French biologists have measured the age of coelacanths and found that these “living fossils” can live almost a hundred years. This is five times longer than scientists believed in the past and is comparable to the lifespan of the longest-lived fish.
As part of a new study, scientists decided to turn to the largest collection of coelacanth specimens, stored in the Natural History Museum of France. Using the latest microscopic techniques and special technology for analysing scales, they thoroughly studied samples of 27 specimens of these fish. Technology has allowed scientists to estimate an accurate idea of the lifespan of coelacanths, according to ScienceDaily.
The research results were published in the scientific journal Current Biology.
The coelacanths are creatures that have survived hundreds of millions of years without evolutionary changes and resemble their ancient ancestors, attracting the interest of scientists worldwide.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
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