A brand new research study shares the primary images ever taken of an grownup west Indian Ocean coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae), also called a “dinosaur fish,” in its pure habitat. And right here’s the kicker, not too way back, scientists thought this fish was extinct. Even after the scientific group discovered proof these historical fish had been nonetheless alive, only a few of those coelacanths had been noticed alive.
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“Coelacanths are arguably one of the crucial emblematic and evolutionarily-important of the marine vertebrates,” wrote the authors of their examine. It is because the species is extremely outdated. Actually, it’s recognized from fossils courting again greater than 400 million years.
There are two species of coelacanths, the west Indian Ocean coelacanth and the Sulawesi coelacanth (L. menadoensis). Although each are enigmatic, researchers say the west Indian Ocean coelacanth is the extra elusive of the 2 species. This is because of “the problem of reaching the deep-reef habitats it lives in.”
Deep divers had been not too long ago in a position to attain the habitat, although, and discover (and {photograph}!) one among these uncommon fish. Scientists will use the divers’ observations and images to study extra concerning the species and the way it has survived on Earth for thus lengthy.
See the “dinosaur fish” right here, and scroll to the underside for a hyperlink to the remainder of the photographs:
Learn the complete examine and see all of the images here.
Header picture by Citron / CC BY-SA 3.0