1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,920 OVER RADIO: - Neptune, Neptune, Control. 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:06,260 - Go ahead, Control. 3 00:00:06,260 --> 00:00:08,400 - Summer 2024. 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,560 - Neptune, you are all stop. 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:16,720 If you could move upslope to 118 6 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:21,740 and follow transect to the dock. - Roger. 7 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:28,300 - An expedition is setting off in search of a little-known fish 8 00:00:28,300 --> 00:00:30,300 that lives in the deep sea. 9 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:42,500 Its fossilised skeletons have been found in rocks 10 00:00:42,500 --> 00:00:45,260 that are 400 million years old 11 00:00:45,260 --> 00:00:48,860 and suggest that these fish could be the ancestors 12 00:00:48,860 --> 00:00:52,980 of all backboned animals, including ourselves. 13 00:00:58,780 --> 00:01:01,500 But their fossils disappear at the same time 14 00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:05,340 as those of the dinosaurs - 66 million years ago. 15 00:01:07,580 --> 00:01:12,660 Then, in 1938, a trawler, fishing off the coast of South Africa, 16 00:01:12,660 --> 00:01:14,780 made an astonishing catch. 17 00:01:16,420 --> 00:01:19,340 It was undoubtedly the same kind of fish - 18 00:01:19,340 --> 00:01:20,820 a coelacanth - 19 00:01:20,820 --> 00:01:24,660 but an hour or so earlier, it had been alive! 20 00:01:24,660 --> 00:01:26,300 It was a sensation. 21 00:01:26,300 --> 00:01:28,220 A true, living fossil. 22 00:01:30,220 --> 00:01:34,500 But little was known about how and where it lived. 23 00:01:35,820 --> 00:01:39,900 Now, a special expedition in a state-of-the-art research ship 24 00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:43,900 is setting off to try and discover more about this living fossil... 25 00:01:43,900 --> 00:01:46,540 - Nadir or Neptune? - Ready for the water. 26 00:01:49,620 --> 00:01:51,500 - ..and they hit lucky. 27 00:01:51,500 --> 00:01:55,500 - Yeah. What's that? - Ah! That's a coelacanth! - OK. Coelacanth. 28 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:57,500 What's that? Is that a coelacanth? - Wow! 29 00:01:57,500 --> 00:02:01,060 - Yeah! - Yay! - Yeah, we found a coelacanth. 30 00:02:01,060 --> 00:02:03,620 - There was a whole group of these ancient fish. 31 00:02:08,100 --> 00:02:11,020 - Oh, but look. Look how they're all moving. 32 00:02:11,020 --> 00:02:13,020 It's so crazy! 33 00:02:13,020 --> 00:02:14,660 And look at the white tummy. 34 00:02:16,660 --> 00:02:19,660 - They even witnessed for the first time 35 00:02:19,660 --> 00:02:22,900 what appears to be its mating behaviour. 36 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:28,340 And the video recordings they made 37 00:02:28,340 --> 00:02:31,540 shed light on how primitive fish like the coelacanth 38 00:02:31,540 --> 00:02:35,220 may have used their fins to walk on land. 39 00:02:36,740 --> 00:02:38,340 - It's just gorgeous. 40 00:02:38,340 --> 00:02:40,100 And when we look at creatures like this, 41 00:02:40,100 --> 00:02:42,860 we see the evolutionary history we share with fish. 42 00:02:45,580 --> 00:02:49,140 - Join us on a journey to discover more 43 00:02:49,140 --> 00:02:54,020 about this mysterious survivor from the very ancient past. 44 00:03:07,380 --> 00:03:11,300 The island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. 45 00:03:12,820 --> 00:03:14,660 BIRDSONG 46 00:03:14,660 --> 00:03:16,740 It straddles the equator... 47 00:03:20,860 --> 00:03:22,860 ..and the waters around it 48 00:03:22,860 --> 00:03:27,060 contain some of the richest coral reefs in the world. 49 00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:35,660 This is OceanXplorer, 50 00:03:35,660 --> 00:03:39,340 a vessel specially equipped for deep-sea research. 51 00:03:40,380 --> 00:03:44,420 The team has special permission from the Indonesian government 52 00:03:44,420 --> 00:03:49,100 to spend two weeks looking for living coelacanths. 53 00:03:50,860 --> 00:03:54,620 The coelacanth is called raja laut in Indonesia, 54 00:03:54,620 --> 00:03:57,220 which means king of the sea. 55 00:03:59,740 --> 00:04:03,620 They have a pair of powerful deep-sea submersibles. 56 00:04:05,140 --> 00:04:07,740 Each has a transparent dome 57 00:04:07,740 --> 00:04:12,020 that will give it almost 360-degree visibility. 58 00:04:16,140 --> 00:04:20,460 And they are fitted with an 8K deep-ocean camera system 59 00:04:20,460 --> 00:04:22,780 specially developed for this trip. 60 00:04:24,740 --> 00:04:29,060 The ultra-sensitive cameras are able to record clear pictures 61 00:04:29,060 --> 00:04:30,980 even in the darkest depths. 62 00:04:32,500 --> 00:04:36,660 They will also use a large, unmanned ROV - 63 00:04:36,660 --> 00:04:38,420 a remotely operated vehicle. 64 00:04:39,500 --> 00:04:40,900 - Whoa! 65 00:04:43,140 --> 00:04:46,940 - This ROV is equipped with additional cameras 66 00:04:46,940 --> 00:04:49,380 and can film in all directions. 67 00:04:52,500 --> 00:04:55,220 - Iwata. I'm a coelacanth man. 68 00:04:55,220 --> 00:04:56,700 - THEY LAUGH 69 00:04:57,820 --> 00:04:59,940 - I'm Kerry. I'm a coelacanth woman. 70 00:04:59,940 --> 00:05:02,020 - THEY LAUGH 71 00:05:02,020 --> 00:05:05,780 These are the lead scientists on the expedition. 72 00:05:08,460 --> 00:05:13,540 Dr Masamitsu Iwata has been carrying out research on coelacanths 73 00:05:13,540 --> 00:05:15,460 for over 20 years. 