Coelacanths (/ ˈ s iː l ə k æ n θ / ⓘ SEE-lə-kanth) are an ancient group of lobe-finned fish (Sarcopterygii) in the class Actinistia. [2] [3] As sarcopterygians, they are more closely related to lungfish and tetrapods (which includes amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) than to …

Dec 18, 2021 · An ancient fish once believed to be extinct, the coelacanth is a bottom-feeding creature that lives in the deep sea off the east coast of Africa. Its rediscovery was deemed "the most important event in the study of natural history in the 20th century."

While most fish today descended from a common ray-finned ancestor, coelacanths are one of the last remaining lobe-finned fish. They have fleshy, limb-like fins that are internally supported by bone. Their fins are also paired and move in a synchronized …

Sep 12, 2024 · The ancient coelacanth, a lobe-finned fish, is a “living fossil” in every sense of the term. Biologists believe this supreme survivor has undergone little change in 400 million years.

Nov 19, 2024 · The African coelacanth was believed to have gone extinct over 65 million years ago but was rediscovered off the coast of South Africa in 1938. Learn about the status and management of this ancient fish.

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. Coelacanths are...

Coelacanths are ancient fish that have been around for over 400 million years and are considered living fossils. They are found in deep marine waters and are known to inhabit caves and rocky areas. Coelacanths are not very active swimmers and are known to be slow-moving fish.

Mar 29, 2025 · Upon examining the fish, Smith confirmed what seemed impossible: it was a living coelacanth. This groundbreaking rediscovery reshaped zoology, highlighting the gaps in the fossil record and revealing how some species can persist in near-complete obscurity.

Feb 8, 2025 · The story of the Coelacanth’s rediscovery begins on December 23, 1938, when a peculiar fish was caught off the coast of South Africa near the Chalumna River. Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, a museum curator, identified the fish as something extraordinary.