Abstract
Since the discovery of Latimeria chalumnae, coelacanths have provided a critical comparative framework for reconstructing ancestral sarcopterygian anatomy. However, the function of several anatomical features in both extant and fossil coelacanths remains unresolved. Among these, the presence of large ossified chambers in the body cavity of fossil coelacanths has remained enigmatic, with different studies proposing respiratory or auditory functions. Here, we examine lung and inner ear anatomy based on new observations from synchrotron phase-contrast microCT scans of two 240-million-year-old latimerioid coelacanths, alongside multiple developmental stages of the extant L. chalumnae. These data, combined with archival histological sections of L. chalumnae and 3D reconstructions of a Devonian coelacanth, suggest that extinct coelacanths possessed an ossified lung capable of transmitting sound pressure to auditory sensory epithelia in the inner ear via a perilymphatic system. We propose that the lung of extinct coelacanths supported both respiratory and auditory functions.
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Data availability
The synchrotron scan files of Graulia branchiodonta (MHNG-GEPI-V5787, holotype and MHNG-GEPI-V5787, referred specimen) are available from the ESRF Paleontology Database (https://paleo.esrf.fr/datasets/2015882168 ; https://paleo.esrf.fr/datasets/2015882170)41,42. The synchrotron scan files of Loreleia eucingulata (MHNG-GEPI-V5789, holotype) will be publicly available from the ESRF Paleontology Database (https://paleo.esrf.fr/) along with surface files of the individual bones. The fossil material housed in the Natural History Museum of Geneva is available for study upon request.
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Acknowledgements
We thank N. Alvarez for support with the grant application; K. Jakata for performing synchrotron imaging at the ESRF; R. J. Thoni from the AMNH for providing scans of the historical histological sections of L. chalumnae; H. Dutel for collecting synchrotron data of L. chalumnae; J. M. Fernandez and C. Ferrante for discussions; F. Goussard for technical support; the Swiss National Science Foundation for providing funding (https://data.snf.ch/grants/grant/207903).
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L.C. and L.M. conceived and designed the study. L.M. and K.D. developed the methodology. L.M. and L.C. conducted the investigation. L.M. performed data visualization. L.C. acquired funding, administered the project and supervised the study. L.C. and L.M. wrote the original manuscript. L.M., L.C., G.C., M.H., B.F., P.E.A. and K.D. reviewed and edited the manuscript.
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Manuelli, L., Clément, G., Herbin, M. et al. A dual respiratory and auditory function for the coelacanth lung. Commun Biol (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-09708-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-09708-6
