- Tiktaalik, aka the fishibian or the fishapod, is a large scaled fish that shows a perfect transition between fins and feet, aquatic and land animals. It had fish-like scales, as well as fish-like fin rays and jaw and mouth elements, but it had a shortened skull roof and mobile neck to catch prey, an ear that could hear in both land and water, and a wrist joint that is like those seen in land animals.
- Last year, scientists announced the discovery of Gerobatrachus hottorni, aka the frogamander. Technically, it's a toothed amphibian, but it shows the common origins of frogs and salamanders, scientists say, with a wide skull and large ear drum (like frogs) and two fused ankle bones as seen in salamanders.
This is a blog detailing the creation/evolution/ID controversy and assorted palaeontological news. I will post news here with running commentary.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Short List of Transitional Fossils
Yahoo News has a story from LiveScience editor Robin Lloyd on the record of transitional fossils in the geological column. Most of it is taken from Donald Prothero's excellent book Evolution: What The Fossils Say and Why it Matters. For example:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I will second the recommendation to pick up a copy of "Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why it Matters." A great book for learning the basics on the transitional fossils we currently have.
ReplyDeleteI cannot say enough good things about the way this book tackles the myth of "no transitional fossils" that is continually perpetuated in creationist and ID circles.
ReplyDelete