of places in the UK. Also known as the Spotted Weather Loach because of their ability to detect changes in atmospheric or barometric pressure brought about by changes in the weather, they half bury themselves in fine organic sediment at the bottom of rivers or lakes during the day and then at night sieve the sediment, eating small shrimps and ejecting the mud and sand through their gills. As Hannah and Dom discover, these little fish also have some amazing survival techniques which enable them to survive low oxygen levels, whilst the spines which protrude from under their eyes are thought to help ward off predators. 

Producer Sarah Bunt

Living World: My Living World

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Hannah Stitfall and guest discuss a selection from the Living World archive.

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