iStockphoto / jonnysek
The coelacanth fish is a literal living fossil with fossil records on this species dating back over 410 million years. But the fossil record on coelacanth’s disappeared about 66 to 70 million years ago and the species was believed to be extinct until they were discovered to be living off the South African coast in 1938.
Recently, an Unseen Expeditions diving group to the Maluku Archipelago of Indonesia photographed an Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis) fish that was long thought to have gone extinct nearly 70 million years ago.
They shared stunning footage of this stunning living fossil about a week ago on their YouTube channel and it truly wild to think about what this species has lived through, even in the nearly 90 years since the species was rediscovered off South Africa after millions of years.
Marine biologist Alexis Chappuiof Unseen Expeditions led the expedition above for Blancpain, the Swiss watchmaker. If that seems like a random connection, well, it is.
On Instagram, Unseen Expeditions wrote “we report here the first sighting of an Indonesian Coelacanth, Latimeria menadoensis, in the Province of North Maluku. The animal was discovered during a deep technical CCR dive, at a depth of 145 metres. The photos, shot by Alexis (@oranglautan), are the first of this species ever taken by a diver.” In order to dive at depth of 475 feet (145 meters) the divers used “closed-circuit rebreathers and trimix breathing gases” according to their scientific paper published in the journal Nature.
The Indonesian coelacanth was first discovered in 1997 by Arnaz and Mark Erdmann, having been believed extinct for 70 million years! To be the first person to dive down and document this living fossil species after all this time has to be an unreal feeling.
The belief is this finding will lead to enhanced conservation of this marine area in the North Maluku Province of Indonesia and the Indonesian coelacanth species.
Content shared from brobible.com.