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Coelacanth

Latimeria chalumnae

Critically Endangered ↓

Diet

Carnivore

Lifespan

100 years

Length

1.8 m

Weight

80.0 kg

Population

500

Trend

↓ Decreasing

About

A living fossil thought extinct for 65 million years until rediscovered off South Africa in 1938, coelacanths can reach 2 meters and 90 kg. They belong to an ancient lobe-finned lineage more closely related to tetrapods than to ray-finned fish, making them scientifically invaluable for understanding vertebrate evolution. Found in deep rocky reef habitats of the Indian Ocean, they are nocturnal and undergo internal fertilization, giving birth to fully formed live young. Critically Endangered.

Fun Facts

✨ They have lobed fins that move in an alternating pattern like legs.
✨ They can live over 100 years.
✨ They were known from fossils before being found alive.

Habitat & Distribution

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 8 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Afrotropic and Indomalayan realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

🧊 Marine Deep Ocean Floor 🐚 Marine Neritic

Distributed across Comoros, Indonesia, Mozambique, and South Africa. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

🇰🇲 Comoros 🇮🇩 Indonesia 🇲🇿 Mozambique 🇿🇦 South Africa

Diet & Behavior

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Carnivore

Coelacanth is classified as carnivore, adapted to its ecological niche.

Diet

🥩 Carnivore

Animal matter 100%

Conservation Status

CR Critically Endangered

Estimated Population

500

Population Trend

↓ Decreasing

Full Taxonomy

Coelacanthi (Coelacanthi)

Order

Coelacanthiformes (Coelacanthiformes)

Species

Latimeria chalumnae (Coelacanth)

Names in Other Languages

Spanish Celacanto

French Coelacanthe

German Komoren-Quastenflosser

Russian латимерия

Similar Species in Latimeria

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Indonesian coelacanth

Latimeria menadoensis

Vulnerable

View all species in Latimeria →

Explore More

Marine Deep Ocean Floor

Compare Species

vs Indonesian coelacanth

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of Coelacanth?

The scientific name of Coelacanth is Latimeria chalumnae. It belongs to the genus Latimeria.

What is the conservation status of Coelacanth?

Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. The population trend is decreasing.

Where does Coelacanth live?

Coelacanth is found in Distributed across Comoros, Indonesia, Mozambique, and South Africa. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.. Countries include Comoros, Indonesia, Mozambique, South Africa.

What family does Coelacanth belong to?

Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) belongs to the genus Latimeria, which is part of the taxonomic family Latimeriidae.

What does Coelacanth eat?

Coelacanth is carnivore. Its diet is adapted to its natural habitat and ecological niche.

How long does Coelacanth live?

Coelacanth has an average lifespan of approximately 100 years in the wild.

How many Coelacanth are left in the wild?

The estimated wild population of Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) is approximately 500 individuals.

Is Coelacanth endangered?

Yes, Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, which means it faces a significant risk of extinction in the wild.