Loch Ness Outdone: Rediscovery of the Coelacanth

[@peteengard9966]

I remember reading about this fish. The article stated one south african fisherman saying. " What's the big deal? We've been catching them for years. Not good eating, too many bones. " I thought that was funny.

[@Tom_Cruise_Missile]

Heh, that's always the best.

[@JWMCMLXXX]

Dubious

[@vikeskie]

@@JWMCMLXXX stfu

[@KaiFulci]

@Baconator Rodriguez lol you're a nerd

[@larryhimes6224]

This is what I read in the encyclopedias in 1975 for my research into a Sophomore science report.on "The Fishes"! Led to my conversion to Christianity! :)

[@CraftAero]

Some time in the late 60's, our teacher had us cross out the lines about the "Coelacanth" being extinct in our text-books. I remember that quite well... then I questioned everything.

[@susanduarte6888]

My mother remembers in high school her science teacher having the class cross out the sentence “the atom is the smallest particle of matter” ! This was about 1940.

[@huascar66]

Why would you question everything? It was an amazing discovery that the Coelacanth wasn't extinct, but it shouldn't have inspired such skepticism.

[@dr.a.995]

Amen to the poor “fossil fish.” May it outlive us!

[@kuzadupa185]

Sounds like a really cool story. The teacher sounds like he/she couldnt wait to do it!

[@schrisdellopoulos9244]

​@@huascar66skepticism is healthy Slappy. It's not a negative trait. You're conflating it with pessimism genius😅

[@Apollo_Blaze]

I am happy that it sounds like people have been leaving these beautiful creatures alone. I hope so much they keep going.

[@VicusUtrecht]

Eh, I don't care if we wipe them out.

[@joycebrewer4150]

Did you not read the quote from fisherman that caught it?

[@ZeroGravityFloater]

Fishstory that deserves to be remembered.

[@camg6400]

My eyes rolled so hard I pulled a muscle. Good job.

[@LeeryMuscrat]

This comment holds water for sure.

[@arnepianocanada]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@nameinvalid69]

(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

[@WilliamRWarrenJr]

"There was something fishy about the Historian ... I suspect he was a Pisces, probably working for scale ..."

[@Endymion766]

Modern Coelacanth tend to live in underwater caves and are nocturnal which is why they evaded detection for so long. I watched a doc where a diver found a cave with an entire colony of them living inside. They use those lobed fins to crawl along narrow passageways without getting stuck and can push themselves backwards if they need to. They rest in wedged in crevices where larger predators can't go during the day and come out to feed at night. I guess it's a good example of an adaptation originally designed to navigate swamps being repurposed to navigate narrow caves. It's kind of like they go spelunking every night.

[@hillaryclinton2415]

Big mean predators that they collectively outlived.

[@OldSkaterGuy]

I remember that documentary, just as you described. It was a good watch.

[@carlwalker3557]

Thanks for the info. - diver since ‘75 , appreciate knowing that. Better than bow tie there

[@vxy357]

What you just described reminds me of that scene from the movie "Piranha 3D".

[@1MahaDas]

As I understand it, the Coelacanth evaded detection as it is a deep sea dweller. They live in depths more than two hundred feet below the ocean surface!

[@ant-1382]

First heard about this when I as just a kid. 50 years ago! Got to see one in formaldehyde when I was in my 20's. Now we no so much more about them. Just facinating.

[@russellmcphee72]

I met Dr Smiths daughter on a school trip in the early 1980`s at the museum. She kept on with her fathers work and we saw the specimens. It was the only day that I remember of that school tour.

[@paulqueripel3493]

JLB Smith had a nature reserve in Knysna, the Featherbed reserve. Later run by his son.

[@russellmcphee72]

@@paulqueripel3493 I was 11 years old, it was probably his wife Prof. Margaret Smith. She was pretty old so if she was alive in 1983 then it was her. So correction. Should I correct it on the OP?

[@paulqueripel3493]

@@russellmcphee72 I wasn't trying to correct you, I had no idea if he had a daughter until I looked it up on Wikipedia (no mention of one) about a minute ago. Just knew his son ran the reserve when I went there sometime in the 2000s.

[@christopherbrochu7492]

My understanding is that coelacanths are rare of the coast of mainland Africa, which is why it took so long to find another specimen after the first one was caught in 1938. They're more common off the Comoros, and when they were first identified there by Western scientists, the local fishermen said they caught them all the time, but always threw them back because they taste awful.

[@rhuephus]

ha ha ... That's why they survived so long ... not edible (at least not by humans)

[@salvagemonster3612]

I also believe the found a new subspecies in the Indian Ocean. They tend to be found hanging around underwater vents. Producing heat in the depths.

[@Corvus_Clemmons]

⁠@@salvagemonster3612No the original species found was a Latimeria chalumnae aka West Indian/African coelacanth, the other species Latimeria menadoensis aka the Indonesian Coelacanth was the more recently discovered species, also neither of them are subspecies they are just species.

