Coelacanth is an endemic fossil fish living in deep submarine caves (170m-230m) along Ngazidja coast. Its origins go back 400 million years. Coelacanth are opportunistic feeders, hunting cuttlefish, squid, snipe eels, small sharks, and other fish found in their deep reef and volcanic slope habitats. They are known to swim head down, backwards and belly up to locate their prey. Scientists suspect that this can slow down their metabolisms at any time, sinking into the less-inhabited depths and minimizing their nutritional requirements in a sort of hibernation mode.

Population of fish estimated at 200. Their capture is accidental by local fishermen. Fishermen have been encouraged to catch this fish by research institutions, private collectors and international science museums.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelacanth; http://www.mnh.si.edu/highlight/coelacanth/