74 00:05:23,260 --> 00:05:27,580 Having worked and dived in Indonesian waters for over 20 years, 75 00:05:27,580 --> 00:05:30,460 Iwata knows these seas very well. 76 00:05:32,700 --> 00:05:34,380 - Wow! 77 00:05:34,380 --> 00:05:37,420 I'm Kerry. - Lovely to meet you. - From South Africa. 78 00:05:37,420 --> 00:05:38,860 - Cool. - Yeah. - Very good. 79 00:05:40,180 --> 00:05:44,260 - Dr Kerry Sink first became fascinated by coelacanths 80 00:05:44,260 --> 00:05:45,740 when she was a child. 81 00:05:49,700 --> 00:05:53,140 - To really see the seascape and the terrain 82 00:05:53,140 --> 00:05:55,580 is going to be an incredible experience. 83 00:05:55,580 --> 00:05:57,700 And I think what would be amazing 84 00:05:57,700 --> 00:06:00,780 is to see a coelacanth eyeball to eyeball. 85 00:06:05,140 --> 00:06:07,340 - The team are planning to explore 86 00:06:07,340 --> 00:06:10,460 the waters off the northern shores of Sulawesi. 87 00:06:13,860 --> 00:06:17,220 The area is renowned for its active volcanoes 88 00:06:17,220 --> 00:06:20,460 and frequent eruptions have created numerous caves 89 00:06:20,460 --> 00:06:22,820 and cavities on the seafloor. 90 00:06:25,180 --> 00:06:29,460 An earlier survey found a steep underwater cliff here, 91 00:06:29,460 --> 00:06:32,460 which the team are keen to investigate further. 92 00:06:36,340 --> 00:06:40,420 As the sun rises, they're ready for their first dive. 93 00:06:44,060 --> 00:06:45,940 Both subs will be used, 94 00:06:45,940 --> 00:06:48,660 so they can cover as much ground as possible. 95 00:06:50,740 --> 00:06:51,820 - OK. 96 00:06:51,820 --> 00:06:54,100 - Just feet on there. Yep. OK. 97 00:06:55,540 --> 00:06:57,900 - Welcome. - Ooh! 98 00:06:57,900 --> 00:06:59,660 - OVER RADIO: - Neptune to discharge. 99 00:07:03,820 --> 00:07:06,980 - MACHINERY WHIRS AND BEEPS 100 00:07:13,740 --> 00:07:15,420 - Lifting now. 101 00:07:15,420 --> 00:07:17,780 - Here we go. Coming up. Watch all your stuff. 102 00:07:20,140 --> 00:07:23,820 - The submersible, Neptune, with Iwata on board, 103 00:07:23,820 --> 00:07:25,780 is the first to be launched. 104 00:07:25,780 --> 00:07:27,140 - Ready for the water. 105 00:07:29,740 --> 00:07:32,420 Neptune, Nadir, full stop. 106 00:07:32,420 --> 00:07:35,020 Comms are good, and you are clear to vent when ready. 107 00:07:37,740 --> 00:07:42,620 - Then they launch the second submersible, Nadir, 108 00:07:42,620 --> 00:07:44,340 with Kerry on board. 109 00:07:45,820 --> 00:07:47,580 KERRY EXHALES DEEPLY 110 00:07:52,940 --> 00:07:54,380 - Neptune venting now. 111 00:07:55,940 --> 00:07:58,420 - Roger. We'll stop venting now. Have a good dive. 112 00:08:26,020 --> 00:08:28,460 - 100 metres. 113 00:08:28,460 --> 00:08:31,620 - Leaving the creatures of the shallows behind, 114 00:08:31,620 --> 00:08:33,780 they head for deeper water. 115 00:08:35,060 --> 00:08:39,020 They're now at a depth of 200m. 116 00:08:39,020 --> 00:08:41,700 Deeper than this, it's pitch-black. 117 00:08:44,660 --> 00:08:49,940 - Control. Control, this is Neptune. Depth - 224 metres. 118 00:08:49,940 --> 00:08:51,820 - BANGING On, spotlights. 119 00:08:54,340 --> 00:08:58,820 They now plan to search an area roughly half a kilometre long. 120 00:09:02,020 --> 00:09:05,820 But in this darkness, that is not an easy thing to do. 121 00:09:27,180 --> 00:09:29,740 They're searching for bright spots 122 00:09:29,740 --> 00:09:33,060 that could be reflections from a coelacanth's eyes. 123 00:09:43,460 --> 00:09:46,260 There are two bright specks in the darkness. 124 00:09:53,700 --> 00:09:55,620 It's a carpet shark, 125 00:09:55,620 --> 00:09:59,540 sitting motionless on the seafloor, waiting for prey. 126 00:10:07,220 --> 00:10:09,740 Meanwhile, Kerry's sub is scouring 127 00:10:09,740 --> 00:10:12,180 a different section of the cliff face. 128 00:10:15,940 --> 00:10:18,540 - Ah! Oh! Ah! - Oh! 129 00:10:18,540 --> 00:10:20,260 What's that fish? - What is it? 130 00:10:20,260 --> 00:10:23,820 - Jelly nose! Jelly noses. The crazy ones. 131 00:10:26,060 --> 00:10:28,020 - It's a jelly nose. 132 00:10:28,020 --> 00:10:30,340 A rare kind of deep-sea fish 133 00:10:30,340 --> 00:10:33,900 that, until recently, had never been seen alive. 134 00:10:38,380 --> 00:10:42,460 Its long, ray-like fins are thought to be sensors 135 00:10:42,460 --> 00:10:46,940 that allow the fish to feel its way around in the darkness. 136 00:10:59,780 --> 00:11:01,180 - I've never seen one before. 137 00:11:07,860 --> 00:11:09,900 - Thresher shark's back. 138 00:11:09,900 --> 00:11:13,660 - Oh, oh, oh. Shark. - Shark. Yeah. Thresher. 139 00:11:15,340 --> 00:11:19,700 - It's a thresher shark, with a distinctive, long tail fin. 140 00:11:19,700 --> 00:11:21,900 It's at least three metres long. 141 00:11:27,740 --> 00:11:30,300 - I'll slowly come up towards him. 142 00:11:30,300 --> 00:11:33,460 I'll just see how he reacts, OK? - Yeah. - Yeah. 143 00:11:36,980 --> 00:11:40,260 - They appear to have entered the shark's territory 144 00:11:40,260 --> 00:11:43,220 and it's slowly circling the submersible. 145 00:11:49,980 --> 00:11:51,220 - Wow. 146 00:11:51,220 --> 00:11:52,340 - THEY LAUGH 147 00:11:55,980 --> 00:12:00,500 Two smaller fish have sought shelter underneath the sub. 148 00:12:04,700 --> 00:12:08,500 They don't seem in the least fazed by such a strange contraption 149 00:12:08,500 --> 00:12:12,220 and appear to be using it as a place to hide from the shark. 150 00:12:17,580 --> 00:12:20,500 - Whoa! PROPELLER WHIRS NOISILY 151 00:12:20,500 --> 00:12:22,700 - But suddenly there's a problem. 