Gabrielle+McKenzie++-+Coelacanth

=Coelacanth (Latimeria Chalumnae) =

= = =Natural Habitat and Location=

= =

= = = = =Niche = = =
 * The Indian Ocean,Comoros Islands, Subwasi Indonesia, deep canyons, temperate waters 500-800 feet, off steep rocky slopes of volcanic islands.
 * Feeds on smaller fish, "passive drift feeder"
 * Feeds at night
 * Can reach a length of close to 6 feet and can weigh up to 150 lbs.
 * Believed that the Coelancath's deep blue color is used for camuoflauging against the cave surfaces that are covered with white sponges and oyster shells
 * Eyes are sensitive to light
 * Eats squid, and small sharks, cuttlefish, snipe eels, and other fish
 * swims with head down, and backwards to allow them to use a special organ, rostral gland( the snout), to help them locate prey. This special gland also allows them to go for long periods of time without eating, when food is scarce.

=Why is this animal endangered? = = = Conservation Efforts
 * This animal is endangered because of the likely slow reproduction rate and small number of offspring of coelacanths, the species is vulnerable to the removal of pregnant females from the population of the coelacanths.
 * The coelancanth was listed as endangered

The coelacanth is protected from international trade of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Fishermen of the Grand Comoro Island have also imposed a voluntary ban on fishing in areas where coelacanths exist, in a vital effort to save their country's most unique fauna. The Coelacanth Rescue Mission is also giving deep release kits to local fishermen, which returns accidentally caught fish to their original habitat. It is believed that the population of the Coelacanths is now stable, but just in case there will be careful monitoring to make sure this living fossil survives into the next millennium.