A new study reexamines over 50 fossils from the Late Triassic period in Britain, revealing they are ancient coelacanths, related to modern species, and correcting past mislabeling. These findings shed light on the diversity and ecology of coelacanths just before the end-Triassic extinction, emphasizing the importance of museum collections in scientific discovery.
Deep technical divers in Indonesia captured the first-ever live footage of a Sulawesi coelacanth in its natural habitat, confirming its survival and extending its known range, highlighting the species' rarity and the need for conservation efforts.
Researchers uncovered over fifty Triassic coelacanth fossils in UK museums, many misidentified for over 150 years, revealing a complex ancient ecosystem and expanding knowledge of this 'living fossil' from the time when the UK was a tropical sea archipelago.
Researchers have identified over 50 coelacanth fossils from the British Triassic period, dating back around 200 million years, revealing a complex community of these 'living fossil' fish that had been misidentified or overlooked in museum collections for over 150 years.
Scientists in Indonesia captured the first live photos of the rare and ancient coelacanth fish, Latimeria menadoensis, revealing its habitat and emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts to protect this vulnerable species, which has survived for over 400 million years and offers insights into fish evolution and limb development.
A new study of the coelacanth fish revealed that many muscles previously thought to be present were actually ligaments, challenging long-held beliefs about its anatomy and evolution, and showing it is more similar to sharks and tetrapods than to ray-finned fish.
A recent study re-examining the coelacanth, a 'living fossil,' revealed that many previously identified evolutionary traits were incorrect, leading to new insights into vertebrate evolution and showing that coelacanths are more similar to cartilaginous fish and tetrapods than previously thought.
A new study revises the understanding of coelacanth fish anatomy, revealing that many previously thought evolutionary muscle features are actually ligaments, which reshapes our view of vertebrate skull evolution and shows coelacanths are more similar to sharks and tetrapods than previously believed.
Scientists have discovered a new species of coelacanth, Graulia branchiodonta, using the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France. This extinct fish, dating back 240 million years, was found in exceptional condition, allowing researchers to create detailed 3D models of its skeleton. The study highlights the potential of synchrotron technology in paleontology, offering unprecedented insights into ancient species and their evolutionary history.
The article discusses five "living fossils" that have survived for millions of years, including the horseshoe crab, tuatara, nautilus, coelacanth, and ginkgo tree. These organisms are descendants of ancient lineages and closely resemble their fossilized ancestors. Despite their outward similarity, their DNA has evolved over time. The survival of these living fossils is attributed to their tolerance for environmental conditions and marine habitats. However, human interference and exploitation have endangered some of these species, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts.
The West Indian Ocean coelacanth, a Lazarus species once thought to be extinct for over 65 million years, was rediscovered off the coast of South Africa in 1938. These ancient bony fish can grow up to 6.5 feet long, weigh up to 198 pounds, and live for up to 100 years. They have slow metabolism, low oxygen absorption, and a unique skeleton that allows them to hunt while doing a headstand. Coelacanths reach sexual maturity late, with males breeding from age 40 and females from age 58, and have the longest gestation period of any known vertebrate, lasting five years.
The West Indian Ocean coelacanth, also known as the African coelacanth, is a Lazarus species that was thought to be extinct for over 65 million years until its rediscovery off the coast of South Africa in 1938. These ancient bony fish can grow up to 6.5 feet long, weigh up to 198 pounds, and live for up to 100 years. They have slow metabolism, low oxygen absorption, and a unique skeleton that allows them to hunt while doing a headstand. Coelacanths also have a long gestation period and reach sexual maturity late in life. Another coelacanth species was discovered in Indonesia in 1997.