152 00:12:25,020 --> 00:12:27,540 - See, it's different. See it shimmering? 153 00:12:27,540 --> 00:12:30,100 - Oh, I see. 154 00:12:31,420 --> 00:12:35,500 - A strong underwater current has stirred up the seafloor 155 00:12:35,500 --> 00:12:39,020 and the particles of sediment are obscuring the view. 156 00:12:41,940 --> 00:12:44,340 It's no longer safe to continue. 157 00:12:44,340 --> 00:12:46,460 They must return to the surface. 158 00:12:59,060 --> 00:13:03,300 The area is known for its strong and unpredictable ocean currents, 159 00:13:03,300 --> 00:13:06,860 which can make underwater exploration very dangerous. 160 00:13:07,980 --> 00:13:11,180 The team have to be prepared for setbacks like this, 161 00:13:11,180 --> 00:13:15,020 but it's frustrating when their time down here is so limited. 162 00:13:28,380 --> 00:13:32,700 So why are scientists so fascinated by the coelacanth? 163 00:13:34,260 --> 00:13:36,900 It seems that these primitive fish 164 00:13:36,900 --> 00:13:40,740 may have solved a long-standing evolutionary mystery. 165 00:13:43,300 --> 00:13:47,620 Coelacanths first appeared more than 400 million years ago, 166 00:13:47,620 --> 00:13:49,700 long before the dinosaurs, 167 00:13:49,700 --> 00:13:52,820 and they thrived in oceans around the world. 168 00:13:54,260 --> 00:13:56,940 It was thought that they became extinct 169 00:13:56,940 --> 00:14:01,660 at the same time as the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago. 170 00:14:10,380 --> 00:14:15,980 Then, in 1938, fishermen pulled up from the depths of the Indian Ocean 171 00:14:15,980 --> 00:14:20,220 a specimen of this ancient fish that was alive. 172 00:14:21,820 --> 00:14:25,460 Its discovery stunned the scientific world. 173 00:14:25,460 --> 00:14:28,620 The coelacanth was not extinct after all. 174 00:14:33,460 --> 00:14:36,660 Then, in the 1950s, another specimen 175 00:14:36,660 --> 00:14:38,820 was caught off the coast of Africa. 176 00:14:38,820 --> 00:14:41,300 And I had the privilege of examining it. 177 00:14:42,980 --> 00:14:46,260 Its fins have long, fleshy lobes at their base, 178 00:14:46,260 --> 00:14:49,500 which make them quite unlike the fins of any other living fish. 179 00:14:49,500 --> 00:14:50,900 And there seems little doubt that... 180 00:14:50,900 --> 00:14:54,020 In fact, the fins were so muscular 181 00:14:54,020 --> 00:14:57,060 that it was thought it might use them like simple legs 182 00:14:57,060 --> 00:14:59,500 in order to walk across the seafloor. 183 00:15:02,020 --> 00:15:04,220 Since those first discoveries, 184 00:15:04,220 --> 00:15:08,180 scientists around the world have been searching the deep sea 185 00:15:08,180 --> 00:15:10,260 for a living coelacanth. 186 00:15:14,460 --> 00:15:19,700 Then, in 1997, there was another surprising discovery - 187 00:15:19,700 --> 00:15:24,380 a coelacanth was caught far from Africa, in Asian waters. 188 00:15:25,460 --> 00:15:29,180 The discovery re-awoke interest in this strange fish. 189 00:15:39,980 --> 00:15:42,420 Three days into the expedition, 190 00:15:42,420 --> 00:15:46,900 and the team have decided to try a new strategy. 191 00:15:46,900 --> 00:15:49,500 - And find those...find those points. 192 00:15:49,500 --> 00:15:50,900 - Er... 193 00:15:50,900 --> 00:15:55,860 The target depth is about, around 160. 194 00:15:57,500 --> 00:16:00,220 - They have decided to concentrate their search 195 00:16:00,220 --> 00:16:03,660 to depths of around 160m, 196 00:16:03,660 --> 00:16:05,860 which are rich in underwater caves 197 00:16:05,860 --> 00:16:08,980 and where water currents are relatively stable. 198 00:16:15,820 --> 00:16:18,420 - Today is the day we're going to find a fish. 199 00:16:27,300 --> 00:16:29,220 - 50 minutes into the search 200 00:16:29,220 --> 00:16:33,100 and Iwata notices some interesting-looking rocks. 201 00:16:38,500 --> 00:16:42,700 Clumps of them stand on the otherwise even seafloor. 202 00:16:52,300 --> 00:16:54,820 The sub approaches cautiously. 203 00:16:58,020 --> 00:17:03,100 The cameraman has noticed something between the two clumps of rock. 204 00:17:09,780 --> 00:17:12,180 - Yeah. What's that? - Ah! That's a coelacanth! 205 00:17:12,180 --> 00:17:14,420 - OK. Coelacanth. - Yeah, maybe. - Maybe. - Maybe. 206 00:17:16,700 --> 00:17:20,980 - A closer look reveals a creature hiding in the cracks. 207 00:17:25,100 --> 00:17:27,540 - What's that? Is that a coelacanth? - Wow! - Oh, yeah. 208 00:17:27,540 --> 00:17:30,180 - Yeah! - Yeah, we found coelacanth. - Yeah. 209 00:17:31,580 --> 00:17:33,580 - The team are thrilled. 210 00:17:33,580 --> 00:17:37,020 It's their first glimpse of a live coelacanth. 211 00:17:37,020 --> 00:17:39,100 Unlike the dead specimens, 212 00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:44,100 the living coelacanth is a steely-blue colour with light flecks. 213 00:17:47,620 --> 00:17:49,420 - I can get us a little closer, 214 00:17:49,420 --> 00:17:52,060 but if we just do a bit of filming here... - Uh-huh. 215 00:17:52,060 --> 00:17:54,180 - ..so we don't scare it off, right? - Yeah. 216 00:17:57,420 --> 00:18:01,420 - RADIO: - You found a coelacanth? Understood. Marking location. 217 00:18:01,420 --> 00:18:02,860 - Coelacanths? - Yeah. 218 00:18:02,860 --> 00:18:04,780 - They got there? - Yeah. 219 00:18:04,780 --> 00:18:07,220 Control, Control. This is Neptune. 220 00:18:07,220 --> 00:18:09,300 Confirm coelacanths. Over. 221 00:18:10,420 --> 00:18:11,540 - Wait for it. 222 00:18:14,260 --> 00:18:15,860 - After half an hour, 223 00:18:15,860 --> 00:18:19,700 the coelacanth emerges, giving them a better view. 224 00:18:19,700 --> 00:18:21,660 It's over a metre long. 225 00:18:39,500 --> 00:18:42,700 - Oh, there it is in the cave. Got it. - Yeah. 226 00:18:42,700 --> 00:18:45,940 - The other team have found yet another coelacanth. 