[@mikepellegatti9717]

I remember learning of the Coelacanth fish in the fourth grade (1961) when I received these animal/dinosaur/wildlife informational cards that I subscribed to that I received in the mail as a kid. Totally fascinated by this and the dinosaurs. They were a big deal back then, too.

[@bogtrottername7001]

I think that was the same organization I subscribed to about then - My interest was archaeology ( they offered an arrowhead if you subscribed ! ). Spent my career as a contractor ------- but I still collect stone tools ------------------- ( beware of FAKES on E bay ) Now I'm 72 & all natural history still fascinates . Lets hope we don't destroy it all.

[@typacsk]

I think I first heard of it in the "Extinct Animal Alphabet Book" -- its entry had a little note along the lines of "Wait, this species wasn't extinct after all!", so they followed it up with another "C" species ;)

[@linnharamis1496]

Because of old photos, I did not realize that the fish had that beautiful blue color. Thanks for doing this segment📸👍

[@Henry-fx4yk]

Same here the color is amazing! What other dinosaurs will turn out to have brilliant colors?

[@huntermcclovio4517]

@@Henry-fx4yk I wonder if the color is due to the fact that it was a male fish, to attract the female. and also how long do these fish really live? 80 years, 100 years...?

[@robinrodriguez480]

@@huntermcclovio4517 -Hmmm thats a good question ???

[@ThomasJones-ij6hv]

@@huntermcclovio4517 apparently 50k years,😂

[@shelbyseelbach9568]

@@Henry-fx4yk This ISN'T a dinosaur, it IS a fish. LMFAO!

[@carolinem.4330]

“Now I can die happy where I have lived to see the great American public excited about fish.” Best statement ever

[@kman-mi7su]

I get excited about fish, usually after they've been fried and a little hot sauce has been sprinkled on them.

[@davebauman4991]

When will we see an animated Coelacanth movie? Finding Nemo + Ice Age + Little Mermaid + Lion King?

[@gaoxiaen1]

@@davebauman4991 The Lionfish King.

[@chairde]

This story has been repeated many times over the internet. As someone who lives near the ocean I truly believe that there can be many things in the deep blue waters that will shock us all.

[@arizona_anime_fan]

there is a fascinating mathematician who has applied mathematics to the ocean and has come up with an interesting conclusion. his conclusion was that there were exactly 5 undiscovered "giant" creatures in the ocean remaining. now his definition of giant is a bit unimpressive. he's talking about something 5' long or bigger and over 200kg in mass. still that's a large creature to remain undiscovered.

[@bertplank8011]

Like the Bidenbrain a member of the coral family.. ...a primitive creature able to change shape according to the surrounding environment.

[@cedricgist7614]

Is it only 2% of the oceans that have been explored? And they're not even talking about freshwater lakes. Sometimes, for all our supposed learning, we must be reminded that there is a universe of knowledge that still escapes us, and we probably don't know what we think we know. I had a minister friend who often referred to "what we think we know...."

[@flashwashington2735]

Like electric eels! Huh?

[@mikezimmermann89]

Agreed! There are so many places to “hide” in the ocean… and so many ways.

[@randmayfield5695]

I was just a kid growing up in San Diego and had a National Geographic magazine that featured the Coelanth article. On top that, one of our neighbors worked at Scripps as a research assistant and on occasion would take me to work with her. Strangely enough that experience catalyzed me into becoming an Icthyologist and it has been my life long passion. Just a little "seed of curiosity" and the kindness of a neighbor was all it took.

[@GasketManzrevenge]

"Just a little "seed of curiosity" and the kindness of a neighbor was all it took." That is all that's needed. It's what got me hooked on all things mechanical, which expanded into metallurgy and fabrication.. I really do miss watching Indy and F1 with my grandma.. that was close to 50 years ago.. yes, gramma was a motor head. Mom used to say "the day is lost lest something new is learned".

[@cedricgist7614]

You know, a lot of folk would think your passion and the work you do in following it isn't a great contribution to the World. I'm thankful you have the opportunity to work at your passion. It is a gift from God. My younger brother was a history major for two years I believe, then made an assessment of his life, joined the Navy and became an electrician. I've always respected his decision - but I've secretly longed that he would revisit the field he once chose. I was in the Navy for two years - officer training - and his field was called a "bull major." Engineering and technology were the main focus where I went. I developed my ,"one more good one," attitude at that time. In our society, certain pursuits are more valued than others and certain fields are flooded by folk who got into them for the money only. But my attitude is, that in every field, we can use one more good one - historian, ichthyologist, doctor, lawyer, nurse, custodian, sanitation worker, politician. We can always use one more individual passionate about the work they do and empathetic to the folk they encounter. You're one of them. Carry on!

[@angusclark8330]

Joy.

