FINDING ‘OLD FOURLEGS’: THE MOST RECENT STORY OF THE COELACANTH
Professor Mike Bruton, ichthyologist, museum and science centre development consultant
Monday 27 January 1.00 pm COURSE FEES R110; Staff and students R55
The discovery of a living coelacanth off East London in 1938 was one of the most dramatic scientific finds of the twentieth century. The subsequent discovery of populations of this iconic fish off South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Comoros and Madagascar, and of another living coelacanth species off Indonesia, has renewed worldwide interest in this ancient fish that has provided an unprecedented window into the past. The sequencing of the coelacanth’s genome, the identification of their prime habitats and studies of their behaviour in the natural environment in the isiMangaliso Wetland Park in Zululand and off the South Coast of Kwazulu- Natal have added intriguing new insights to this famous scientific quest. The lecturer, who has been involved with the coelacanth throughout his career, reviews the latest exciting findings.
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Mike Bruton originally practised as an ichthyologist and aquatic ecologist before branching out into museum and science centre development. He has had a lifetime intetest in the history of the bocyle and has mounted two travelling exhibitions on the topic. He is also the curator of the recently-established Trail’s End Bicycle Museum in Grabouw. In retirement he has focussed on public understanding of science and technology and has published numerous books on South African and African scientists and inventors.