Skip to content
Author:

Life Story: Home

Updated Tuesday 7th October 2014

To survive, animals need somewhere to live. But finding and defending a home is a great challenge. 

A rare close up of a mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus). These mountain specialists, more closely related to antelopes than goats, live a precipitous life high in the mountains well away from people. Location: USA. Copyrighted image Icon Copyright: BBC/Tom Crowley A mountain goat

About the episode

To survive, animals need somewhere to live, a place that provides the necessities of life, shelter from the elements and a refuge from enemies. Good homes are rare and competition can be intense.

On a paradise island, an empty shell washes ashore and a young hermit crab joins others in a property chain. In unique behavior the crabs actually form an orderly queue so that each can quickly move into the next shell up in size.

In a weaver ant colony, even the larvae must contribute to home building, while remoras, also known as ‘shark-suckers’ have a long wait for the right mobile home to appear – a bull shark.

Finding a home is one thing, but defending it is quite another. Pikas must guard their larders from thieving neighbours while a pack of hunting dogs rely on disciplined teamwork to protect their home turf when hyenas try to muscle in.

This episode was first broadcast on Thursday 6th November 2014 on BBC One.

Your free Life Story poster

Inspired? Take a free course

  • Migration

    Migration

    Migration is a free course looking at the migrations of animals, with special reference to birds, and also introducing the themes of movement, selection and homeostasis.

    Learn moreMigration

    Free course

    8 hours

    Level: 2 Intermediate

See other episodes

About the series

  • Copyrighted image Icon Copyright: BBC/Anup Shah
    Life Story

    Life Story

    With Life Story, David Attenborough takes us on the greatest of all adventures – the journey through life. Find out more, and watch clips from the series.

    Learn moreLife Story

    TV Programme

    Level: 1 Introductory

 

Author

Ratings

Share

Related content (tags)

Copyright information

For further information, take a look at our frequently asked questions which may give you the support you need.

Have a question?

Related content

More like this