Coelacanth InGen File
Real-world Information
The Coelacanths (Latimeria chalumnae and Latimeria menadoensis) are the last known remaining modern representatives of the Coelacanthiformes, an order of sarcopterygian bony fish that dates back to the Early Devonian.
The word "coelacanth" is Greek for "hollow spine", and refers to the fish's unique hollow spine fins. Thick scales act as armour to protect the fish from predators. Using its 8 different fins, the coelacanth is extremely maneuverable in the water, and can easily orient itself in almost any direction in the water.
Coelacanths among ancient ruins.
Modern coelacanths are nocturnal, piscivorous drift-hunters found exclusively in the deep, relatively unexplored depths of the Indian Ocean. Prehistoric coelacanths however were hugely diverse, ranging from the slow, swamp-dwelling giant Mawsonia, to the fast, active open-ocean pursuit predator Rebellatrix.
Coelacanths are oviviviparous, meaning that after mating, the female incubates the fertilized eggs inside her body, and then gives birth to live young just over a year later.
Due to their flesh containing high amounts of oil, urea, wax esters and other such nastiness, coelacanths are a poor food source for humans and hard for us to digest. Eating them can cause diarrhea!
JP Information
In order to keep coelacanths, you will need a very deep (and preferably dark) body of saltwater, ideally with some large rock formations for the fish to hide behind if threatened.
Although borderline inedible to humans, it is able to be processed very easily by the specialized digestive systems of spinosaurid dinosaurs and most large predatory marine reptiles.
In-game Information
The coelacanth (scheduled to arrive in the upcoming 2.1.0 version of the mod) is the first aquatic species in Jurassicraft 2. This non-imprintable (see Taming) fish is generally passive towards most other creatures and will flee when attacked, but it will hunt smaller fish, squid and poorly located chickens when hungry. They will also eat Krill and Plankton. The coelacanth has around 10 HP of health and deals about 2 HP of damage per attack.
Also note that coelacanth meat is not at all recommended for consumption by players! Raw coelacanth meat inflicts Poison and Nausea effects when eaten, while cooked coelacanth meat only inflicts Nausea. However, specialized piscivores (like spinosaurids and mosasaurids) can eat either of these items without any side effects.
As the coelacanth doesn't lay eggs, you will need a Cultivator to gestate it.