COELACANTH
Usually called a coelacanth, Latimeria is often referred to as a living fossil, the coelacanth is one of the rare creatures that has survived virtually unchanged since a time before the dinosaurs. The coelacanth is a lobe finned fish, meaning that it possesses four, fleshy fins. These fins allow the coelacanth to be extremely agile in the water. Coelacanths can swim forwards, backwards, sideways, and even in a headstand position.
The coelacanth also has a special jaw that allows it to open its mouth extra wide to swallow prey whole. This is possibly used on rare occasions to catch other coelacanths.
One interesting defense mechanism that the coelacanth possesses is a slightly armored head. While this armor seems unnecessary today, when the coelacanth first evolved, this armor was vital to its survival.
The header of Extinction is not applicable to this creature, due to its existence today. However, the coelacanth was not always classed as a living species. For centuries, the coelacanth was thought to have gone extinct 65 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period. But in 1938, the coelacanth was rediscovered by a museum curator in East London in South Africa. Since then, several coelacanths have been filmed in their natural habitat outside of deep, underwater caves. Thus, we know more about the coelacanth than almost any other prehistoric creature.
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Image Credits
All images have been cropped to fit the space required
All images are used under Fair Use laws
Image credits are listed from top to bottom and from left to right
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Coelacanth
Original screenshot by: Liekeze
Taken in game: ARK: Survival Evolved
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Coelacanth headstand
Original screenshot by: Liekeze
Taken in game: ARK: Survival Evolved
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Coelacanth hunt
Original screenshot by: Liekeze
Taken in game: ARK: Survival Evolved
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Coelacanth
Original picture by: The BBC