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Concept

Latimeria

Latimeria is the only extant genus of coelacanth, containing two recognised species found in the Indian Ocean and the waters around Indonesia. These deep-sea fish are characterised by their lobed fins, armoured scales, and an oil-filled notochord. Often referred to as a Lazarus taxon, the genus represents a lineage once thought to have vanished sixty-six million years ago, providing a direct link to the anatomical structures of the earliest prehistoric vertebrates.

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