Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 15, July 1987, pp. 1-8. | Página 3

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The ovoviviparous reproductive system is a specialization related to the
retention of urea, not unlike that of the ovovivaparous elasmobranchs. The large
163 cm female of 5 January 1972 contained 20 eggs, 8.5-9 cm in diameter and 300344 g in weight (Millot and Anthony, 1974; McCosker, 1979).
McCosker (1979) continues: “Although it is possible that some may have aborted
during capture, it appears that they represent the normal complement of a
pregnant female. The only known embryos were near term and indicate that
length at birth is more than 32 cm (Smith et al. 1975). The estimated gestation
period is approximately 13 months (not unlike many elasmobranchs) with births
presumably occurring in February (Smith et al. 1975; Hureau and Ozouf, 1977).
The juvenile Latimeria are probably predatory as indicated by their dentition and
jaw structure. The allometric growth of the upper jaw and head length
(McAllister and Smith, 1978) would assist the predatory behavior of young fish.
The smallest Latimeria captured on hook and line is 42.5 cm long and weighs 800
g. Its age, first estimated to be 3.5 years by Anthony and Robineau (1976), has
been reinterpreted to be one year or less (Hureau and Ozouf, 1977). Age and
growth estimates made from scale analysis suggest that the largest females (180
cm) are nearly 11 years old. It appears that females attain a larger length and
weight than males (McAllister and Smith, 1978; McCosker, 1979), a condition
shared by certain sharks and probably related to the reproductive commitment
to ovoviviparity and pregnancy.”
McCosker (1979) added: “The limited geographic distribution of Latimeria must
in some way be related to the reduced vagility which accompanies its livebearing reproductive mode. The lower depth limit of Latimeria distribution has
not been delimited, but it is quite likely that the seamount chain between the
Comoros and the African coast is traversable by juveniles and/or adults. The
chance discovery of a Latimeria off South Africa in 1938 has not been repeated, in
spite of an actively continuing and reasonably informed fishery. It is likely that
coelacanths exist uncommonly along the offshore seamounts and banks of the
western Indian Ocean, but this has not been confirmed due to the capture
difficulties and the lack of a prolonged exploratory fishing effort. Their presence
might most effectively be explored using shallow depth submersibles.”
The seasonality and lunar periodicity of coelacanth capture indicates that their
behavior and/or presence in shallow water fluctuates. Presuming that Latimeria
presence in shallow water is affected by rainfall-fed submarine aquifers, it seems
likely that the fat-investment of the swimbladder is an adaptation which assists
vertical migration. Dead, intact specimens are slightly denser than seawater. The
high, extracellular lipid and wax ester content of the muscles compensates
somewhat for the lack of swimbladder function (Nevenzel et. al. 1966). The fish is
therefore slightly negatively "buoyant" (not unlike large groupers, cirrhitids, and
blennioids), allowing it to perch on a reef platform and lunge short distances to
capture prey items. Its body shape and fin size and location are adapted for such
a feeding method. The inter-cranial mobility, subcephalic musculature, and jaw
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 15 – July 1987