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Ancient Creature of the Deep

Coelacanth Quiz


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7. Female coelacanths lay eggs.

Coelacanth external TRUE FALSE Coelacanth - bone structure


False
Coelacanths give birth to live young, in clutches numbering between five and 26. In 1975, scientists at the American Museum of Natural History dissected a coelacanth and found five well-developed embryos. While no one has ever observed the fish "in the act," it is known that eggs are fertilized internally. Coelacanth pups derive nutrients primarily from the yolk but also from nutrients secreted into the uterine cavity as well as by consuming unfertilized eggs.
School of coelacanths


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