227 00:18:47,020 --> 00:18:49,860 - Great. That is pretty spectacular. 228 00:18:52,100 --> 00:18:53,300 Thank you. 229 00:18:57,260 --> 00:19:00,740 - This is the first time that anyone has recorded 230 00:19:00,740 --> 00:19:06,540 such a high-quality 8K image of a coelacanth in its natural habitat. 231 00:19:15,580 --> 00:19:19,980 Its large eyes are adaptations to the poor light down here. 232 00:19:23,140 --> 00:19:25,740 The fish are extremely sensitive 233 00:19:25,740 --> 00:19:28,540 and can see quite well, even in darkness. 234 00:19:44,140 --> 00:19:48,900 Most animal species continue to evolve in some way over time, 235 00:19:48,900 --> 00:19:53,620 but, astonishingly, the coelacanth has remained almost unchanged 236 00:19:53,620 --> 00:19:56,540 for over 400 million years. 237 00:20:02,820 --> 00:20:05,820 It has scales that shimmer in the light - 238 00:20:05,820 --> 00:20:08,220 a characteristic that doesn't fossilise. 239 00:20:14,660 --> 00:20:17,700 Its fleshy fins are far more versatile 240 00:20:17,700 --> 00:20:19,340 than those of most fish. 241 00:20:22,260 --> 00:20:27,220 They move in a coordinated way, keeping its large body steady. 242 00:20:41,140 --> 00:20:45,100 One of its oddest features is its tail fin. 243 00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:47,300 Like that of fossil coelacanths, 244 00:20:47,300 --> 00:20:49,660 it has a little tuft at the end, 245 00:20:49,660 --> 00:20:52,020 which it can move independently. 246 00:20:53,820 --> 00:20:58,460 What function this could have still baffles scientists today. 247 00:20:58,460 --> 00:21:00,940 Perhaps it acts as a small rudder 248 00:21:00,940 --> 00:21:03,700 and helps the fish to make tight turns. 249 00:21:05,700 --> 00:21:08,100 Or maybe it's an electro sensor 250 00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:11,020 that helps it navigate in the eternal darkness. 251 00:21:12,020 --> 00:21:15,460 Much about this ancient creature is still a mystery. 252 00:21:25,620 --> 00:21:26,820 - We're back. 253 00:21:30,420 --> 00:21:32,540 - APPLAUSE 254 00:21:36,780 --> 00:21:39,580 - Congratulations. - Hi. Congratulations. - That was so cool! 255 00:21:39,580 --> 00:21:42,820 - Yeah! - Well done. - We found it. - Yeah. 256 00:21:43,820 --> 00:21:46,620 - How the coelacanth survives at great depths 257 00:21:46,620 --> 00:21:49,020 still remains largely unknown, 258 00:21:49,020 --> 00:21:52,300 despite efforts of scientists across the world. 259 00:21:54,780 --> 00:21:58,980 Deep-sea exploration is not only challenging, but costly, 260 00:21:58,980 --> 00:22:01,220 so every day is precious. 261 00:22:04,260 --> 00:22:07,820 To maximise their chances of observing more behaviour, 262 00:22:07,820 --> 00:22:12,900 the team have decided to deploy all of their equipment simultaneously. 263 00:22:12,900 --> 00:22:17,380 - We are launching number two 264 00:22:17,380 --> 00:22:20,300 before we are recovering number one? - Yes, yes. 265 00:22:20,300 --> 00:22:22,020 - That was the request, yes. 266 00:22:22,020 --> 00:22:25,460 - Always an overlap. - Yeah. - Yeah. - OK. 267 00:22:25,460 --> 00:22:27,260 - OK. - Thank you. 268 00:22:30,020 --> 00:22:35,420 - The aim is to carry out continuous observations for 72 hours. 269 00:22:37,300 --> 00:22:39,060 It's an ambitious plan 270 00:22:39,060 --> 00:22:44,020 and requires the crew to run the subs in shifts, day and night. 271 00:22:46,300 --> 00:22:50,420 This is a first, even for the crew of OceanXplorer. 272 00:22:53,900 --> 00:22:55,660 The scientists are now sure 273 00:22:55,660 --> 00:22:59,140 that coelacanths stay dormant throughout the day. 274 00:23:00,780 --> 00:23:03,500 They suspect that the fish is nocturnal, 275 00:23:03,500 --> 00:23:06,860 so they start their daily shift in the early evening. 276 00:23:13,460 --> 00:23:16,100 - Control, control, this is Neptune. 277 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:17,580 I have cave in sight. 278 00:23:20,380 --> 00:23:24,260 - This coelacanth is still in exactly the same spot 279 00:23:24,260 --> 00:23:27,540 as it was when they found it the previous day. 280 00:23:30,900 --> 00:23:36,020 But the team must be ready to respond if and when it does move. 281 00:23:39,860 --> 00:23:42,500 They know perfectly well that the coelacanth, 282 00:23:42,500 --> 00:23:47,100 to sustain its massive body, must come out to feed sometime. 283 00:23:50,500 --> 00:23:53,580 But it doesn't move, even at night. 284 00:23:53,580 --> 00:23:58,540 As the team proves by speeding up their video recording, 285 00:23:58,540 --> 00:24:01,500 it remains in exactly the same spot. 286 00:24:03,460 --> 00:24:07,420 At midnight, the second sub, with Kerry on board, sets off. 287 00:24:14,460 --> 00:24:18,420 She now takes over from Iwata in keeping watch. 288 00:24:18,420 --> 00:24:21,980 RADIO CHATTER 289 00:24:33,580 --> 00:24:38,780 But even after ten hours, the coelacanth has still not shifted 290 00:24:38,780 --> 00:24:42,300 and shows no sign of wanting to look for food. 291 00:24:48,580 --> 00:24:51,100 Finally, at, eight in the morning, 292 00:24:51,100 --> 00:24:55,140 the team decide to bring out the unmanned ROV. 293 00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:04,460 Kerry is exhausted. 294 00:25:06,540 --> 00:25:09,500 They've now been watching the coelacanth continuously 295 00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:11,780 for 24 hours, 296 00:25:11,780 --> 00:25:15,220 but it still has shown no sign of moving. 