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What is a coelacanth?
Quick Answer
A coelacanth is a rare deep-sea lobe-finned fish once thought extinct until a living specimen was found in 1938.
The Full Story
Coelacanths are famous as living fossils because they represent a lineage known mainly from ancient fossils. The first modern coelacanth was discovered off South Africa in 1938, causing a major scientific sensation. Later, another population was found near Indonesia in 1997, confirming that these fish still survive in the ocean. Coelacanths live in deep waters, have unusual limb-like fins, and are important for studying vertebrate evolution.
Key Facts
1.First modern specimen found in 1938
2.Second population identified near Indonesia in 1997
3.They are lobe-finned fish
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"A fish thought extinct for millions of years was still swimming in the deep sea."
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