[@kevinarchbold3704]

There was one in the museum in Sydney when I was younger,, absolutely fascinating

[@poofygoof]

I remember a preserved coelocanth (in formaldehyde?) at scripps aquarium when I was a kid in the 80s, I wonder if they still have it on display? it wasn't in great shape, and always made me feel a little sad.

[@geodeaholicm4889]

i am a geologist, i carry a 2 inch bronze casting of a coelacanth on my keyring, i think the coelacanth's story is 1 of the coolest in science. excellent vid.

[@hodgeelmwood8677]

The coelacanth has been one of my favorite creatures since I first learned of them way back in grade school in the 60s. Lovely to hear more about them. Thank you!

[@dbmail545]

"Not a missing link but an unexpected loop of chain" Pure gold, Josh.

[@Vykk_Draygo]

I think you mean: not so much a missing link as an interesting bit of extra chain.

[@flagmichael]

It is a fascinating metaphor. Sometimes I think we try to hard to understand everything about nature, and try not to think that some of it just might be beyond human understanding. There are a few pieces of natural science that I have to set aside and look for other pieces that can make it understandable. We do that with jigsaw puzzles, after all.

[@Farweasel]

@@flagmichael Don't quite your present job for a career in science.

[@aaronaragon7838]

Reserve your plot today, Hannity.

[@quest4050]

@@Vykk_Draygo Not a missing link but NO missing link. God is all.

[@georgemckenna462]

I remember this BIG news of the captured Coelacanth happening when I was in grade school. The possibility of catching your very own dinosaur... why anything was possible!

[@phapnui]

You must be over 100 years old by now. How does it feel to be a fossil?

[@swingrfd]

Yes. I entered grade school in 1955 and upon being taught about Coelacanth immediately became suspicious of all the creation malarkey I was also being fed.

[@garyacker7388]

@@swingrfd yup I was in gradeschool also.

[@phapnui]

@@swingrfd About 5th grade I was a god botherer in training during the summer vacation and I properly read the bible several times to prepare for questions. Parents who have their children read the bible never read it themselves, otherwise they'd wait until the kids were 18. BTW, you remember what Isaac Asimov said about a properly read bible...

[@77thTrombone]

@@phapnui As a 30-year atheist who returned to Christianity, I contend that religious fundamentalists are the most potent force for atheism. Anyone who skews what we see will certainly skew what is less obvious, too.

[@ericmesser1]

I went in to East London in 1966 as an apprentice on a Clan Line ship……the Captain, knowing my interest in all things fishy, took me to the EL museum to meet Ms.Courtney Latimer. What a wonderful lady………she was so welcoming……..I have never forgotten her. Great story…..thanks.

[@dirtcop11]

This story shows that what we actually 'know' is dwarfed by what we don't know.

[@DudeInOhio85]

What's does this have to do with science versus religion lol? Are you saying religious people don't believe in science? Lmao. That's just ignorant. Science and religion are not enemies. You're lost my friend.

[@Angel268201]

Thats what science is all about. Discovery and documentation. The manipulation of the natural world is technology. Science is beautiful, Technology is not.

[@wholeNwon]

@@DudeInOhio85 Then you're saying that religions have evolved. I agree, that's largely true; and, reflects their desire to survive.

[@wholeNwon]

It was ever thus. I suspect it will "always" be true.

[@p4nnus]

@@DudeInOhio85 You should realize, that science is not belief based. You dont believe in it. Just wanted to clear that out for you.

[@toastybutterscones1932]

I remember getting a version of this story during a school field trip to the East London Museum. I grew up in that town.

[@a.z.pantera5577]

I actually learned about the Coelacanth after playing Pokemon and seeing the aptly named, Relicanth. This also played a part in my interest in marine biology and frequenting aquariums when I was younger. Still remains one of my favorite animals. :)

[@Agent_OB]

Same bro cept I ended up in CS because of gaming

[@salvagemonster3612]

I learned about it in a book. Huh go figure

[@savage22bolt32]

My friend told me about coelacanth in 7th grade, back in 1967.

[@rays7437]

I knew about it from somewhere but sort of forgot about it until a Relicanth nearly wiped out my party. I caught it, finally, and nicknamed it, "Superfish."

[@Shin_Akumi]

​@@rays7437I spent days hunting relicanth, don't think I ever found one lol

[@kaiyack]

Morning Coffee and a video from The History Guy....my Friday morning is now complete.

[@michaelmartin6912]

Life is good ....

[@jeffreyholdeman3042]

I consider myself a ‘history buff’ and enjoy consuming information usually in my areas of interest (15c English and continental warfare and WWII). That said, it is a testimony to the research and delivery of the History Guy that he rivets all of us to the screen of our devices even when the topics are not necessarily anything we ‘thought’ were interested in. Well played as always.

