Animal Profiles
Fish

Coelacanth

Coelacanthiformes

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Living coelacanths are lobe-finned fishes, rather than unchanged survivors of a single fossil species. This account follows the West Indian Ocean coelacanth, which shelters in deep underwater caves.

West Indian Ocean coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae), the representative described here.

West Indian Ocean coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae), the representative described here.

Bruce A.S. Henderson · CC BY

At a glance

Location
Latimeria chalumnae is the representative used here. It occurs around the Comoros and parts of eastern and southern Africa. Deep rocky coastlines provide caves used as daytime shelters.
Habitat
Coast
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Coelacanths leave daytime shelters to hunt at night.

Classification

Common name
Coelacanth
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Coelacanthiformes
Taxon rank
order
Order
Coelacanthiformes
Source classification
Sarcopterygii

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Its fins have fleshy bases.
  • Individuals have distinctive pale spots.
  • It hunts mainly at night.

Habitat and range

Latimeria chalumnae is the representative used here. It occurs around the Comoros and parts of eastern and southern Africa. Deep rocky coastlines provide caves used as daytime shelters.

Appearance and adaptations

Blue-grey scales carry pale spots that differ among individuals. Several fins have fleshy bases, giving the group its lobe-finned name. The tail has a distinctive extra central lobe.

Diet and behaviour

Coelacanths leave daytime shelters to hunt at night. They take fishes and other animal prey, often drifting rather than making long pursuits. Animals can share caves without forming strongly interactive social groups.

Sources

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