Coelacanthus ("hollow spine") is a genus of extinct marine coelacanths known from the late Permian period.

The only definitive species in this genus is C. granulatus from the late Permian (Wuchiapingian stage) Kupferschiefer of Germany and equivalent Marl Slate of England.

[6] The following are considered species that likely do not belong to this genus due to either lack of phylogenetic analysis or incomplete remains, but have not yet been reclassified:[2] Coelacanthus bears a superficial similarity to the living coelacanth Latimeria, though it was smaller, and had a more elongated head.

Individuals grew up to 0.7 metres (2.3 ft) in length, had an elongate codavypter or supplementary tail lobe, and had small lobed fins, suggesting that Coelacanthus were open-water predators.

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