297 00:25:17,980 --> 00:25:21,100 Perhaps the sub's lights are making it nervous. 298 00:25:24,020 --> 00:25:26,940 So they switch to infrared lights 299 00:25:26,940 --> 00:25:30,900 that are virtually undetectable by any fish. 300 00:25:30,900 --> 00:25:32,580 - OK, darkness. - Darkness. 301 00:25:34,260 --> 00:25:35,300 - BANGING 302 00:25:37,580 --> 00:25:40,980 And still, the coelacanth does not move. 303 00:25:49,220 --> 00:25:51,940 At 7am the following day, 304 00:25:51,940 --> 00:25:54,020 39 hours later, 305 00:25:54,020 --> 00:25:56,500 it finally does something. 306 00:25:59,740 --> 00:26:01,140 - Ah! 307 00:26:02,340 --> 00:26:04,500 - Oh! We're on the move. 308 00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:05,700 - Yeah. It's beautiful. 309 00:26:06,780 --> 00:26:08,380 Maybe she's going out of it. 310 00:26:08,380 --> 00:26:12,060 - The coelacanth, at last, is on the move. 311 00:26:12,060 --> 00:26:14,380 - We're supposed to follow her. - Yeah. 312 00:26:15,700 --> 00:26:18,540 - Shall we follow? - Yeah. - Yeah. 313 00:26:24,460 --> 00:26:26,140 - It swims slowly, 314 00:26:26,140 --> 00:26:30,140 but in a way that our scientists have not seen before. 315 00:26:40,460 --> 00:26:42,740 It propels itself forward 316 00:26:42,740 --> 00:26:46,380 by moving its fins rhythmically from left to right. 317 00:26:49,780 --> 00:26:54,020 The two fins appear to provide forward propulsion. 318 00:27:06,540 --> 00:27:08,060 - Oh, it's steep here. 319 00:27:10,980 --> 00:27:14,020 - Ahead is a vertical cliff face. 320 00:27:23,340 --> 00:27:26,620 - It'll be interesting to see if she goes up this crack here. 321 00:27:30,020 --> 00:27:31,900 Right, she's going along the crack. 322 00:27:34,460 --> 00:27:39,420 - The coelacanth makes its way purposefully along the steep cliff. 323 00:27:45,220 --> 00:27:46,900 - So, this is a good... 324 00:27:46,900 --> 00:27:50,580 - Then it comes to an overhang in the rocks. 325 00:28:07,780 --> 00:28:09,900 - She's there. - Yeah. She's here. 326 00:28:09,900 --> 00:28:11,020 - That's perfect. 327 00:28:12,100 --> 00:28:15,420 Yeah. We want to leave her somewhere where she can maybe stay. 328 00:28:15,420 --> 00:28:16,780 We don't want her going. 329 00:28:18,260 --> 00:28:20,780 - Mark this waypoint... 330 00:28:22,380 --> 00:28:27,900 ..Big Mama's New House. Depth - 160 metres. 331 00:28:29,900 --> 00:28:32,900 - The fish has disappeared into the crevice. 332 00:28:44,820 --> 00:28:47,900 The place where the coelacanth has chosen to hide 333 00:28:47,900 --> 00:28:51,580 is one the scientists had not expected. 334 00:28:51,580 --> 00:28:56,700 It's a large overhang in the cliff, effectively an underwater cave. 335 00:28:59,540 --> 00:29:04,100 Tracking the fish's movements has led them to a new hideout. 336 00:29:04,100 --> 00:29:08,620 This is a real reward for their 72-hour vigil. 337 00:29:15,460 --> 00:29:18,900 Then, Kerry spots something else. 338 00:29:18,900 --> 00:29:22,700 - Oh, I think I see another one. - What? - On the left. 339 00:29:26,220 --> 00:29:29,980 - Wow! - There. Is it? 340 00:29:31,660 --> 00:29:32,780 Yes. 341 00:29:35,940 --> 00:29:40,260 - There appear to be more coelacanths hiding in the cave. 342 00:29:40,260 --> 00:29:42,180 It's an extraordinary sight. 343 00:29:44,900 --> 00:29:47,660 - One, two, three, four, 344 00:29:47,660 --> 00:29:49,860 five, six, seven, 345 00:29:49,860 --> 00:29:51,180 eight. - Eight! 346 00:29:51,180 --> 00:29:53,700 - Eight! - Eight? - Eight. 347 00:29:53,700 --> 00:29:55,100 - What is happening? 348 00:29:57,260 --> 00:30:00,580 - There are definitely eight individuals, 349 00:30:00,580 --> 00:30:02,900 and the team are astounded. 350 00:30:02,900 --> 00:30:05,340 What could be the reason for such a gathering? 351 00:30:15,420 --> 00:30:17,060 - Spawning aggregation. 352 00:30:19,460 --> 00:30:22,860 - It's hard to know why these coelacanths have assembled 353 00:30:22,860 --> 00:30:24,820 in such a tight space, 354 00:30:24,820 --> 00:30:28,700 but they seem to be resting peacefully, side-by-side. 355 00:30:37,420 --> 00:30:41,260 Suddenly, the thresher shark reappears. 356 00:30:48,940 --> 00:30:52,460 The coelacanth retreat further into the crevice. 357 00:31:03,220 --> 00:31:06,500 The arched overhang provides good cover, 358 00:31:06,500 --> 00:31:11,420 allowing even a large fish like a coelacanth to hide unnoticed. 359 00:31:16,220 --> 00:31:20,340 The cave also provides protection from ocean currents, 360 00:31:20,340 --> 00:31:23,060 so there is little danger of being swept away. 361 00:31:29,380 --> 00:31:34,060 It's a fortress in the kingdom of the coelacanth. 362 00:31:51,780 --> 00:31:54,580 To help them get a better view beneath the ledge, 363 00:31:54,580 --> 00:31:57,460 the crew use another piece of equipment. 364 00:32:02,700 --> 00:32:05,180 - I'm going to take a bit of... 365 00:32:05,180 --> 00:32:07,900 - It's a tiny underwater camera 366 00:32:07,900 --> 00:32:12,180 that they manoeuvre into position and attach to the rock face. 367 00:32:13,500 --> 00:32:18,100 Despite its small size, it gives a surprisingly detailed image. 368 00:32:22,460 --> 00:32:25,220 They can just distinguish a coelacanth 369 00:32:25,220 --> 00:32:27,460 huddling underneath the ledge. 370 00:32:33,540 --> 00:32:37,700 Within minutes, swarms of tiny fish appear. 371 00:32:39,580 --> 00:32:41,140 They're lanternfish, 372 00:32:41,140 --> 00:32:43,460 attracted by the camera's bright light. 