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, 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. This program was recorded 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. 

© 2023 The Children’s Hour Inc. 

Playlist: Lungfish