The Coelacanth  (1988)

Until 1938 the coelacanth was thought to be extinct. This species developed 400 million years ago. A primary fish about 2 metres long, with teeth of a predator, it had a head like a salamander. Then, by sheer chance a woman scientist saw the body of fish on a South African harbour. A few days later it was confirmed that it was a coelacanth and that this bizarre fish was still living. Since then more than a hundred coelacanths have been caught, but none have survived the journey from the depth of the sea to the surface. The Coelacanth won the 1988 Wildscreen Festival Special award.

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