Main content
Conquest of the Waters
Episode 5 of 13
Fish occur in populations of billions and there are over 30,000 species, more than in any other group of backboned animals. The development of the backbone was a crucial advance in evolution -and it probably came from a most unlikely source, a little jelly-like creature called a sea squirt.
Last on
Sat 18 Jan 201409:10
More episodes
Previous
Clip
![]()
The toothy jaws that led to the rise of the shark
Duration: 03:34
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | David Attenborough |
| Producer | Richard Brock |
Broadcasts
- Tue 13 Feb 197920:10BBC Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
- Sun 18 Feb 197919:10BBC Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
- Tue 1 Apr 198019:35
- Wed 2 Dec 198118:35BBC Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
- Mon 29 Sep 198619:35
- Sun 7 Jun 199219:15BBC Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
- Fri 1 Feb 201316:15BBC Two Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland & England only
- Sat 18 Jan 201409:10BBC Two HD, Wales, England, Northern Ireland & Scotland only
Featured in...
![]()
Secrets of the Seas
Discover the abundance of life underneath the surface.



