Editing Coelacanth (section)

==Behavior==
Coelacanth locomotion is unique. To move around, they most commonly take advantage of up- or down-wellings of current and drift. Their paired fins stabilize movement through the water. While on the ocean floor, they do not use the paired fins for any kind of movement. Coelacanths generate thrust with their caudal fins for quick starts. Due to the abundance of its fins, the coelacanth has high maneuverability and can orient its body in almost any direction in the water. They have been seen doing headstands as well as swimming belly up. It is thought that the [[rostral organ]] helps give the coelacanth [[Electroreception and electrogenesis|electroreception]], which aids in movement around obstacles.<ref name="ref7" />

Coelacanths are fairly peaceful when encountering others of their kind. They do avoid body contact, however, withdrawing immediately if contact occurs. When approached by foreign potential predators (e.g. a submersible), they show panic flight reactions, suggesting that coelacanths are most likely prey to large deepwater predators. Shark bite marks have been seen on coelacanths; sharks are common in areas inhabited by coelacanths.<ref name="ref12" /> [[Electrophoresis]] testing of 14 coelacanth enzymes shows little genetic diversity between coelacanth populations. Among the fish that have been caught were about equal numbers of males and females.<ref name="ref1" />{{rp|38-40}} Population estimates range from 210 individuals per population to 500 per population.<ref name="ref1" />{{rp|39}}<ref name="ref13">{{cite journal |doi=10.1111/j.1523-1739.1998.97060.x |jstor=2387536 |title=Population Monitoring of the Coelacanth (''Latimeria chalumnae'') |year=2008 |last1=Hissmann |first1=Karen |last2=Fricke |first2=Hans |last3=Schauer |first3=Jürgen |journal=Conservation Biology |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=759–65|s2cid=83504862 }}</ref> Because coelacanths have individual color markings, scientists think that they recognize other coelacanths via [[Electroreception and electrogenesis|electric communication]].<ref name="ref12" />

===Feeding===
Coelacanths are nocturnal [[piscivore]]s that feed mainly on [[Benthic zone|benthic]] smaller fish and various [[cephalopod]]s. They are "passive drift feeders", slowly drifting along currents with only minimal self-propulsion, eating whatever prey they encounter.<ref name="ref11" /><ref name="ref12" /> Coelacanths also use their rostral organ for its electroreception to be able to detect nearby prey in low light settings.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bruton |first=Michael |title=The ecology and conservation of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae |publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers |year=1991 |location=Netherlands |pages=313–339 |language=English}}</ref>