Tuesday 20 May 2014

Coelacanth / Latimeria chalumnae

The Coelacanth

Photo: An endangered coelacanth fish

In 1938 fossils were found by scientists, which means this fish is long extinct, they were thought to have gone extinct with the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

They were thought to have been carnivores, because of their primitive appearance, they could also live up to 60 years and in groups names schools.

Although you may think this fish is small from the image it is actually quite large!
Illustration: Coelacanth compared with adult man

Many scientists believe that the unique characteristics of the coelacanth represent an early step in the evolution of fish to terrestrial four-legged animals like amphibians. Other unique characteristics include a hinged joint in the skull which allows the fish to widen its mouth for large prey; an oil-filled tube, called a notochord, which serves as a backbone; thick scales common only to extinct fish; and an electro-sensory rostral organ in its snout likely used to detect prey.

Their population numbers are, predictably, not well known, but studies in the Comoros suggest only about 1,000 remain there. They are considered an endangered species.




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