Cut-paper coelacanth in side view, a heavy scaled fish with fins on fleshy stalks

The character cabinet

Coelacanth

Plants and animalsliving fish

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What it is

A fish whose fossils stop 66 million years ago, so scientists thought it was gone. Then, in 1938, a fishing boat off South Africa pulled one up alive.

How it moves

Its fins still move in the order of walking legs.

On screen

Watch it in

Open a chapter to read its story and watch the video. Links include brief mentions and previews within published chapters.