Fish Living Critically Endangered

West Indian Ocean Coelacanth

Latimeria chalumnae

A rare lobe-finned fish once thought to represent a lineage known only from fossils.

Photo: Alberto Fernandez Fernandez · CC BY-SA 3.0

Overview

Modern coelacanths inhabit deep rocky marine slopes and caves. Their fleshy paired fins and ancient lineage have made them important to studies of vertebrate evolution.

Physical characteristics

Length120–200 cm

Weight30.0–100.0 kg

Typical lifespan48 years

DietCarnivore

Habitat & distribution

Habitats

Deep SeaRocky SlopeSubmarine Cave

Range

Indian OceanEast Africa

Comments

No published comments yet.