The Coelacanth
 Order: Coelacanthiformes
• Family: Latimeriidae
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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Why is the Coelacanth so
popular?
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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Coelacanth Structure
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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Coelacanth Habits
 Nocturnal, feed at
night by drifting in
currents above the
bottom
 Aggregate and rest in
caves (150-250m.)
during the day
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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Sturgeons
 Subclass Actinopterygii
• Infraclass Chondrostei
o Family Acipenseridae
 Species:
• Shortnose Sturgeon
(Acipenser brevirostrum)
• Atlantic Sturgeon
(Acipenser oxyrhynchus)
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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Sturgeon Characteristics
 Cartilaginous skeleton, heterocercal caudal fin, and spiral
valve intestine
 5 rows of bony scutes
 Highly protrusible mouth, preceded with barbels
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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Sturgeon Habits
 Benthic cruisers, using barbels and electrical organs in the
snout to detect prey
 Large size, slow growth, and long lived
 Highly fecund
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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Migrations
 Anadromous species
 Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso) migrates 1,500 miles
up the Danube and Volga rivers. (Russian Caviar)
Prices
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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Species of Concern
 Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)
 Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus)
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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Tarpon and Ladyfish
 Subclass Actinopterygii
• Infraclass Neopterygii
o Family Elopidae
 Common species:
• Tarpon (Megalops
atlanticus)
• Ladyfish (Elops saurus)
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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Elopidae Characteristics
 Streamlined predators with large cycloid
scales and deeply forked tails
Elops saurus
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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Elopidae Characteristics
 Found in shallow, marine water
• Occasionally freshwater
Megalops atlanticus
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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Elopidae Reproduction
 Leptocephalus
larvae
• Planktonic, thin and
transparent
• Leaf-like body
allows direct
nutrient absorption
 Females are highly
fecund
Coelacanth, Sturgeons and
Tarpons
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