reduce habitat destruction and improve prey availability for endangered species. Human consumption Coelacanths are considered a poor source of food for humans and likely most other fish-eating animals. Coelacanth flesh has large amounts of oil, urea, wax esters, and other compounds that give the flesh a distinctly unpleasant flavor, make it difficult to digest, and can cause diarrhea. Their scales themselves secrete mucus, which combined with the excessive oil their bodies produce, make coelacanths a slimy food. Where the coelacanth is more common, local fishermen avoid it because of its potential to sicken consumers. As a result, the coelacanth has no real commercial value apart from being coveted by museums and private collectors. Cultural significance Because of the surprising nature of the coelacanth's discovery, they have been a frequent source of inspiration in modern artwork, craftsmanship, and literature. At least 22 countries have depicted them on their postage stamps, particularly the Comoros, which has issued 12 different sets of coelacanth stamps. The coelacanth is also depicted on the 1000 Comorian franc banknote, as well as the 5 CF coin. References Further reading External links Anatomy of the coelacanth by PBS (Adobe Flash required) Dinofish.com (requires a frame-capable browser) 'Living fossil' coelacanth genome sequenced BBC News Science & Environment; 17 April 2013 Latimeriidae Live-bearing fish Ovoviviparous fish Fish of the Comoros Fish of Indonesia Fish of Kenya Fish of Mozambique Marine fish of South Africa Fish of Tanzania Extant Early Devonian first appearances 1938 in biology Taxa named by Lev Berg