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263 Most Common Subscribe Latimeria chalumnae & Endangered Marine Species » Unsubscribe [~3,000 in review] Kingdom: Animalia Privacy Policy Phylum: Chordata Latest Newsletter » Class: Archives : Coelacanthiformes Family:

Genus: Latimeria species: Latimeria chalumnae Join MarineBio MarineBio Blog Full (ITIS) Make a Donation Sponsor Coelacanth Photo Gallery MarineBio Description & Behavior Frontline Latimeria chalumnae (Smith, 1939) is the Comoran coelacanth and Latimeria menadoensis Marine (Pouyaud, Wirjoatmodjo, Rachmatika, Tjakrawidjaja, Hadiaty and Hadie, 1999) is the Conservation Indonesian species. The living ("see-la-kanths"), Latimeria chalumnae and Support Program Latimeria menadoensis are possibly the sole remaining representatives of a once Volunteer widespread family of Sarcopterygian (fleshy or lobed-finned) coelacanth (more than http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=54 (1 of 7)20-11-2007 15:50:28 Coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae at MarineBio.org

Plankton Forums 120 species are known from the fossil record). The coelacanths were thought to have gone ° Hayden’s my extinct during the at the end of the , 65 million ago. Make a hero!

Difference Then one was netted by a trawler off South in 1938 - a catch that shook the ° Toy MarineBio Gear scientific world and was widely regarded as the zoological find of the 20th century. exploitation Link to Us Today's coelacanths can reach almost 2 m in length and weigh up to 68 kg, (a giant Suggest a Site ° Search female was 1.8 m long and 95 kg) but they are usually somewhat smaller, underway for Tell a Friend particularly the males, which average under 1.65 m. Coloration is dark blue with distinctive host of deep sea

white flecks that can even be used by researchers to designate individuals. (Indonesian documentary coelacanths, Latimeria menadoensis, tends to be more brown than blue). Latimeria has a series Home single, large, elongated, pseudo- filled with fat, a vertually linear heart, -like A Sea Ethic intestines with a , and an axial skeleton composed only of a hollow tube of ° Woods Hole to spearhead Marine cartilage called a notocord. They possess hinges in their skulls that allow then to consume Ocean Conservation large prey. Latimeria also has a special electroreceptive device called a rosteral organ in Observatories Biology the front of the skull. They are also noted as particularly mucilaginous; not only do the scales exude mucus, but their bodies continually ooze a large quantity of oil. Initiative - Global Warming cutting edge Sustainable science () ° Lifeguard Marius Biodiversity Mironescu Threatened & rescues shark Endangered from people Species ° REEF - the Conservation book. The next Alien Species best thing to being there! Ocean Dumping Scientists believe individual coelacanths may live as long as 60 years. The coelacanth Grounds appears to be a cousin of , the credited with growing legs and coming ° The 11th Hour Ocean Resources ashore - 360 million years ago - as the ancestor of all (, and ° Guadalupe Sustainable ) including ourselves. Island Tourism Debate still rages though as to whether the coelacanths, presumed to be close relatives of Conservation the fishes from which amphibians supposedly arose, are our closest Fund scores two tetrapod ancestors, or if lung fishes, another very ancient line, are more closely related to for the http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=54 (2 of 7)20-11-2007 15:50:28 Coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae at MarineBio.org

Marine tetrapods than the Rhipidistia. Coelacanths have a trilobated tail with and extra trunk and ° To Follow the Conservation fin protruding from the middle. While the living coelacanths retain many ancient features Water Organizations they have also, contrary to their public image, done some evolving along the way like

The Future producing live young. » of the Coelacanth ° FREE Diving

Almanac & Essays on World Range & Habitat Wildlife and Maputo, Mozambique; East Yearbook

Conservation London and Sodwana, ; North Sulwesi Marine (Bunaken National Park, Manado), - possibly MarineBio Blog » Conservation worldwide at deep scattered locations. Coelacanths Forum were found to congregate in submarine caves on The Plankton steep island drop offs during the day at depths Forums greater than 100 m. Their white flecks, set ° Dumping Home against a cobalt blue body color offer excellent North Sea fish camouflage against the cave surfaces covered with Marine Science 'immoral' white sponges and oyster shells. Fish which had been tagged with sonic devices were found to leave the ° Fishermen Tools & Methods caves at the same time late each afternoon to forage Commit to Relevant along the coastal incline during the night. Responsible Journals Fishing Practices » GBIF occurrence data in Google Earth [Requirements | Tips] Marine Life » Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) [World Map] | OBIS-SEAMAP | [about] Videos, Photo ° Leggy fish

Galleries+ Feeding Behavior (Ecology) ° Save Bimini

They are oportunistic feeders, hunting , , snipe eels, small sharks, and Campaign other fishes found in their deep reef and volcanic slope . Location of prey fish is Home possibly aided by their rostral organ (in the snout) acting as an electric field receptor. ° Whale Found U.S. Colleges Latimeria is also known to stand on its head, swims backwards and belly up to locate its Deep In Brazil prey presumably utilizing its rosteral gland. Scientists suspect that one reason Latimeria has Rainforest International been so successful (and also long-lived) is that they can slow down their at any Institutes & Labs ° Trip to Bimini time, sinking into the less-inhabited depths and minimizing their nutritional requirements in Job Resources a sort of mode. ° Global

warming: Life History Oceans could They are ovoviparous, giving birth to as many as 26 live pups which develop from in the Aquariums absorb far more oviduct, feeding off a large yolk sac until birth. Creature Quiz CO2, says study http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=54 (3 of 7)20-11-2007 15:50:28 Coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae at MarineBio.org