[@jeffreyholdeman3042]

@@MC-mn8cz give the ‘beach boy’ my best! I wanted savannah badly but got saddled with Benning. RLTW

[@anti-Russia-sigma]

I’m a historian that likes military history & would advice you to search for “operation Exporter”,”operation Countenance” & “the 1941 Anglo-Iraqi War” at wikipedia.org,if you aren’t familiar with the subjects.The web sites’ page on the battle of the Atlantic is also good.

[@TNRonin]

I was C 1/509 ABCT.

[@jeffwalther3935]

@@anti-Russia-sigma Why are these "operations and this "war"? You don't say. Are you a professional historian, concerned with objectivity and truth, like scientists OR do you have "an axe to grind", (sharpen)? Please include WHY you suggest or advise ANYTHING; liking "military history" does NOT make one an historian any more than liking medicine makes one a physician, sports, an athlete, games, a sportsperson, religion, devout, the water, a swimmer, etc.. What such omission shows is posing, posturing, and/or pander, and probably worse, imho.

[@larryscarr3897]

History guy, will tell us the history, but what we learn is, our interests are much wider then even we had anticipated...

[@you2angel1]

It's really how you look at things. She made this fish absolutely adorable in her description. Now I can't help but see the thing as beautiful.

[@johnlamp820]

As a native South African, this is a familiar story. Still when you tell it, I have to listen again :) And BTW great to see a number of South African inspired HTDTBR segments, thanks THG.

[@patfromamboy]

I visited KZN 20 years ago and stayed with a family near Durban. It’s an amazing country. The people were very friendly.

[@Angel268201]

I studied marine science a long time ago. During H.S., a coelacanth was caught off Rockaway Beach. This was between 1976-1980. It was fascinating to read about it at the time.

[@larsrons7937]

Rockaway Beach? That was far from its presumed habitat in the western part of the Indian Ocean. But I believe you. In Dec. 2004 the day after the tsunami I saw a brown Coelacanth at the Similan Islands w. of Thailand thousands of km's from its presumed only natural habitat in Eastern Indonesia.

[@lamarravery4094]

There's a Rockaway Beach in Oregon, that's probably not the one you're talking about.

[@richardyoung1890]

Rockaway Beach enjoyed many summers at that beach and Rockaways Playland!Started going there with my friends on the subway which turned into the el after leaving Queens.We we’re in our early teens great memories.

[@thorny6021]

I was a member of the Army-Navy Mobile Riverine Force in Vietnam in 1967 operating in the mud and swamps of the Mekong Delta. We were often serenaded by lungfish mating calls during night ambush patrols and observed their tracks of shallow depressions in the mud from their sliding, fin-assisted travels from one waterway or canal to the next, sometimes quite a distance. We didn’t know what they were at the time, but we determined that as long as they were emitting their interesting call, there were no “bad guys” in our immediate areas. Our affectionate name for them, based on the sound of the call was “f*** you lizards.”

[@KFlexFantastic]

Thank you for your service, I also really enjoyed this story, I think that’s so cool

[@thisisntsergio1352]

Lmao I love this story.

[@kevinfealy4769]

I thought those were called Tokay lizards?😮

[@Klaatu731]

I have heard that same thing from people I knew. My cousin was killed two weeks before his tour of duty ended because his CO put him on ambush.

[@beautyonabarnbudget]

What a great story! Most likely snakeheads though. And they are a bunch of bastard fish.

[@eypick6987]

Natural history deserves to be remembered

[@anti-Russia-sigma]

& preserved.

[@jeremiahfyan]

@@anti-Russia-sigma Preserved/ Conserved. Natural is a renewable resource to an extent, and not using it at all can wipe it out

[@paulpeterson4216]

Back in the early '70s I got to see an actual Coelacanth in person. It was being disected at the Field Museum in Chicago, on a Members night.

[@PetCactusA_HarmlessLittlePrick]

The Ghost and The Darkness.🦁🦁

[@johntrojan9653]

@@PetCactusA_HarmlessLittlePrick 👽 😱 👽

[@stevedawson7649]

Fantastic show. I remember hearing about this as a child and having no idea what the implications were until recent decades. Well done.

[@coen226]

I friggin love this guy! Always great info & love the story telling

[@SandyzSerious]

Yes, he's amazing.

[@oilersridersbluejays]

History Guy and the guys like Indy Neidel who cover The Great War and Second World War are easily the best KZbinrs.

[@christopherseivard8925]

Thanks so much for this story. I recall reading the book, in the 6th grade! Now, despite a stroke, I am amazed at how much I remember! There may still be some hope for me yet!

[@emuwasi]

There's a book I found interesting book called something like the brain that changes itself.

[@dlkline27]

I've been fascinated with this fish ever since I found a picture of that first specimen in one of my high school text books. I slaughtered the pronunciation of "Coelacanth" but that didn't dim my enthusiasm when many decades later (I graduated in 1957) this fish was back in the news. Thanks for the video.

[@CairnOwO]

I read about these in elementary school and found them super interesting. That was probably 17 years ago. Always thought I butchered the name until I heard it pronounced in this video.

