Lungfish taking a breath of air at the surface of a lake

This week on The Children’s Hour, we learn about one of the most ancient animals to live on our planet, that is still alive today: Lungfish. Meet Dr. Irene Salinas, a biologist investigating the amazing properties that enable this fish to live on land, out of the water, for years. Then we hear a book review of Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls: Changemakers from Nina on our Kids Crew. 

This week on The Children’s Hour, we learn about one of the most ancient animals to live on our planet, that is still alive today: Lungfish.

Our guest, biologist Dr. Irene Salinas studies lungfish at the University of New Mexico’s Department of Biology. She will explain to us what lungfish are, and how they can survive both in the water, and on land … for years. 

Lungfish not only breathe outside the water, they surround themselves in a cocoon while they are on land. Dr. Salinas has studied the cocoon and it’s amazing properties. Lungfish can regenerate all of their cells, including all their internal and external organs. The cocoon is full of anti-bacterial properties, as well as other toxins that make predators not want to eat a slumbering lungfish out of water.

 

Lungfish are ancient. They pre-date the dinosaurs on our planet, and their genome is the largest of all creatures on Earth.

We also have a book review from Nina on our Kids Crew of the latest in the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: Young Changemakers.

Mixed with great music, learn about the amazing lungfish with us this time on The Children’s Hour.

This episode was produced by Katie Stone and Eli Henley. Chad Scheer was our live engineer at Outpost Performance Space in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA. Our thanks to Tom Guralnick at Outpost for sharing the space with The Children’s Hour Kids Crew. 

© 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Please note: not all songs we play can be found in Spotify.

Playlist: Lungfish

titleartistalbumlabel
StarfishingGreen Chili Jam BandStarfishing2007 Green Chili Jam, Inc.
If I Were a FishBirdsong and the Eco-wondersIf I Were a Fish (And Other Ocean Songs for Kids)2011 Little Ones Music
LungfishArtichoke26 Animals2009 greeen
Fish BreathPat Dailey & Shel SilversteinUnderwater Land2003 Olympia Records
Georgia OverdriveBlue Dot SessionsTruck Stop2019 Blue Dot Sessions
Three Little FishiesShelly DuvallGiggling & Laughing: Silly Songs For KidsThis Compilation 2010 Music For Little People
Big Fat FishWalkin' Jim StoltzThe Web of Life1996 Wild Wind Records
FishMilkshakeGot a Minute?2013 Milkshake Music LLC
Big BluePodington BearUplifting2018 HUSH
If Girls Ruled the World (feat. Carly Ciarrocchi & Polly Hall)Joanie LeedsAll the Ladies2020 Joanie Leeds
From the SunWookiefootActivate2006 Wookiefoot
Picture This You're a FishEarthworm EnsembleBackyard Garden2015 Earthworm Ensemble
The Fish Swim Backwards in the SkyTrout Fishing In AmericaChicken Joe Forgets Something Important2011 Folle Avoine Productions
If We Knew All The Laws Of NatureRobert FarmerSolo Guitar Instrumentals2015 Robert Farmer
Fishin' BluesTaj MahalThe Best of Taj MahalOriginally Recorded 1971, Originally Released 1967,1968,1969,1971, (P) 1972,1973,1974, 2000 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

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