Customer Reviews

A Fish Caught in Time: The Search for the Coelacanth

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"A Fish Caught in Time" is one of those slim books you pick up to read because it sounds somewhat interesting and will add to your volume of knowledge. How can any book about a fish first 'discovered' sixty years ago be really very interesting? Well, it is not only fascinating, it is the kind of book you keep putting down so you won't finish it too fast--this one you don't want to end. Samantha Weinberg chronicles the extremely unlikely sets of coincidences that first led the world to realize there was a living fossil--a fish that had been declared extinct 85 million years ago. The people involved become very human and likeable. Their tenacity and genius as well as their frailities are kindly portrayed. The politics which surrounded collection and examination of further specimens are discussed with tactful realism. The technical scientific study of this incredible fish is presented in an informative and lively way. The reader learns truly fascinating, mind-boggling facts about this fossil in ways that excite the mind. When details about skeletons and DNA hold the lay reader enthralled, it's clear Weinberg has written with passion about her subject. The Coelacanth went from being understood as an extinct fish found in many fossils to a fish, alive and well, with its organs, skeletal, blood and nerve systems providing incredible and valuable information about the development of the entire animal kingdom that probably couldn't be found any other way. Last but not least, A Fish Caught in Time, different than most 'nature' books does not leave the reader with a sad sense of helplessness. It leaves one with an uplifted sense of awe and with love for this wonderful fish of 100 million years ago.

Samantha Weinberg has written a wonderful book outlining the history of the coelacanth. This "living fossil" fish, which predates the dinosaurs, was believed to have been extinct for millions of years until one was pulled from the sea in 1938. This incredible discovery has been referred to as the "number one zoological find of the twentieth century." The coelacanth, with it's primitive limbs, is a fascinating member of our evolutionary past. Much more than just a fish story, A FISH CAUGHT IN TIME tells an exciting tale of the many individuals involved in expanding our knowledge of the coelacanth--and hopefully preventing it's extinction as we enter the twenty-first century.

This is one of those special books that was hard to put down and ended far too soon!

What should you do if you are a fish thought to be extinct for millions of years, and suddenly humans discover you? You should really give some serious thought to finding a better place to hide. Ms. Weinberg tells the exciting story of the 1938 discovery of this rare fish, and the continual efforts to obtain more of them. You immediately develop an affectionate bond with this strange, yet beautiful, creature that hides in rocky caves far from the surface of the ocean. Its fins are almost like limbs; its tail is like that of no other fish; it likes to stand on its head; its babies are born live; it seems to use magnetic fields to find its prey; its brain is the size of a grape.

Understandably scientists wanted to see more of these fish on their dissection tables, and to date more than two hundred coelacanths have ended up there. Bounties were established for their capture, and the Japanese wanted to get a live specimen. Fortunately conservationists were reasonably quick in getting regulations established for old "four legs'" protection. The fish cannot live in captivity: It overheats in surface temperature water, and the bright sunlight blinds it. It's really sad when a scientist has to state that if the coelacanth prospers in other locations hopefully we won't find them.

I experienced some frustration in my reading. As a layman with a strong interest in science I came to tire of the extensive human biographies found in the book, and wanted to learn more about the fish itself. Fortunately there is a 9-page appendix in the back of the book that discusses the anatomy and physiology of the coelacanth. Still there could have been some more accessible science in this book. On the other hand "A Fish Caught In Time" is an important, necessary work.

This is a superbly researched and written history of the coelacanth and the people who have pursued it. Less technical than Keith Thomson's equally valuable book on the topic, this volume is filled with details about the effect this unique fish has had on those caught in its prehistoric aura. Weinberg includes a thorough account of the discovery of the second population in Indonesia, along with evidence for other populations. A must read for all who are interested in marine discovery and conservation.

Matt Bille Author, Rumors of Existence

Weinberg's book is a fascinating account of the discovery of the most famous "living fossil," the coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) of the coasts of Africa and Madagascar in the 1930s. But the author does not confine herself to that intial discovery, and includes an account of subsequent finds, as well as an overview of the significance of the coelacanth to evolutionary biology. A wonderfully written book, great for readers of all ages (it might be an ideal book for getting a younger reader interested in science). Weinberg has also included an extensive second appendix, directing those who'd like to see a coelacanth up close to museums that have specimens in their collections.

