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The coelacanth was thought extinct for millions of years — until one appeared alive in 1938.

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Why it matters

The idea in context

Known from fossils, coelacanths were believed to have vanished long before humans existed. Then a living one was found off South Africa in 1938. The discovery did not stop evolution; it corrected our confidence about what the deep ocean might still be hiding.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

Coelacanth milyonlarca yıl önce yok olmuş sanılıyordu — ta ki 1938'de canlısı bulunana kadar.

Coelacanthlar fosillerden biliniyordu ve insanların ortaya çıkmasından çok önce yok oldukları düşünülüyordu. 1938'de Güney Afrika açıklarında canlı bir örnek bulundu. Bu keşif evrimi durdurmadı; yalnızca derin okyanusun hâlâ neleri saklayabileceği konusundaki özgüvenimizi düzeltti.

Source trail

Read beyond the card.

Natural History Museum / AMNH coelacanth rediscovery.

Background reading: CoelacanthAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
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