The third dimension: a novel set-up for filming coelacanths in their natural environment

1: Here we describe a novel design to obtain three dimensional data on the movements of aquatic organisms at depths of up to 140 meters. 2: The setup consists of two synchronized high-speed cameras fixed to two articulated arms. 3: The setup was successfully used to film and quantify the locomotion of coelacanths (Latimeria chalumnae) living at a depth of about 120 meters in Sodwana Bay, South Africa. As an example, the detailed motion of the dorsal fin is presented here. 4: This setup can be used for any underwater applications that require synchronized video recordings of medium to large sized animals. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.