[@morrisjones8994]

This guy is terrific, best ten minutes you could possibly spend.

[@hugolafhugolaf]

More like 16:30 but yeah...

[@john2244]

Greetings from East London South Africa. This discovery impacts our town to this day and is forever woven into the fabric of our culture and surroundings with for example Larimer's landing in the harbour and the Coelacanth Café, the displays in the local Museum, Latimer street and so on.

[@rupertmcnaughtdavis3649]

Not to forget Chalumna.

[@nerdyali4154]

The museum is one of the best memories I have of East London from my early childhood. Left E.L in the early seventies and went back in about 2008. Sadly, my expectation of decay was not misplaced, as is true for almost every youthful haunt I've revisited. The way the cities in this country are steadily degrading into run-down, noisy, filthy chaos is saddening. The icthyologist mentioned, JLB Smith, produced the most beautifully illustrated book, The Sea Fishes of Southern Africa.

[@LoveTravelUSA-ps5mb]

This "History Guy" is great. Very well spoken and on the spot explanations that everybody can understand.

[@grosbeakmc]

I remember reading about the Coelacanth in National Geographic as a teenager. Very interested to hear the whole story. Thanks, THG!

[@peternorton5648]

Wow! Not a term you hear very often anymore “ I read about this in National Geographic.” It’s good to read it and I brings back many memories from my younger years.

[@reneejones7807]

What a fun story for a Friday! Thank you, History Guy!

[@canuckloyalist4681]

Kind of puts you off fish, even if you are catholic!

[@pooryorick831]

I so enjoy these. Lance, you are a terrific storyteller and I would love to tour the artifacts behind you on your set. Excellent story!

[@garyr3179]

I'm so happy you covered the Coelacanth as I always found its discovery to be so fascinating!

[@yolaalan8160]

As a child & all through school I drew this fish, scale by scale, it was & will always be my favourite fish 💕

[@firewaterforgeofarizona4304]

Mr. THG, watching your videos gives me an enjoyable moment in the day. Thank you for posting them.

[@michaeltuz608]

Thanks, History Guy! I've been fascinated by the story of the coelocanth ever since I read _In Search of a Living Fossil_ whaen I was in grade school in 1966.

[@andyharman3022]

I read that book too! Probably early 1970's.

[@lmboh8585]

I have loved the coelacanth ever since I read The Search Beneath the Sea when I was a young girl reading everything I could get my hands on from the library. Thank you for today's video about this unique fish.

[@NikonPhotoHawk]

I found this historically as well as scientifically facilitating! Fabulous piece of work. Best wishes, George

[@QuantumRift]

Oh my gosh! Now I remember one of the first "Scholastic Books" I ever got, in grade school, was a book called "Search for a Living Fossil: The Story of the Coelacanth" - and I just looked it up on Amazon and it's from 1966. Wow this brings back memories. I was like 9 yrs old and this book was one of the first I ever had like that and it made HISTORY so INTERESTING...and I still remember it to this day, THANK YOU for bringing back this awesome memory for me!!

[@sorbabaric1]

When I was a child we visited the Stanley Aquarium in Vancouver BC. I made a bee-line for the live coelacanth they had on display. This story had always captured my imagination.

[@jacobishii6121]

When was this? I lived in that region and had never heard of a live one in the world let alone in Vancouver

[@jacobishii6121]

Okay I was being way too polite with that that just flat didn't happen there's never been a live one in captivity

[@salvagemonster3612]

No you are remembering wrong. In Canada they only had carp and a midget in a dress

[@emmahardesty4330]

Though I knew about Coelacanth--school, 1950s--never knew it was bright blue, or anything about Latimer. Thank you, History Guy, yet again.

[@apexmoto9610]

Very glad you covered this, bravo 👏🏼. The story of the Ceolacanth deserves more exposure for both the young and old.

[@Tmrfe0962]

It is no surprise sir, that once again, you’ve made me grateful to have subscribed . Watching these wonderful snippets of our common history ignites a desire to learn more. Thank you. Your effort does not go rewarded, it sets seeds of wonder in an old but curious mind.

[@mazrad11]

I love that you just jump right in again.. there was a while where you talked about sponsors and stuff.. I think it was brilliant the way you did that.. Caught me right away... happy your back to that..

[@WAL_DC-6B]

I remember hearing about the coelacanth discovery way back in the 1960s when I was a kid.

[@alanbicknell7696]

Me too.

[@garyedwards3269]

Me three.

[@SMaamri78]

Me four

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Any "fives" out there?

[@MARKCRASTO]

How old are all you guys?

[@davebeach2343]

One of the few teachers that I had in high school that I still remember was my 10th grade history teacher. His approach was similar to your's. Story telling is an art which few people practice well.

[@kevindunlap5525]

How was English, dare I ask.....

