The coelacanth is an amazing creature full of mystery and exciting discoveries. It was once thought
to be extinct for more than360 milllion years ago until one was caught in1938.Its scientific name is Latimeria
chalumnae .An adult coelacanth can grow at least to 180 cm in length and weigh 98 kg and each fish has
a distinctive pattern of pinkish white blotches that enables scientists to separate one individual from another.
The coelacanth has several very recognizable anatomical features.The skull is in two parts with an intra
cranial joint which lets it go an up and down movement between them. A strong pair of muscles beneath the
skull-base lowers the front half of the skull, giving the coelacanth a powerful bite .The eyes and olfactory
organs are in the front part of the skull, and tiny brain and inner ear are in the rear.In the middle of the
snout is a large pit filled with a jelly-like sac that opens to the outside through three......
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