Illustration of coelacanth
coelacanth
noun
coe·la·canth
ˈsē-lə-ˌkan(t)th 
: any of an order (Coelacanthiformes) of lobe-finned fishes known chiefly from Paleozoic and Mesozoic fossils
Examples of coelacanth in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The only surviving members of this ancient lineage (400+ million year old), are two species of coelacanths and six species of lungfishes.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024
The ancient coelacanth, for instance, was presumed extinct for sixty million years until it was miraculously rediscovered off the coast of South Africa in the 1930s.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
Many coelacanth fossils are found flattened, shattered, and incomplete.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 13 Sep. 2024
Like nautiluses, many coelacanths live in deep-sea environments, which are less affected by the surface conditions that result in mass extinctions.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coelacanth 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024
The ancient coelacanth, for instance, was presumed extinct for sixty million years until it was miraculously rediscovered off the coast of South Africa in the 1930s.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
Many coelacanth fossils are found flattened, shattered, and incomplete.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 13 Sep. 2024
Like nautiluses, many coelacanths live in deep-sea environments, which are less affected by the surface conditions that result in mass extinctions.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coelacanth
Dictionary Entries Near coelacanth
Cite this Entry
“Coelacanth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coelacanth. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share