373 00:32:52,420 --> 00:32:57,500 Once the swarm has dissipated, the coelacanth comes into view again. 374 00:33:02,620 --> 00:33:03,780 And then... 375 00:33:07,460 --> 00:33:11,020 Slowed down, we can see what happened. 376 00:33:11,020 --> 00:33:13,300 Faster than the blink of an eye, 377 00:33:13,300 --> 00:33:16,500 it lunges for a passing morsel of food. 378 00:33:21,620 --> 00:33:25,660 This is very different from the slow-moving, languid creature 379 00:33:25,660 --> 00:33:28,100 the team had seen until now. 380 00:33:30,380 --> 00:33:33,620 The footage clearly shows the coelacanth feeding 381 00:33:33,620 --> 00:33:37,540 in a manner only known to be used by prehistoric fish, 382 00:33:37,540 --> 00:33:38,660 until now. 383 00:33:39,900 --> 00:33:43,780 Recent research has shown that this way of feeding 384 00:33:43,780 --> 00:33:48,900 is only possible because of the unique shape of their skull. 385 00:33:48,900 --> 00:33:52,220 It is, in fact, split into two halves, 386 00:33:52,220 --> 00:33:56,020 which are connected by a special hinged joint. 387 00:33:57,900 --> 00:34:03,420 This allows the fish to widen its mouth to more than 30 degrees, 388 00:34:03,420 --> 00:34:06,380 enabling it to bite with the force needed 389 00:34:06,380 --> 00:34:12,020 to feed on hard, scaly animals or to swallow particularly large prey. 390 00:34:15,540 --> 00:34:20,380 Many ancient sea creatures once had this kind of a hinged joint, 391 00:34:20,380 --> 00:34:23,900 but the coelacanth is the only known living fish 392 00:34:23,900 --> 00:34:25,540 to still possess one. 393 00:34:27,860 --> 00:34:30,540 So, at last, we're starting to unravel 394 00:34:30,540 --> 00:34:34,540 some of the mysteries that surround this ancient creature. 395 00:34:35,660 --> 00:34:40,900 It uses its fleshy fins to propel itself slowly through the water 396 00:34:40,900 --> 00:34:43,540 and into narrow crevices, 397 00:34:43,540 --> 00:34:47,380 but, when necessary, it can move surprisingly quickly. 398 00:34:51,540 --> 00:34:56,500 And the unique joint in its skull allows it to open its mouth wider 399 00:34:56,500 --> 00:34:59,460 than most modern-day fish are able to do. 400 00:35:02,700 --> 00:35:06,420 These ancient features have clearly served the coelacanth well 401 00:35:06,420 --> 00:35:07,940 for millions of years. 402 00:35:10,180 --> 00:35:13,220 Recently, scientists have discovered 403 00:35:13,220 --> 00:35:18,100 that coelacanths can live to be 100 years old. 404 00:35:18,100 --> 00:35:19,220 In the deep, 405 00:35:19,220 --> 00:35:23,740 it seems that it's the slow and the steady that wins the race. 406 00:35:29,820 --> 00:35:32,780 The scientific team are keen to take a closer look 407 00:35:32,780 --> 00:35:35,700 at the footage to solve a particular puzzle. 408 00:35:35,700 --> 00:35:36,740 - What?! 409 00:35:39,220 --> 00:35:40,900 Ah! There, there, there. 410 00:35:42,180 --> 00:35:43,900 Oh, beautiful. - Yeah. 411 00:35:44,900 --> 00:35:46,340 - Oh, wow! 412 00:35:51,500 --> 00:35:55,020 - Its fins have a thick, fleshy base - 413 00:35:55,020 --> 00:35:57,740 a characteristic feature of an ancient group 414 00:35:57,740 --> 00:36:00,220 called the lobe-finned fish. 415 00:36:03,100 --> 00:36:06,580 The fins of most modern-day fish are connected to the body 416 00:36:06,580 --> 00:36:09,660 in a way that enables them to flap, 417 00:36:09,660 --> 00:36:11,260 but little more. 418 00:36:17,500 --> 00:36:21,060 The coelacanth's fins, however, are much larger 419 00:36:21,060 --> 00:36:24,580 and have a row of bones attached to thick muscles, 420 00:36:24,580 --> 00:36:27,300 which gives the fins much greater strength. 421 00:36:28,700 --> 00:36:30,420 This arrangement is also found 422 00:36:30,420 --> 00:36:33,740 in the limbs of most land animals today 423 00:36:33,740 --> 00:36:36,220 and suggests they share a common ancestor. 424 00:36:38,540 --> 00:36:41,340 Scientists have long puzzled over 425 00:36:41,340 --> 00:36:46,340 how animals first hauled themselves out of the water and onto land. 426 00:36:47,620 --> 00:36:50,220 The coelacanth may provide the answer. 427 00:36:52,940 --> 00:36:57,100 Their fleshy fins may have led to limbs with an upper arm, 428 00:36:57,100 --> 00:36:59,860 a forearm and fingers and toes. 429 00:37:05,540 --> 00:37:09,060 And that enabled the first backboned animals 430 00:37:09,060 --> 00:37:11,220 to crawl out onto land. 431 00:37:20,620 --> 00:37:24,220 Whilst the evidence from the fossil record is compelling, 432 00:37:24,220 --> 00:37:28,460 it can't show us exactly how these ancient creatures moved. 433 00:37:31,260 --> 00:37:33,580 At the University of Chicago, 434 00:37:33,580 --> 00:37:37,180 evolutionary biologist Dr Neil Shubin 435 00:37:37,180 --> 00:37:40,540 has been trying to solve this puzzle for years 436 00:37:40,540 --> 00:37:43,980 and is very excited by the team's discoveries. 437 00:37:45,740 --> 00:37:48,500 - It's like it's a fish with arms. That's what's amazing. 438 00:37:48,500 --> 00:37:53,820 So the way they swim is with movements of an arm. 439 00:37:55,220 --> 00:37:56,300 They're doing this. 440 00:37:57,300 --> 00:37:58,820 It's not just a little paddle. 441 00:37:58,820 --> 00:38:02,740 It has bones inside that can move much like our own arm bones. 442 00:38:02,740 --> 00:38:04,180 Look at that turn around. 443 00:38:06,620 --> 00:38:10,860 - A closer look at the footage reveals some important details 444 00:38:10,860 --> 00:38:15,900 of how the coelacanth uses its frontal - or pectoral - fins. 445 00:38:17,500 --> 00:38:19,900 It appears to rotate each fin, 446 00:38:19,900 --> 00:38:22,540 as if it were trying to stroke its own head. 447 00:38:30,860 --> 00:38:34,260 Slowed down, we can see the movement more clearly. 