LATIMERIDAE Meaning and
Definition
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Latimeriidae is a taxonomic family of prehistoric lobe-finned fishes that encompasses ancestral species that existed during the Devonian period. These fishes are commonly referred to as coelacanths, a name derived from the Greek words "koilos" (meaning hollow) and "acanthos" (meaning spine), which describe the unique structure of their fins.
Coelacanths are remarkable creatures that were previously thought to be extinct until their rediscovery in the 20th century, making them a living fossil lineage. They are characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, lobed paired fins, and a distinctive rostral organ on their heads. Their paired pectoral and pelvic fins articulate with robust bones, which resemble the skeletal features of ancient fish ancestors.
The Latimeriidae family comprises two genera: Latimeria and Mawsonia. Latimeria contains two living coelacanth species, namely the West Indian Ocean coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) and the Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis), discovered respectively in South Africa and Indonesia. Mawsonia, on the other hand, is an extinct genus known from fossil remains found in Australia and Antarctica.
These aquatic creatures prefer deep-sea habitats, typically residing in underwater caves or rocky areas. Coelacanths possess adaptations that enable them to withstand the high pressures in the deep sea, such as a swim bladder filled with oil instead of gas. Their diet mainly consists of small fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans.
The discovery and study of Latimeriidae have provided invaluable insights into the evolutionary history and anatomy of lobe-finned fishes, shedding light on the transition of fish to
Common Misspellings for LATIMERIDAE
- katimeridae
- patimeridae
- oatimeridae
- lztimeridae
- lstimeridae
- lwtimeridae
- lqtimeridae
- larimeridae
- lafimeridae
- lagimeridae
- layimeridae
- la6imeridae
- la5imeridae
- latumeridae
- latjmeridae
- latkmeridae
- latomeridae
- lat9meridae
- lat8meridae
Etymology of LATIMERIDAE
The word "Latimeridae" is the scientific name for the family of deep-sea fish commonly known as coelacanths. The etymology of "Latimeridae" can be traced back to the name of Marjorie Courtney-Latimer, a South African museum curator who played a crucial role in the discovery of the coelacanth in 1938.
The specific origin of the term "Latimeridae" lies in the scientific naming conventions used in taxonomy. In the hierarchical classification system, the name of a taxonomic family is formed by adding the suffix "-idae" to the stem of a generic name. In this case, the stem is "Latimer", which is derived from Courtney-Latimer's surname.
The coelacanth, a living fossil thought to be extinct, was initially discovered off the coast of South Africa by a local fisherman.
Similar spelling words for LATIMERIDAE
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