MarineBio Kids Comments The Coelacanth - a Morphological Mixed Bag ° New species Fun Ocean Facts of Dwarf Ocean Mysteries coast excites seekers of "" - Confirmed populations have been found off Manatee Scuba Diving the island state of and South Africa but experts think the search of Africa's long discovered

Submarines/ coast has hardly begun. "Since August 2003, 17 coelacanths have been caught ° Rare Whales Tech by fishermen off Tanzania," said Tony Ribbink, the head of the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP). iIn Danger Off

North Carolina Further Research ^ back to top ° Mom Irate MarineBio Blog » Coelacanth IUCN RedList Status (threatened, endangered...) [about] Over Toy Shark Marine Life » Coelacanth CITES Listing (international trade protection status) [about] Hunting Ship; News » Scirus for Latimeria chalumnae [about] 'There Is No Marine Life » GBIF Biodiversity Data for Latimeria chalumnae [about] Excuse' » Google Scholar for Latimeria chalumnae [about] Directory » Books & DVDs+ SIRIS (Bibliographies) for Latimeria chalumnae [about] ° Abiotic » Search BioOne Journals for Latimeria chalumnae [about] component of » National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) [about] marine » Tree of Life Web Project: Family Coelacanthidae [about] ecosystems? About Us » What's New? | ° Is there is a Press References [Edit Species] case for killing Partners & Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS): Latimeria chalumnae Humpbacks Sponsors FIGIS - FAO/SIDP Species Identification Sheet: Latimeria chalumnae whales?

MarineBio FishBase Species Summary: Latimeria chalumnae | LarvalBase Species Summary ° Australian Projects Latimeria chalumnae: Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of scientists Zoology Expeditions decode whale NOVA | Ancient Creature of the Deep | Moment of Discovery | PBS Contributors sounds DINOFISH.com - COELACANTH: THE FISH OUT OF TIME Contact Us Visit DINOFISH for the latest news and lots of details.... ° Mediterranean Guestbook Coelacanth Articles and Bibliography list Sharks, Rays FAQs See Coelacanth Video clips here Facing Oblivion, UC Berkeley Researchers Announce Discovery of Coelacanths Study Says New sighting of 'living fossil' intrigues scientists (+ video) - CNN September 23, ° 1998 US wants The Most Complete Coelacanth Bibliography freeze on http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=54 (4 of 7)20-11-2007 15:50:28 Coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae at MarineBio.org

fishing Citation Latimeria chalumnae, Coelacanth - MarineBio.org. Retrieved Tuesday, November 20, The Plankton MarineBio Newsletter: 2007, from http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=54. Forums » 11,973 subscribers Email or Upload species related docs/photos/video... / Feedback? / © MarineBio.org October 2007: What's New? 584,567 visitors Print This Page | 2,299,613 page views Recommended 16,350,753 hits Sharks/Rays | Fishes | /Octopuses | Reptiles | | Seals/Sea lions+ | Whales/ Books Dolphins Recommended The Plankton Forums: The Plankton Forums & Daily News DVDs « The Plankton Forums MarineBio Daily News » Introduce Yourself! Research Online New to MarineBio.org and the Plankton Forums? Well, 1,512 members by all means start off here with a quick hello to 47,690 posts/23 forums introduce yourself.

Guestbook: 392 guests The Tidepool A forum for members to hang out and enjoy some Recommended Book discussion that is not marine life related. Underwater Photography/Videography Discussions, resources and interviews.... Share your UW »winamp photography/videography tips, questions, tricks, and FREE Diving Almanac & stories. Yearbook Scuba Diving Scuba diving discussions, sites, gear, travel, and buddies... diver down! Latest Research & News The latest news in Marine Biology, Ocean science, marine conservation, etc. Marine Biology & Planet Ocean Forum for topics about Marine Biology, Planet Ocean science, Oceanography... Marine Conservation What's being done? How and where can I help? Whaling, Shark finning and conservation, sea turtles... Marine Conservation Groups, etc. Marine & Plants Species questions, information, and comments about Marine Animals and Plants. http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=54 (5 of 7)20-11-2007 15:50:28 Coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae at MarineBio.org

Coral Reefs Species questions, information, and comments specifically about Coral Reefs and their inhabitants. Mysteries of the Deep For those interested in Deep-sea life. Post stories, photos, websites, etc. all about those that inhabit the largest living space on this planet. Marine Aquariums About the Marine Aquarium Industry, ask aquarium questions regarding legislation, collecting, importing, exporting, acclimation/quarantine, water chemistry, disease & treatments, breeding... Marine Life Societies, Organizations, and Clubs... A forum for announcements and information concerning marine life societies, organizations, and clubs. Conferences Related to Marine Life Upcoming conferences, summits, meetings, etc. concerning marine life. Cool Sites? Share Your Favorites! Share your favorite Marine Biology (and marine life) related sites here... Marine Biology Degrees & Schools Colleges? Grad Schools? School listings? How to get started in Marine Biology? Careers, Internships, and Volunteers Career questions? Looking for internships? Check here for recent announcements in marine life- related fields for jobs, internships, and volunteer positions... Marine Biology Programs, Special Events, and Field Trips... Information about Marine Biology-related programs, special events, expeditions... Need Help with a School Report, Project or Interview? Check and post your questions in here... and if you're lucky someone might just volunteer to help out... MarineBio.org Announcements Check here for the latest MarineBio.org Announcements... Feedback: Question or Suggestion? Post your questions or suggestions here concerning the Plankton Forums and/or MarineBio.org. http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=54 (6 of 7)20-11-2007 15:50:28 Coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae at MarineBio.org

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