[@janerainsford8996]

Love your channel. You are so fun to watch. You’ve got great positive energy! I’m in love with American History.

[@TheGuitologist]

Fun episode.

[@markrothenbuhler6232]

The History Guy's intersection of history and science is always amazing!

[@danielwales7108]

Great story. Thank you for your continued, wonderful presentations. Marvellous.

[@TheTunnellTake]

You are truly and by far the best KZbin subscription I possess. Thankyou.

[@dbmail545]

I have yet to hear THG narrate a "clunker" but this one speaks to my life-long interest in the natural world.

[@Mr.CliffysWorld]

The History Guy doesn't do clunkers !!

[@guymandude999]

No disrespect, but does your wife's boyfriend let you watch them, or you just go do your own thing

[@williamv9058]

this came up on my playlist on youtube today. As an aquarium hobbyist I found this very interesting. thank you for this video.

[@WayneKitching]

I love hearing stories from my home country. I never realised how big the Coelecanth was, as I'd only seen it in pictures. I also didn't know what uphill battle Miss Latimer had to endure to preserve the valuable specimen.

[@michaelwills1926]

You sir are what history channel once was. 👏🏼🤟🏼

[@technicolorbutterfly9756]

Like many others here, I remember reading a book about this fish as a kid (in the early 70’s for me) and it fascinated me. Stuck with me long enough that I clicked when this came up in my feed. Never doubt the positive impact of reading on a young mind!

[@warrenpierce5542]

I read the book, "In Search of a Living Fossil" in the fourth grade. It was an exciting story of trying to find another example of the coelacanth.

[@davidsigalow7349]

Me too!

[@edvfya9922]

Have you heard JLB Smiths radio broadcast where he recalls the story of discovering the second example? Its so interesting, and only has a few thousand views :( kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZO4kIOuhZeMoM0

[@nealstephensonhiro72]

Pure Quality! Nice to see you are on your way to a million subscribers sir, my early congratulations on an achievement that must surely come very soon!

[@jeffweyler6283]

I caught one when I was about 13 years old fishing in Village Creek in South East Texas. My dad had no idea what it was, we both agreed that it looked prehistoric. We decided to throw it back but I still remember how strange it looked.

[@collateralpigeon2151]

Whatever you caught it wasn't a coelacanth. They are a deep water oceanic fish.

[@jeffweyler6283]

@@collateralpigeon2151 well heck! It looked just like it. The scales were big and there were strange fins like the one in the video. We were in some deep woods areas that no one ever goes. Wonder if it was a related species?

[@marcuswardle3180]

The book 'A Fish Caught in Time' is a really good read. I purchased and read it some years ago and it cost about £10. It should be available at your nearest bookseller. Living just outside London I am able to see one. Just inside the main hall of The Natural History Museum on the left hand side is a series of display cases. One of these contains a Coelacanth. It is not grandly marked, in fact you have to go looking for the description. I always go and have a look as the children all around go looking at the dinosaurs I just think 'there's one there and some are still alive'!

[@debinthewheelchair7781]

I remember reading the story of the coelacanth in 1965 in a library book. I was in 6th grade. This book I borrowed again and again the re-read. I think this story spurred me into pursuing science in college, and a career in research. Marvelous memories. Thnx!

[@stefanc4520]

Reminds me of the discovery of some isolated underwater cave that had many wierd and new species. Well done THG!

[@alfulton5946]

They weren't new just new to human understanding.

[@alganhar1]

@@alfulton5946 Depends. Sometimes Evolution can move pretty damned quickly, in tens of Generations rather than hundreds or thousands. Beak size increase in some Galapagos Finches a couple of decades ago being a good case in point. Due to several years of drought only individuals with larger beaks were able to crack open the smaller, harder shelled seeds that were around, thus you had *very* intensive selection pressure on a specific trait that already existed within the population due to the variability inherant in populations that breed sexually. Within only a few generations there was a permanent increase in beak size and power. Obviously such massively increased Evolutionary pace is fairly rare, and generally requires an event or series of events that place huge selective pressure on one or a handful of traits that already exist to some extent in the population. However, that being said it is worth bearing in mind that it can and has ocurred. Enough events like that in an ecosystem, especially if its isolated, can lead to very rapid change and speciation. Indeed, a cave or cave system would be one of those ecosystems where such rapid speciation could indeed occur

[@robote7679]

This was fascinating and fantastic. Thankyou for sharing your insights and research.

[@richblantin1343]

I can't believe that you don't have over a million subscribers yet.

[@rldenny2]

Sir, like you, I am a history degree holder, but went on to become an environmental scientist and advisor to the UN on such policy matters. I follow your channel, but loved this segment for its fusion of science, history and culture. Good job.

[@derekpowell421]

excellent and captivating mini documentary....was a pleasure to watch....

[@Raums]

Love that it was named after her!

[@CaptainDCap]

Should've been named after the fisherman, to be honest. Good enough, though.

