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TED-Ed

The coelacanth: A living fossil of a fish - Erin Eastwood

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TEDEd Animation

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The coelacanth, a prehistoric fish that was mistakenly thought to have gone extinct at the same time as the dinosaurs, has managed to stick around our seas for 360 million years. Erin Eastwood details the surprising “back from the dead” discovery of the coelacanth and explains how this fish’s fins shed light on the evolutionary movement of vertebrates from water to land.

Watch the video and finish the Think section to complete the lesson.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

Educator
Erin Eastwood
Director
James Price
Producer
Andrea Sertz Jew, Zoe Dahlenburg
Composer
Ross Batten
Sound Designer
Cutting Edge
Script Editor
Emma Bryce
Narrator
Michelle Snow

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