coelacanth

noun

coe·​la·​canth ˈsē-lə-ˌkan(t)th How to pronounce coelacanth (audio)
: any of an order (Coelacanthiformes) of lobe-finned fishes known chiefly from Paleozoic and Mesozoic fossils

Illustration of coelacanth

Illustration of coelacanth

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 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coelacanth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek koilos hollow + akantha spine — more at cave

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coelacanth was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near coelacanth

Cite this Entry

“Coelacanth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coelacanth. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

coelacanth

noun
coel·​acanth
ˈsē-lə-ˌkan(t)th
: a fish or fossil of a group of mostly extinct fishes
coelacanth adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on coelacanth

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