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'''Coelacanth''' is an order of lobe-finned [[fish]]es related to [[lungfish]]es and represented by two living species, ''Latimeria chalumnae'' and ''Latimeria menadoensis'', as well as many [[fossil]]s of [[extinct]] species. Among living Coelacanths, adult females are larger in size than males and the largest recorded specimen of Coelacanth was 178 centimeters in length and weighed 98 kilograms. It is considered to be a critically endangered species and an estimated 1,000 fishes are alive today.<ref name=BBCFFHW>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1331848.stm 'Fossil fish' hits the web] ''BBC News''</ref>  

'''Coelacanth''' is an order of lobe-finned [[fish]]es related to [[lungfish]]es and represented by two living species, ''Latimeria chalumnae'' and ''Latimeria menadoensis'', as well as many [[fossil]]s of [[extinct]] species. Among living Coelacanths, adult females are larger in size than males and the largest recorded specimen of Coelacanth was 178 centimeters in length and weighed 98 kilograms. It is considered to be a critically endangered species and an estimated 1,000 fishes are alive today.<ref name=BBCFFHW>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1331848.stm 'Fossil fish' hits the web] ''BBC News''</ref>  

Evolutionist scientists claim the fossil record of Coelacanths now extends from what they call the early [[Devonian]] (410-415 million years ago)<ref name=BL>[http://journals.royalsociety.org/content/d43r823338422164/ Oldest coelacanth, from the Early Devonian of Australia] ''Biology Letters''</ref> to the late [[Cretaceous]] (about 80 million years ago).<ref name=lc>[http://cretaceousfossils.com/content/view/544/574/ Megalocoelacanthus dobiei]</ref> They incorrectly claimed that the coelacanth existed on earth before 65 million years and became [[extinct]].<ref name=CYAN>[http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/5192 Correcting the headline: ‘Coelacanth’ yes; ‘Ancient’ no] ''Creationontheweb.com''</ref> A discovery occurred in 1938 when [[Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer]], curator of a museum in [[East London]], [[South Africa]], found a curious fish in the catch brought back by a trawler just before Christmas. In February 1939 [[ichthyologist]] [[James Leonard Brierley]] Smith identified the fish as a coelacanth and named it ''Latimeria chalumnae'' after its discoverer and the [[Chalumna River]] where it was caught. The next specimen of ''Latimeria'' turned up in 1952, and since then many have been both caught and studied live in the wild and a second species ''Latimeria menadoensis'' was discovered in [[Indonesia]] in 1997.

Evolutionist scientists claim the fossil record of Coelacanths now extends from what they call the early [[Devonian]] (410-415 million years ago)<ref name=BL>[http://journals.royalsociety.org/content/d43r823338422164/ Oldest coelacanth, from the Early Devonian of Australia] ''Biology Letters''</ref> to the late [[Cretaceous]] (about 80 million years ago).<ref name=lc>[http://cretaceousfossils.com/content/view/544/574/ Megalocoelacanthus dobiei]</ref> They incorrectly claimed that the coelacanth existed on earth before 65 million years and became [[extinct]].<ref name=CYAN>[http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/5192 Correcting the headline: ‘Coelacanth’ yes; ‘Ancient’ no] ''Creationontheweb.com''</ref> A discovery occurred in 1938 when [[Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer]], curator of a museum in [[East London]], [[South Africa]], found a curious fish in the catch brought back by a trawler just before Christmas. In February 1939 [[ichthyologist]] [[James Leonard Brierley]] Smith identified the fish as a coelacanth and named it ''Latimeria chalumnae'' after its discoverer and the [[Chalumna River]] where it was caught. Since 1938, many coelacanths have been caught.<ref name=CYAN/> The next specimen of ''Latimeria'' turned up in 1952, and since then many have been both caught and studied live in the wild and a second species ''Latimeria menadoensis'' was discovered in [[Indonesia]] in 1997.

