World’s oldest fish was presumed extinct for 60 million years before being rediscovered

Among the many wonders and ancient tales about marine life and ocean creatures, one fish long believed to have vanished from our planet captured worldwide attention.

This interest emerged from an unexpected finding that changed our perspective on what might still be lurking in the deep.

Before 1938, experts spoke of the coelacanth as a classic example of an extinct fish dating back more than 400 million years. Scholars concluded it had disappeared 65 to 70 million years ago.

This assumption crumbled when a 32-year-old museum employee in East London, South Africa, examined a strange specimen brought by a local fisherman near the Chalumna River. The fish defied every existing category she knew.

Soon after, she contacted Professor James Leonard Brierley Smith of Rhodes University for advice. He confirmed that the fish was indeed a living coelacanth.

That surprise discovery shifted the zoological narrative and demonstrated how the fossil record can be incomplete, especially when only a small number of individuals survive.

Fascinating fish tale

In the eyes of many scientists, the coelacanth’s resurgence placed it into what is called a Lazarus taxon. The term refers to creatures that vanish from evidence, then reappear without warning.

One telling moment from that occasion remains the telegram from Brierley Smith: “MOST IMPORTANT PRESERVE SKELETON AND GILLS = FISH DESCRIBED.”

No one anticipated those words, yet they confirmed something rare had surfaced.

After that event, more than a decade passed before another coelacanth turned up. In 1952, two fishermen in the Comoro Islands accidentally netted the second specimen, prompting renewed fascination among marine researchers.

A further revelation followed in the 1990s, when experts identified a second species around the Indonesian archipelago.

These examples carry the names West Indian Ocean coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) and Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis).

Coelacanth has unique physical traits

This fish stands apart for its lobed pectoral fins, which appear to be an early link to vertebrates that eventually ventured onto land. These fins move in a synchronized pattern, allowing the fish to navigate underwater terrains.

Unlike many other fishes, it also bears an unusual hinge in its skull, once a subject of speculation about how it might bite or process food.

Its coloration often blends with the rocky surroundings where it resides, offering a measure of cover in deep marine environments.

The habitat provides sufficient shelter from predators, while the species’ low metabolism helps it survive on fewer resources.

Scientists note that it rests in lava-cave recesses during daylight hours, an approach that likely shields it from hazards in open water.

Ancestral ties to land creatures

Researchers classify the coelacanth under the group Sarcopterygii, or lobe-finned fishes, which include lungfish and the earliest ancestors of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals.

Shared skeletal features, such as sturdy fin bones, point to a closer relationship with organisms that adapted to life on land.

This connection is intriguing because it shows how certain aquatic traits can mirror structures later found in creatures roaming dry terrain.

Some studies suggest that the coelacanth’s rostral organ, located in its snout, may sense electrical signals from prey.

That adaptation is reminiscent of strategies seen in other lobe-finned fish, hinting at a link between modern species and those that made their way onto shore millions of years ago.

Observers note that this hidden ability emphasizes how an ancient design can remain effective.

Geological stability has helped coelacanths

The ancient environment of undersea caverns has changed little over vast stretches of time.

Because of this stable setting, the coelacanth has not faced the intense pressures that other species might encounter in rapidly shifting habitats.

Food sources may be limited, but the fish’s slow pace lessens its caloric needs.

Its specialized niche also guards it from fierce competition. Other oceanic predators seldom patrol these dark, quiet zones, giving the coelacanth space to endure without altering the basic features that first appeared centuries ago.

This alignment between organism and setting reveals a powerful strategy: remain where the external world barely intrudes.

Inspiring story of adaptation and survival

Many living forms adapt constantly to survive. By contrast, this fish’s story underscores how a creature can persist if external demands remain light and internal physiology fits the available conditions.

Though it caused surprise among zoologists, the coelacanth itself quietly continued in an environment well-suited to its capabilities.

To many observers, it sparks discussions on biodiversity and the surprising ways life endures. While others might call it a relic, it is very much a survivor.

Each sighting encourages experts to keep watching the deep sea, a region that may hold additional beings we once wrote off as extinct.

Scientists continue to investigate whether this fish harbors undiscovered traits. Each observation can add to our understanding of marine evolution.

Observers hope that further study might shed new light on adaptations that remain hidden in dark, remote corners of the ocean.

The full study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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