I had read an account a few years back about the initial discovery of the coelacanth off the coast of South Africa and the tracking down of its habitat to the waters around Madagascar. It captured my imagination.

It was great to find out that the story didn't end with the Madagascar discovery. Upon reading this book, I was thrilled to hear about the confirmation of coelacanths living off Indonesia. The theory put forth in the book that there might be populations in the Philippines or even off the Atlantic coast of the United States stirs the imagination as well.

The book is very easy to get thru. It gives you just the right amount of scientific information and includes more human elements, namely the stories of the people involved in discovering, studying and protecting the coelacanth.

Something like this definitely makes you wonder. I mean, if a fish that was thought to be extinct for millions of years escaped detection by humanity till the beginning of the twentieth century, what else might still be out there?

I highly recommend anyone interested in evolution, physical anthropology, or interested in fish for that matter. The book does not go deep into the anatomy or evolutionary history of the coelacanth, but delves into the history of the difficult search, knowledge, and evolution of this enlightening fish. This book is extremely well written. Samantha Weinberg has succeeded in what many authors would fail at writing. The first fossil was discovered in 1839. The actual living fish was found 100 years later by a young 20-something year old Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer in 1938. By the end of this book one should be hooked on finding more information about the coelacanth and evolution (they give birth to live fish!). By reading this book one can also better appreciate the evolution of scientific exploration as well. If further interested about coelacanths, visit dinofish.com. . .

Although the basic facts of the search for living coelacanths have been widely known for many years, this book did a wonderful job of filling in many gaps about the people involved in the search, the habitats used by the coelacanth and the evolution, biology and ecology of the species. Inclusion of the recent discovery of a second population of coelacanths in Indonesia certainly reinforced the conviction that there are tremendous discoveries just waiting to be wrested from our oceans. Indeed, I just heard an as-yet unconfirmed report that a third population of coelacanth has been discovered. Every time I take a class onto the ocean, I harbor a tiny hope that maybe I'll find something equally fantastic. I hope that the author has a chance to revise this book in the future to include the results of further studies on the fish.

The only real problem with the book was the cover, which presented an artistic rendition of a fish that looked like a genetic engineering experiment run amok! My graduate students sure had fun picking out the problems: a salmon head grafted onto a coelacanth body, with a protrusible mouth bordered by maxillary bones.....and lots of other ichthyological oddities. If the book is revised/reprinted, I hope the cover presents an accurate picture of this fantastic fish.

This is one of those little books that take a topic readers are curious about and provides them a very readable story that not only satisfies, but surprises. When these books are well done, I find them quite interesting and a way to read for fun and still learn new things.

The Coelacanth is a fish many of us saw as children and it is so weird looking that it immediately captures one's imagination. We have all heard the tale of how science had seen fossils of the creatures and had surmised that it had been extinct from tens of millions of years. Then in 1938 a specimen was caught off South Africa. The book recounts the first realization of what was found by Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer of the East London Museum near the port. We also learn about the involvement of the famous (infamous?) J. L. B. Smith and his book "Old Four Legs" with his early and largely incorrect surmises about the fish.

We learn about other discoveries and some real curiosities such as the remarkably accurate silver model of the fish that appears to have come from pre-Columbian meso-America. This book most helpfully, also tells us what scientists have learned about these fish and it is quite stunning.

The is a website dedicated to this fish called dinofish and there are many articles about this amazing creature on the web, but NONE of them are as fun or as informative as this book. Although, a special I saw on one of the educational channels that showed live coelacanths in their environment, which is one of the cooler things I have ever seen.

Still, get and read this book for a fun couple of evenings read. It has helpful pictures and maps. Enjoy!

The subject of this story is pretty far removed from my usual reading material. After reading it, I was not disappointed that I broadened my horizons.

Samantha Weinberg is a terrific writer who effectively conveyed to me the passion and excitement of science. For anyone who thinks scientists are dull and boring (especially ichthyologists, I mean, come on...!), read this book, you will have a much beter understanding of what makes them tick.

I was particularly taken with the idea that the true unexplored frontier is not outer space, but the vast oceans of this planet. The potential for discovery seem endless.

This book also was very encouraging. Just think, in spite of humankind's seemingly best efforts to pollute and exploit the oceans, a life form stretching back 400 million years could survive. We really aren't in charge here are we?

All in all, a very engaging story.