Modern Coelacanths are often called 'living fossils' by evolutionist scientists, but they claim two modern species are different from their ancient relatives. According to these scientists, the fact that coelacanths exist today is no different from the fact that in today's oceans we find modern species of sharks or starfish that differ from their fossilized counterparts. These people argue since living Coelacanths are rare (and so much rarer than their ancient relatives), they escaped the notice of scientists until the 20th century. George Gaylord Simpson sums up the living coelacanths' situation thus:<ref>[http://www.jstor.org/stable/986487 'Mammals and Cryptozoology.'] ''Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society'' 128 (1984) 3.</ref>

Modern Coelacanths are often called 'living fossils' by evolutionist scientists, but they claim two modern species are different from their ancient relatives. According to these scientists, the fact that coelacanths exist today is no different from the fact that in today's oceans we find modern species of sharks or starfish that differ from their fossilized counterparts. These people argue since living Coelacanths are rare (and so much rarer than their ancient relatives), they escaped the notice of scientists until the 20th century. George Gaylord Simpson sums up the living coelacanths' situation thus:<ref>[http://www.jstor.org/stable/986487 'Mammals and Cryptozoology.'] ''Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society'' 128 (1984) 3.</ref>

<blockquote><i>Latimeria</i> is very different from any [[Devonian]] fish. It is also different from any late [[Cretaceous]] [[crossopterygian]] known from [[fossil]]s approximately sixty-five million years old. Until <i>Latimeria</i> was found, seen, and named by a zoologist in 1940 it was believed that the order of fishes [[Crossopterygii]], represented by fossils from early [[Devonian]] to late [[Cretaceous]], was extinct. <i>Latimeria</i> does belong to this order, but in its "hidden" years since the late [[Cretaceous]] it had evolved considerably. It is therefore distinguished from all fossil [[crossopterygians]] by its representation of a separate family, [[Latimeridae]]. No fossils of this family are known but it must have had members in or through the present Recent [[Cenozoic]] era. The large hiatus in the fossil record has a probable explanation in the fact that <i>Latimeria</i> is confined in a relatively small area of deep sea in the western part of the Indian Ocean. No fossils of any sort are known from that area or from any region that has been continuously under deep oceanic water throughout the [[Cenozoic]].</blockquote>

<blockquote><i>Latimeria</i> is very different from any [[Devonian]] fish. It is also different from any late [[Cretaceous]] [[crossopterygian]] known from [[fossil]]s approximately sixty-five million years old. Until <i>Latimeria</i> was found, seen, and named by a zoologist in 1940 it was believed that the order of fishes [[Crossopterygii]], represented by fossils from early [[Devonian]] to late [[Cretaceous]], was extinct. <i>Latimeria</i> does belong to this order, but in its "hidden" years since the late [[Cretaceous]] it had evolved considerably. It is therefore distinguished from all fossil [[crossopterygians]] by its representation of a separate family, [[Latimeridae]]. No fossils of this family are known but it must have had members in or through the present Recent [[Cenozoic]] era. The large hiatus in the fossil record has a probable explanation in the fact that <i>Latimeria</i> is confined in a relatively small area of deep sea in the western part of the Indian Ocean. No fossils of any sort are known from that area or from any region that has been continuously under deep oceanic water throughout the [[Cenozoic]].</blockquote>

This view held by the evolutionists has been criticized by scholars. Critics have pointed that after a coelacanth was found in 1938 off [[Africa]]’s coast,<ref name=CYAN/> evolutionists have been unable to provide any explanation how these species survived for so long time.<ref>[http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/326/  Mokele-mbembe: a living dinosaur?] ''Creationontheweb.com''</ref> Since 1938, many coelacanths have been caught. Scholars, citing the evidences obtained from numerous [[fossil]]s, explained many fossils were buried under water-borne sediment after the [[Great Flood]]. This prevented decay and created an exquisite degree of preservation. This is why coelacanths are not extinct today.<ref name=CYAN/>

This view held by the evolutionists has been criticized by scholars. Critics have pointed that after a coelacanth was found in 1938 off [[Africa]]’s coast,<ref name=CYAN/> evolutionists have been unable to provide any explanation how these species survived for so long time.<ref>[http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/326/  Mokele-mbembe: a living dinosaur?] ''Creationontheweb.com''</ref> Scholars, citing the evidences obtained from numerous [[fossil]]s, explained many fossils were buried under water-borne sediment after the [[Great Flood]]. This prevented decay and created an exquisite degree of preservation. This is why coelacanths are not extinct today.<ref name=CYAN/>

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