What is a coelacanth?Coelacanths are an ancient group of large, lobe-finned fish . They were thought to be extinct for the last 70 million years until a living coelacanth was caught off of South Africa in 1938. How long have coelacanths existed? Fossil records show that coelacanths have existed for about 400 million years, which makes them one of the oldest living animals lineages on earth.
Where in the world are coelacanths found?
Millions of years ago, coelacanths lived in waters all over the world but now they are only known to exist in two small areas of the world: Comoro Islands near Africa and in Manado Tua, North Sulawesi.
What is special about coelacanths?
Many people are interested in coelacanths because they are rare and they are a living fossil. A living fossil is an organism that has not changed in millions of years. For example, if dinosaurs were still alive today, they would be a living fossil too.
What are some unique features of the coelacanths’ appearance?
Coelacanths have seven thick, fleshy, lobbed fins that move in the water in the same manner as a four-legged animal, such as a trotting horse. They also have an extra tail on the end of their body called an “epicaudal” lobe, which no other fishes have. Coelacanths also have a joint on their skull, which is thought
to allow them to open their upper jaw upward when
capturing prey.
How many coelacanths exist today?
The coelacanth population around the Comoro Islands is estimated to be less than 500 individuals. The population at Manado Tua is not yet known. Other populations may exist in other part of Indonesia, or even in the rest of the world but they have not yet been.
