coelacanths
Living fossil fish
Coelacanths are large, primitive fish once thought extinct for millions of years until a living specimen was caught off South Africa in 1938.
They have fleshy, lobed fins that move in an alternating pattern resembling four-legged walking—a feature that links them to the evolutionary transition from water to land.
Two species survive in deep ocean waters.
Fish buoyancy organ
- bony platesHard skeletal outer armor
- vertebrateSpinal column animal
- gillsAquatic respiratory organs
- notochordEmbryonic axial support structure
Preserved ancient organism
- DevonianGeologic period, 419-359 million years ago
- MesozoicAge of Reptiles
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
Triassic · Paleozoic · paleontology · evolution · ancestral · primordial · living fossil · extinct
Finding something previously known
- specimenIndividual for examination
- ichthyologyScientific study of piscine life
- zoologyStudy of fauna
- museumPublic exhibit space
Extremely deep, unmeasurable
- oceanicOf the sea
- ComorosAfrican island republic
- SulawesiIndonesian island, distinctive shape
- IndonesianSoutheast Asian islander's identity
South African · submarine canyon · underwater cave · deep-water · benthic · submersible · bathyscaphe · ROV
At risk of extinction
- rareSeldom found or seen
- CITESWildlife trade agreement
- protectedKept from harm
- vulnerableOpen to attack
threatened · bycatch · population decline · habitat loss · critically endangered · conservation · elusive · scarce
swim bladder
Fish buoyancy organ
- bony platesHard skeletal outer armor
- vertebrateSpinal column animal
- gillsAquatic respiratory organs
fossil
Preserved ancient organism
- DevonianGeologic period, 419-359 million years ago
- MesozoicAge of Reptiles
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
Jurassic · Triassic · Paleozoic · paleontology · evolution · ancestral · primordial · living fossil · extinct · dinosaur
rediscovery
Finding something previously known
- specimenIndividual for examination
- ichthyologyScientific study of piscine life
- zoologyStudy of fauna
museum · trawler · fisherman · identification
abyssal
Extremely deep, unmeasurable
Indonesian · South African · submarine canyon · underwater cave · deep-water · benthic · submersible · bathyscaphe · ROV · seafloor
endangered
At risk of extinction
vulnerable · threatened · bycatch · population decline · habitat loss · critically endangered · conservation · elusive · scarce
coelacanthsdinosaurs
Extinct prehistoric reptiles
trilobites · ammonites · dodos · passenger pigeons · pterosaurs