The evolutionary and educational value of the coelacanth
lies in the fish's contribution to our understanding
of important evolutionary processes and phylogenies
as well as in its role in the pfomotion of scientific
and public education.
The coelacanth as an evolutionary ancient species
was thought to play a prime role in the early history of
vertebrates (Forey 1988). The traditional theory, based
on ancestor-descendent relationships determined by
identifying primitive characters, placed coelacanths as
the closest living relative to tetrapods (Fig. 3) (Romer
1966). This model depicted coelacanths as the most
important living flsh, a witness of the water-land
tr;nsi:ioii of early velia'u~dies. Aiinough the scientli~c
world knew that fossil rhipidistians were the true
ancestors of tetrapods and that coelacanths were only
carried with them, the false 'missing link' theory found
wide public acceptan