It is very interesting that the replica seems to be based quite closely on the subject of the Japanese coelacanth video. The color is spot on and the spot and fleck pattern is nearly identical. If you look at the gills of these replicas in the pictures I provided, you’ll even see the white lines that are also evident on the coelacanth in the video. I’m positive this replica is based on that specimen, which is why we see the blackish, greenish color rather than the brown so often attributed to Indonesian coelacanth.

Loren and I have done a little digging on these replicas, and two collectors had never seen anything like them before in the trade. Neither were these replicas available at the online store for Colorata (the company that makes them). So it seems they are either a very limited edition or uniquely provided to that aquarium.

This prompted me to call the aquarium and the person I spoke with was under the impression that these replicas are made specially for that aquarium. If this is true, then they are extremely rare and very unique.

Once again, I am pleased to have been able to obtain these special replicas for Loren.

The “Living Fossil” is one of my favorites.

I wonder if Brent caught wind of a program last week on NHK Japan TV Network. It featured an electrical engineer who in his spare time makes working robotic models of certain sea creatures
for children to learn about and enjoy. One was a 1/3 scale model of a coelacanth. Very detailed down to the colors and scales. Others included a great white, whale shark, orca, manta ray, beluga whale, manatee and sea turtle all in smaller scale. He had their movements down pat. A really interesting program.