Definition
Latimeria is the genus of coelacanths, the only living representatives of the Latimeriidae family. These fish are often referred to as 'living fossils' because they closely resemble fossils from millions of years ago. They are found in deep ocean environments and are characterized by their lobe-finned structure. Think of them as relics of a bygone era, surviving largely unchanged. They represent a window into the distant past of vertebrate evolution.