[@CosRozco]

Nothing scares people who desire to study rare species like the term “Chinese medicine"

[@cesarrangel546]

Wym my dragon bone tea cured my lumbago

[@cartmanrlsusall]

Tokyo fish market is the best place to find new or rare fish species

[@Smokey298]

@@cartmanrlsusall or a Wuhan lab

[@richardvilseck]

Yeah. It’s frightening to think that a people who have hunted tigers and bears to extinction for their “medicinal” properties are most likely going to be in charge some day soon.

[@leonieromanes7265]

Nothing scares virologists more than the term "wet market"

[@jamesherrington5606]

Thank you for posting this. I grew up with some very smart kids with very smart parents who told us this and many other smart stories.

[@Squossifrage]

Humans: “coelacanths are extinct” Coelacanths: “no we're not” Humans: *crack knuckles* “challenge accepted”

[@Smokeyr67]

@Goth Vaush - Jedi Master Engineer nice random, irrelevant and uneducated comment, congrats

[@killbot1974]

@Goth Vaush - Jedi Master Engineer Pickle fish, wombat. Margarine hat

[@Three_Random_Words]

I think he's speaking a dialect of QAnonese. edit - spelt correction

[@tankacebo9128]

I've heard some WEIRD shit outta china, but this one takes the cake.

[@terrance2228]

LoL 😆 !

[@dk2614]

This also has happened with a number of trees. Dawn Redwood ( Metasequoia glytostrobyoides), rediscovered in the 40's in China. Then again fairly recently in Australia with the Wollemy Pines.

[@gaoxiaen1]

There were only seventeen dawn redwoods left, all in China. The Chinese were in the process of cutting them down when they were discovered..

[@kevinwessels4810]

Always loved the Coelacanth, and I liked the way you presented everything and told the story. Glad I found your channel, this video was a good introduction.

[@otpyrcralphpierre1742]

Rumors of this "extinct" fish were thought to be a "Red Herring". Bada-bump, tish!

[@Pynaegan]

Not to mention "greatly exaggerated".(to paraphrase Mark Twain)

[@anti-Russia-sigma]

Coelacanth:”Pls,continue to refer to my species as red herrings,as we need to be left alone.”

[@swingrfd]

Nicely done.

[@dylanhester4194]

Idk there’s something fishy about all this.

[@Iamrightyouarewrong]

Phishing for likes?

[@StutleyConstable]

A curious coincidence: Two nights ago I watched 'Monster on Campus', an old sci-fi movie featuring a Coelacanth with blood that can revert modern creatures to primitive ancestors. The movie was my introduction to this fish way back when I was in grade school. Now I watch this video and learn that certain Chinese "doctors" thought its spinal fluid could be used to make people immortal. I wonder if the script writers were inspired by that tidbit. Both 'Monster on Campus' and 'The Creature from the Black Lagoon' were directed by Jack Arnold, so there is at least that connection.

[@kottbusserdamm3560]

In german TV this movie was played, if i remember well, in the 60s.

[@hansspiegl8684]

Wonderful episode! Thank you for your work!

[@brunosmith6925]

My aunt and uncle lived in East London. He was a schoolmaster at Selbourne College. My immediate family was living in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and, once a year, we would take a holiday to South Africa. The road trip would take several days, from the copper mining towns close to the Congo border, down south, over the Zambesi at Victoria Falls, then westward into what was then Bechuanaland - now Botswana. Then, across the eastern Kalahari, into the Norhern Cape. through the arid Karoo, and... finally on the south-eastern coast of South Africa at my aunt's house in East London. I was 8 years old (1963) when I first saw the Coelacanth - and was introduced to its discoverer, Marjorie Courtney Latimer, who also happened to be a good acquantance of my uncle, the teacher. (East London was a small town... and academics all knew each other!) Of course, being only 8 at the time, I did not fully appreciate the significance of either the fish, nor the lady who discovered it, but for many years afterwards, on every trip to East London, I would take the time to go look at that remarkable fish.

[@debinthewheelchair7781]

Wow

[@Wispertile]

Beautiful life you’ve had. So lucky to have met Ms. Latimer and seen a Coelacanth in person! You should write a book about your travels. Thank you for sharing.

[@brunosmith6925]

@@Wispertile I have been very lucky to meet influential people, and visit some exotic places. Having been born in Central Africa and growing up there, I have visited most African countries in the sub-continent. (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Estwatini, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Congo - and further north to Tanzania and Kenya.) In 1989, I went to the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean (for what I though was a holiday). As you may know, the Comoros is famous for Coelacanths, where live specimens have been observed in their natural habitat. (I have never had the privilege of diving to see them, and getting permits is difficult). However, while we were holidaying on Comoros, a power-grab was staged by French mercenary Bob Denard and the President of the Comores was shot dead! (See Wikipedia on BOB DENARD). We were confined to our hotel, and a few days later evacuated back to South Africa.

