Coelacanths (Pronounced as See-la-kanth) belongs to sub-class Actinistia, and class Sarcoptergii, which is believed to be the oldest fish of phylum Chordata.Latimeria chalumnae and L. menadoensis are two known living species of Coelacanths.These are large plum like fish which can grow up to 1.8 meter. It is one of the world's oldest living species of fish.
At first it was thought that Coelacanths had been extinct about 65 million years ago but they were rediscovered in the parts of western Indian Ocean and Western Pacific Ocean.Its not known that whether the populations found in the two oceans are interconnected or not. People kept on catching them but since how long, no one knows.
Coelacanths live about 525 to 650 feet deep into water so sending divers for search was impossible, so the coverage was taken with the help of digital devices.
Coelacanths could be easily distinguished from other fish because of the presence of white marks on their sides of body. One thing is a mystery that how baby or young Coelacanths would look like? Because in the population of about 300 to 400 fish, none was found young. The birth and death rate of Coelacanths is quit slow. Every year almost 3 to 4 individuals die and 3 to 4 come in world. This is only 4.4 percent of their total population.
The age of fish is determined by the age rings on their scales but its very hard to determine the exact age of Coelacanths because the rings do not seem to grow with age.
References: www. Wikipedia.com
National Geographic News
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