448 00:38:37,620 --> 00:38:41,140 By superimposing the bone structure onto the fin, 449 00:38:41,140 --> 00:38:44,540 we can see that the bone bends at each joint, 450 00:38:44,540 --> 00:38:47,540 allowing for this wide range of movement. 451 00:38:57,860 --> 00:39:02,060 Even the scientists themselves are surprised by this revelation. 452 00:39:04,420 --> 00:39:06,380 - I haven't seen it like this, no. 453 00:39:07,540 --> 00:39:09,820 I can make guesses, hypotheses, 454 00:39:09,820 --> 00:39:13,900 about how those bones actually moved, 455 00:39:13,900 --> 00:39:16,140 but I don't really have the creature to look at. 456 00:39:16,140 --> 00:39:18,700 I'm inferring it from a skeleton, 457 00:39:18,700 --> 00:39:21,220 but when I see a video like this, 458 00:39:21,220 --> 00:39:25,060 I begin to see a living creature and how those bones are used. 459 00:39:26,060 --> 00:39:29,420 So it allows us to interpret those fossils in whole new ways. 460 00:39:32,020 --> 00:39:33,860 As we study these fish, 461 00:39:33,860 --> 00:39:36,700 we understand something about ourselves. 462 00:39:36,700 --> 00:39:38,900 I find that very powerful and very beautiful. 463 00:39:39,900 --> 00:39:41,540 And when we look at creatures like this, 464 00:39:41,540 --> 00:39:44,340 we see the evolutionary history we share with fish. 465 00:39:47,700 --> 00:39:52,820 - On land, these bony and flexible structures supporting the body 466 00:39:52,820 --> 00:39:56,980 would have then gradually evolved into well-muscled legs. 467 00:39:59,740 --> 00:40:06,380 Over time, those early limbs evolved into many different forms - 468 00:40:06,380 --> 00:40:09,540 sturdy legs for walking on land... 469 00:40:11,460 --> 00:40:13,980 ..light wing bones for taking to the sky... 470 00:40:16,300 --> 00:40:19,460 ..and dextrous hands capable of grasping. 471 00:40:23,460 --> 00:40:27,380 They evolved to meet the needs of different habitats 472 00:40:27,380 --> 00:40:32,180 and, as a result, life on land became rich and varied. 473 00:40:33,940 --> 00:40:38,420 The coelacanth's fins led to limbs suited to movement on land 474 00:40:38,420 --> 00:40:41,740 and so paved the way for all terrestrial life 475 00:40:41,740 --> 00:40:44,460 and our own evolutionary history. 476 00:40:50,220 --> 00:40:52,940 Whilst the coelacanth has shed important light 477 00:40:52,940 --> 00:40:54,940 on evolutionary questions, 478 00:40:54,940 --> 00:40:59,180 we still know very little about how the species lives. 479 00:40:59,180 --> 00:41:03,260 Dr Kerry Sink is hoping to answer some of these questions. 480 00:41:05,140 --> 00:41:06,740 One of her main aims 481 00:41:06,740 --> 00:41:10,620 is to find out more about the fish's reproductive behaviour. 482 00:41:12,900 --> 00:41:16,540 Coelacanths have white speckles all over their bodies. 483 00:41:18,460 --> 00:41:23,140 Each fish has its own unique pattern and looks slightly different. 484 00:41:28,780 --> 00:41:33,460 Kerry has used these differences to identify individuals. 485 00:41:37,380 --> 00:41:43,380 - I want to be paying attention to what's happening from fish to fish. 486 00:41:43,380 --> 00:41:47,260 So I've been taking careful notes about which fish is which 487 00:41:47,260 --> 00:41:49,900 and how they might be interacting. 488 00:41:49,900 --> 00:41:51,260 - On this expedition, 489 00:41:51,260 --> 00:41:55,180 one particular individual has attracted Kerry's interest. 490 00:41:58,740 --> 00:42:03,180 It's the female that she had followed to the group under a ledge. 491 00:42:03,180 --> 00:42:06,580 Kerry recognises it by a unique feature. 492 00:42:08,220 --> 00:42:11,780 - So the W mark is one of the most distinctive marks 493 00:42:11,780 --> 00:42:14,780 on the right flank of the big female. 494 00:42:16,420 --> 00:42:19,460 - Kerry knows it's a female because of its size - 495 00:42:19,460 --> 00:42:22,020 females are larger than males. 496 00:42:23,660 --> 00:42:26,060 She's keen to follow this female 497 00:42:26,060 --> 00:42:30,100 to see if she can discover any evidence of breeding activity. 498 00:42:33,580 --> 00:42:36,700 Her sub prepares for another dive. 499 00:42:49,660 --> 00:42:51,980 They have headed to the rock face 500 00:42:51,980 --> 00:42:54,620 where they last saw the female coelacanth. 501 00:42:56,740 --> 00:42:59,380 - I haven't seen the W. Have you seen the W? 502 00:43:01,140 --> 00:43:05,940 - After 30 minutes, the female with the W mark appears. 503 00:43:11,620 --> 00:43:14,100 She is over a metre long 504 00:43:14,100 --> 00:43:16,740 and because she's larger than the others, 505 00:43:16,740 --> 00:43:19,900 Kerry has nicknamed her Big Mama... 506 00:43:21,300 --> 00:43:24,780 ..and she continues to keep a close watch on her. 507 00:43:29,420 --> 00:43:32,900 Five hours later, the coelacanths begin to do something 508 00:43:32,900 --> 00:43:35,900 that the scientists have never seen before. 509 00:43:40,740 --> 00:43:45,100 Some of the fish begin to hang vertically in the water. 510 00:43:48,100 --> 00:43:50,980 - Oh, but, look - look how they're all moving. 511 00:43:50,980 --> 00:43:52,300 It's so crazy! 512 00:43:53,380 --> 00:43:57,820 - Kerry believes that this may be coelacanth courtship behaviour. 513 00:44:01,380 --> 00:44:03,380 - I think we have mating coelacanths. 514 00:44:10,660 --> 00:44:12,300 And look at the white tummy. 515 00:44:14,860 --> 00:44:17,100 And they don't normally look like that, right? 516 00:44:21,340 --> 00:44:22,940 Very interesting behaviour. 