Science is Fun Fridays!

 


The first ever encounter with a live Sulawesi coelacanth has been reported by divers off the coast of Indonesia, photographed for the first time in the wild.

They were thought to have gone extinct millions of years ago, but then in 1997 one showed up in a fish market.  It was quickly given protected status to avoid intentional fishing.

One was caught in 1998 and was given to an ichthyologist, who was able to document its coloration, fin movements, and general behavior.  It didn't survive the catch, and was donated to the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.

It is locally called raja laut, or King of the Sea.

Coelacanths are an ancient species of lobe-finned fish, and there are only two living species.


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