Coelacanth

Coelacanth, lunged, bony fish of the family Coelacanthidae. Coelacanths were thought to be extinct until 1938, when one species (Latimeria chalumne) was discovered live off the South African coast. They are about 5 ft (150 cm) long, with circular overlapping scales. They were known as predecessors of the amphibians until in 1997 it was discovered that lungfish are more closely related to amphibians than coelacanths are.