517 00:44:25,940 --> 00:44:30,220 - The coelacanths have turned their undersides white. 518 00:44:30,220 --> 00:44:34,340 Many fish change colour in order to attract a mate, 519 00:44:34,340 --> 00:44:38,180 and Kerry suspects that coelacanths may also do so 520 00:44:38,180 --> 00:44:40,500 to appeal to the opposite sex. 521 00:44:48,780 --> 00:44:50,380 The team in the other sub 522 00:44:50,380 --> 00:44:53,300 are also witnessing some interesting activity. 523 00:44:55,500 --> 00:44:59,260 One of the coelacanths is heading away from the rest of the group. 524 00:45:05,500 --> 00:45:07,580 It's heading straight for another fish 525 00:45:07,580 --> 00:45:09,300 approaching from the other side. 526 00:45:24,460 --> 00:45:28,100 The two fish begin to circle each other. 527 00:45:28,100 --> 00:45:31,700 Perhaps they're rival males, competing for a female. 528 00:45:42,580 --> 00:45:47,420 Back at Kerry's sub, Big Mama, with her distinctive W mark, 529 00:45:47,420 --> 00:45:49,740 is also being approached by a male. 530 00:45:53,220 --> 00:45:56,300 He is clearly smaller than she is. 531 00:46:01,620 --> 00:46:07,020 As he sidles up to her, he appears to rub his head on her underside. 532 00:46:09,500 --> 00:46:12,660 The researchers think that she might also be producing 533 00:46:12,660 --> 00:46:16,100 some kind of a pheromone that attracts males. 534 00:46:24,500 --> 00:46:27,820 He continues with this curious mating dance 535 00:46:27,820 --> 00:46:29,860 for over three minutes. 536 00:46:39,860 --> 00:46:43,220 This is the first time that anyone has seen 537 00:46:43,220 --> 00:46:46,180 coelacanths interacting with one another. 538 00:46:47,180 --> 00:46:50,900 It's an exciting discovery that brings us one step closer 539 00:46:50,900 --> 00:46:53,420 to understanding their breeding behaviour. 540 00:46:57,860 --> 00:47:01,140 For Kerry, this is a career highlight. 541 00:47:03,140 --> 00:47:05,780 - Just, like, deep gratitude 542 00:47:05,780 --> 00:47:11,260 and something I've wanted for a long, long time - 24 years. 543 00:47:11,260 --> 00:47:14,420 I told the coelacanths, "Thank you. 544 00:47:14,420 --> 00:47:16,460 "Thank you, thank you, thank you." 545 00:47:18,140 --> 00:47:19,820 - Big hug first. - So cool! 546 00:47:21,060 --> 00:47:23,580 - Congratulations. - Thank you. - It's so cool. 547 00:47:23,580 --> 00:47:26,940 - Thanks for making this happen. - Of course. - I'm so pleased! 548 00:47:31,540 --> 00:47:36,620 - Although coelacanths have managed to survive for 400 million years, 549 00:47:36,620 --> 00:47:38,620 they now face a new threat. 550 00:47:45,380 --> 00:47:46,460 - Oh, what's this? 551 00:47:48,420 --> 00:47:49,660 - Oh! 552 00:47:52,580 --> 00:47:55,900 - There is something drifting in the water. 553 00:47:55,900 --> 00:47:58,900 - Trash, I guess, maybe. - Yeah, I think so. 554 00:47:59,980 --> 00:48:03,140 - The team are shocked to discover plastic waste, 555 00:48:03,140 --> 00:48:04,940 even at these depths. 556 00:48:08,300 --> 00:48:09,780 Throughout the expedition, 557 00:48:09,780 --> 00:48:14,380 they found evidence of human waste products littering the ocean floor. 558 00:48:16,580 --> 00:48:19,300 - So many sandbags here. - Yeah. 559 00:48:24,300 --> 00:48:30,300 - The ancient fish now face a deep-sea home full of our rubbish. 560 00:48:31,860 --> 00:48:35,060 And a dead coelacanth has even been found 561 00:48:35,060 --> 00:48:37,420 with plastic bags in its stomach. 562 00:48:43,820 --> 00:48:47,820 The coelacanths' home is often close to human habitation. 563 00:48:50,860 --> 00:48:53,380 Strong storms and typhoons 564 00:48:53,380 --> 00:48:57,180 carry rubbish deep into areas where the coelacanths live. 565 00:49:03,420 --> 00:49:08,300 Today, our activities threaten the home of this ancient creature 566 00:49:08,300 --> 00:49:10,940 in all of the world's oceans. 567 00:49:19,860 --> 00:49:23,140 The two-week expedition has come to an end. 568 00:49:50,020 --> 00:49:54,260 - The coelacanth is just really a very special animal 569 00:49:54,260 --> 00:49:56,980 that has this window into the past, 570 00:49:56,980 --> 00:50:01,100 that has these really unique features 571 00:50:01,100 --> 00:50:05,340 that inspire incredible curiosity. 572 00:50:05,340 --> 00:50:08,380 For me, the coelacanth is also the ultimate survivor. 573 00:50:08,380 --> 00:50:14,620 And I was just experiencing amazement and awe and gratitude. 574 00:50:17,420 --> 00:50:20,540 - The expedition recorded many important aspects 575 00:50:20,540 --> 00:50:23,900 of the coelacanths' life for the first time. 576 00:50:23,900 --> 00:50:27,660 Its discoveries have helped us understand a creature 577 00:50:27,660 --> 00:50:33,220 that looks very similar to those that lived 400 million years ago. 578 00:50:35,700 --> 00:50:38,500 Hiding beside underwater cliffs, 579 00:50:38,500 --> 00:50:43,180 it now has a slow and energy-efficient lifestyle... 580 00:50:51,100 --> 00:50:53,580 ..and breeds unobtrusively. 581 00:51:03,020 --> 00:51:06,620 As a species, coelacanths have survived 582 00:51:06,620 --> 00:51:11,500 all the environmental upheavals that have transformed the planet. 583 00:51:13,060 --> 00:51:15,540 Watching them has brought to life 584 00:51:15,540 --> 00:51:19,420 one of the most crucial episodes in the history of life - 585 00:51:19,420 --> 00:51:22,620 when fish with stout, fleshy limbs 586 00:51:22,620 --> 00:51:25,820 emerged onto the land for the first time 587 00:51:25,820 --> 00:51:30,940 and became the ancestors of all land-living backboned animals, 588 00:51:30,940 --> 00:51:32,660 including us.