Coelacanthimorpha

The subclass Coelacanthimorpha consists of lobe-finned bony fishes that appeared around 400 million years ago during the Devonian Period. These fish are characterized by a cranium divided into two movable parts and teeth with complex enamel folds. While early forms are thought to have given rise to terrestrial vertebrates, the two modern species, Latimeria chalumnae and L. menadoensis, are marine and lack lungs.12

Coelacanths are slow-growing and long-lived, with some individuals living up to 100 years and reaching sexual maturity between 40 and 69 years old. They are live-bearers, giving birth to well-developed young after a gestation period of about five years. Modern coelacanths are powerful predators, typically measuring around 5 feet (1.5 meters) and weighing about 100 pounds (45 kg). They inhabit mesopelagic waters at depths of 650–1,300 feet (200–400 meters).1