Prelude: the mystery of a persistent life form.- Introduction: the recent chronology and contributions.- Systematics and evolution.- Patterns, trends, and rates of evolution within the Actinistia.- Diversity of extinct and living actinistian fishes (Sarcopterygii).- Latimeria chalumnae and its pedigree.- A phylogenetic analysis of the 18S ribosomal RNA sequence of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae.- The relationships of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae: evidence from sequences of vertebrate 28S ribosomal RNA genes.- Central nervous system myelin proteins of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae: phylogenetic implications.- Morphology and physiology.- Innervation of the basicranial muscle of Latimeria chalumnae.- Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging studies of Latimeria chalumnae.- CT scan reconstruction of the palate region of Latimeria chalumnae.- Enzymes of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae evidenced by starch gel electrophoresis.- Guppies, toadfish, lungfish, coelacanths and frogs: a scenario for the evolution of urea retention in fishes.- Urea and chloride sensitivities of coelacanth hemoglobin.- Reproduction, feeding and parasites.- Viviparity and the maternal-embryonic relationship in the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae.- Probable evolution of the coelacanth's reproductive style: lecithotrophy and orally feeding embryos in cichlid fishes and in Latimeria chalumnae.- Observations on locomotion and feeding of released coelacanths, Latimeria chalumnae.- Stomach contents of Latimeria chalumnae and further notes on its feeding habits.- Juvenile anisakine parasites from the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae.- Ecology and conservation.- Habitat and population size of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae at Grand Comoro.- The demography of the coelacanthLatimeria chalumnae.- The ecology and conservation of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae.- The fishery of the Comoros, with comments on its possible impact on coelacanth survival.- Occurrence of organochlorine contaminants in tissues of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae.- Inventory and bibliography.- An inventory of all known specimens of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae, with comments on trends in the catches.- Literature relating to fossil coelacanths.- Bibliography of the living coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae, with comments on publication trends.- Species and subject index.