Coelacanth (pronounced as "see-la-kanth")
Latimeria chalumnae


[Description From Encarta]

Coelacanth, lobe-finned fish that first appeared during the Devonian
period, about 350 million years ago. They are represented today by only
one species (Latimeria chalumnae). Lobe-finned fishes are so named because
they have a fleshy, scale-covered lobe at the base of several fins.

The coelacanth's body varies from bright blue to brownish in color and
produces large amounts of oil and slime. Fossils found in many parts of
the world indicate that during their long history, various types of
coelacanths inhabited lakes, swamps, inland seas, and oceans. Before
1938 paleontologists thought that the coelacanth had become extinct
about 70 million years ago. In December of that year a fishing trawler
off the eastern coast of South Africa captured a living coelacanth.

Scientific classification: Coelacanths belong to the family Latimeriidae
in the class Osteichthyes, subclass Crossopterygii.




Comments
========
From: "Marius"
Subject: Re: Coelacanth_J01-Closeup.jpg [1/1]
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 15:58:04 +0200

Kim

for interest, most people here probably know it, but they are referred to by
the nickname "Old Fourlegs", because of the four fins.

I can't remember exactly that the first one was actually still alive when
caught. I've got it in the back of my mind that it was actually already
dead in the nets - but I've been wrong before. But they are still found off
the Comores nowadays, although scarce and, unfortunately, still being
caught.

Marius

Kim Jinsuk wrote in message <357B526D.11810A82@bioinfo.kordic.re.kr>...
>Coelacanth (pronounced as "see-la-kanth")
>Latimeria chalumnae
>
>coelacanths
>inhabited lakes, swamps, inland seas, and oceans. Before 1938
>paleontologists thought that the coelacanth had become extinct about 70
>million years ago. In December of that year a fishing trawler off the
>eastern
>coast of South Africa captured a living coelacanth.
>