Print this story

Rare coelacanth fish captured in Indonesian waters

21 May 2007, JAKARTA - Fishermen in Indonesia have captured a rare coelacanth fish in the waters off Sulawesi. The fish, which is about one meter long, was caught in the nets of fishermen just north of Manado. It died a few hours later. Coelacanth are known to be one of the oldest species of fish in the world.

The fossil records date back more than 360 million years, and it is suggested that this animal hasn't changed much ever since that time. Early last century they were thought to have extinct around the time that the dinosaurs became extinct as well. But in 1938 a coelacanth was caught off the Commoro Islands in South Africa.

Coelacanth fish, here on a picture that doesn't originate from Indonesia. (© GNU)