Definition

Proper noun * A species of fish: A large, lobe-finned fish of the coelacanth family, once believed to have gone extinct millions of years ago but rediscovered alive in the 20th century. It is often called the "West Indian Ocean coelacanth" or simply "coelacanth."

Usage and Examples

• Scientific context: The term is used primarily in scientific, zoological, and paleontological writing to refer specifically to this species.
  • The discovery of a living Latimeria chalumnae in 1938 was a major zoological sensation.
  • Researchers are studying the genome of Latimeria chalumnae to understand vertebrate evolution.

Advanced Usage

• The name Latimeria chalumnae is a binomial (two-part) scientific name in Latin, following the convention of genus () and species (). It is always italicized in print.

Variants and Related Words

• Coelacanth (n): The common name for fish of the order Coelacanthiformes, which includes and its close relative (the Indonesian coelacanth).
• Living fossil (n): A colloquial term for an extant species that closely resembles ancestral species known only from fossils. is a classic example.

Synonyms

• West Indian Ocean coelacanth
• Gombessa (a local name used in parts of the Comoros)

Notes on Meaning

This word has a single, highly specific meaning referring to a particular species of fish. It is not used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs. Its significance lies in its status as a "Lazarus taxon," a species rediscovered after being presumed extinct.

Noun

1. fish thought to have been extinct since the Cretaceous period but found in 1938 off the coast of Africa