But they've gone virtually undetected by scientists, who until 1938 knew the fish only from fossils. In 1952, a population was found near the Comoro Islands northwest of Madagascar, and although specimens were subsequently caught off Mozambique, Madagascar, and, in 1997, off Sulawesi, Indonesia, some considered it an endangered species. Now a recreational diver, Pieter Venter, has discovered a population off South Africa's northeast coast, only about 350 feet below the surface. Coelacanths typically inhabit deep ocean canyons and caves and have been studied mostly by submersible camera. The finding suggests that these ancient fishes may be more abundant and widespread than previously thought.
Scientists are eager to learn how they have defied extinction for so long.
Mark Erdmann Fossil coelacanth from Lower Jurassic which displays pectoral fins similar to the living coelacanth Location of recent population find. John E. McCosker and Michael Lagios, Research Associate at CAS, dissecting a Cormoran coelacanth.