Report Blog Entry
Hello friends. Now that I'm done with my college semester, I have more time to think about cool animals and post on SpaceHey. So, why not? Today I'm going to be talking about my favorite living fish, the coelacanth!
Coelacanths have been around since long before the dinosaurs, and they are thought to be one of the ancestors of all land vertebrtes, including us! A lot of people say they haven't changed at all since that time, but this is completely untrue, actually. Evolution works in an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" sense (modern coelacanths have little competition and are in an isolated area), which is why they've stayed; however, while this kind of coelacanth has thrived, not all have. They used to be an incredibly diverse group.
Natural selection has weeded them out over time, with new creatures more adapted to their niches alongside multiple mass extinctions wiping out their populations. Our modern coelacanths are just the last bastion of this once plentiful group.
Are they truly a "living fossil"? Scientists don't think so. "Living fossil" is a term that has been warped beyond belief, and it's not considered scientific in the modern age (things are always changing, even if slow). However, just because the coelacanth isn't completely unchanging doesn't mean it's not fascinating! After all, we're able to live in the same time as one of the lineages of animal that lead to us alongside all other land vertebrates.
Are they truly a "living fossil"? Scientists don't think so. "Living fossil" is a term that has been warped beyond belief, and it's not considered scientific in the modern age (things are always changing, even if slow). However, just because the coelacanth isn't completely unchanging doesn't mean it's not fascinating! After all, we're able to live in the same time as one of the lineages of animal that lead to us alongside all other land vertebrates.
One of the things I adore about coelacanths is their colors. Extinct life is often portrayed with drab and dirty colors, but the coelacanth has probably kept this pattern throughout the ages, showing that the ancient world was a lot more colorful than Hollywood has lead us to believe.
We love you, grandpa!
Comments
Displaying 1 of 1 comments ( View all | Add Comment )
frogteeth64
Grandpa!! I want to hug coelacanth!
ME TOO!! I love them!!!!
by CASPIAN; ; Report