[@craigrogers373]

The story of the second Coelacanth is also fascinating. The steps taken by the South African government to acquire the second example would make a great spy novel.

[@dat2ra]

Excellent. As a Geologist, I was familiar with this fish but not it's interesting back story which you so elegantly provided. Thank you!

[@frankcooke1692]

I wish I was as moved by anything as much as that man is by a dead fish.

[@secretagent86]

brilliant comment Frank

[@wholeNwon]

Ennui?

[@chrisnedbalek2866]

I was going to say the same thing, but not nearly as eloquently as you did.

[@jeffwalther3935]

That's ONLY because you don't know, or act like you don't know, its significance and want the evidence (and him) dismissed. This dead fish proves the "creationists" entirely, dangerously WRONG, (relative pea-brains) as is the supernatural parts of the Bible. (If there's no such thing as gods, ghosts, luck, fate, karma, fairies, life-after-death, etc. a lot of AMORAL OPPORTUNISTS are disarmed, as they MUST be, for goodness' sake. The natural parts of the Bible are as good as we can expect under the circumstances. Quit trying to "kill the messenger" with the good-for-humanity-victims/bad-for-the-perps news here; just denigrating the man with such completely outrageous, denigrating, dismissive "comments". I DO think you know better. You're most likely a "creationist", huh? The Earth is round, I tell ya! Yet they persist. HHHmmmm . . . .

[@frankcooke1692]

@@wholeNwon Well, yes as it happens. But I don't think you would begin to define stoicism at the point that you can contain your emotions upon receiving a fish in the mail either.

[@TheHasazin]

A correction, the fisherman caught a fish from a "order" (a Taxonomic rank) that was thought to be extinct not simply a species. This is an important distinction as the species that was found is not one from the fossil record but a new species within the same order Coelacanthiformes and thuse related to the extinct fossil record family, genus, and species in that order. A prehistoric fish is not what was found but a modern relative of that order, though to have gone extinct.

[@shamrock5725]

Very astute and important indeed.

[@NelsonZAPTM]

...so the fish that was caught wasn't 50 million years old?

[@DumbArse]

Well duuuuh

[@michaelvaladez6570]

Upon hearing this news years ago I was dumbfounded and amazed at the same time ! I was thinking at this time how can this be ? Being a fan boy of prehistoric creatures I was intrigued. Love this article.

[@pamelamays4186]

Ah, you broke out your Creature Of The Black Lagoon action figure. Very clever History Guy, very clever!

[@stevedietrich8936]

Good morning THG. I remember reading about Coelacanth a long time ago, I think in National Geographic.

[@bromma1979]

My hometown baby! I was just in that museum 2 weeks ago. Also stop to look at it again.... because of the hype 👍🏻

[@mikemills4662]

Can see them at Sodwana Bay South Africa at a depth of 100m plus.

[@Fugettaboutit]

Can you imagine how far Smith's jaw dropped when he first saw it? Like a real-life Jurassic Park.

[@victor_silva6142]

*Jurassic Park Theme Starts Plyaing*

[@edvfya9922]

Have you heard the radio broadcast THG talked about where JLB Smith describes what it was like to see another Coelacanth in person. Its a fascinating listen! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZO4kIOuhZeMoM0

[@j.athelon]

Brilliant! Must have been a fascinating moment.

[@themobseat]

Mankind described in one sentence: Man finds a fish believed for 70 million years, and kills it.

[@MichaelSHartman]

Thanks for the story of the fish from the sea that time forgot. It was an interest when I was a child. Almost matching Dr. Beebe's disbelieved rough drawings of luminous deep water sea creatures as photos of them did not exist at that time. Several decades later children think nothing of seeing high resolution color videos of them at no extra charge on KZbin.

[@fanatic26]

Growing up I found the story of this fish fascinating. I did a report on them for my G.A.T.E. program and the story of their rediscovery always stuck with me

[@Abandoned_Brane]

I read a book on it when I was a kid. I distinctly remember the part where it kinda chased them on deck trying to bite. Pretty sure I read that, though the details may be foggy since I read it 40 years ago.

[@pillager6190]

What?! 40yr old memories being foggy?!? (Sarcasm/joke) I too experience this.....

[@constancemiller3753]

Maybe that's where 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' tales come from?

[@geraldosborne1011]

I dig up fossils with a group of friends. My buddy recently found a Coelacanth fossil. This is a great video and was very educational. I did not know the history of this. Thank you! Awesome as always. BTW I forwarded it to my friend.

[@shaunmcdaniels2460]

You always have very good videos!!! Thank you…

[@fredperry523]

JLB Smith named it Latimeria chalumnae, after Courtenay-Latimer and the river mouth and sea bay off which it was caught - it is listed in the book 'The Sea Fishes Of Southern Africa by JLB Smith' which has some of the most incredibly drawn colourplates I have ever seen of the highest quality reminiscent of work from master artists.