Scientists have unearthed a skull of the most primitive four-legged creature in the earth’s history, which should help them better understand the evolution of fish to advanced animals that walk on land.
The 365-million-year-old fossil skull, shoulders and part of the pelvis of the water-dweller, Ventastega curonica, were found in Latvia, researchers report in a study being published in Thursday’s issue of Nature.
Even though Ventastega is likely an evolutionary deadend, the finding sheds details on the evolutionary transition from fish to tetrapods. Tetrapods are animals with four limbs and include such descendents as amphibians, birds and mammals.
The team did not find the legs or toes of Ventastega, but was able to deduce that it was four-limbed because parts of its pelvis and the shoulders were found. From their shapes, scientists were able to conclude that limbs, not fins, were attached to Ventastega. – AP
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, June 26, 2008
For Info on ‘Ventastega’ from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventastega
Article from ScienceNews: “Fossil helps document shift from sea to land”
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/33623/title/Fossil_helps_document_shift_from_sea_to_land
Article from BBC News: “Fossil fills out water-land leap”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7473470.stm
Grateful thanks to AP, The Hindu, Wikipedia, ScienceNews and BBC News.
The 365-million-year-old fossil skull, shoulders and part of the pelvis of the water-dweller, Ventastega curonica, were found in Latvia, researchers report in a study being published in Thursday’s issue of Nature.
Even though Ventastega is likely an evolutionary deadend, the finding sheds details on the evolutionary transition from fish to tetrapods. Tetrapods are animals with four limbs and include such descendents as amphibians, birds and mammals.
The team did not find the legs or toes of Ventastega, but was able to deduce that it was four-limbed because parts of its pelvis and the shoulders were found. From their shapes, scientists were able to conclude that limbs, not fins, were attached to Ventastega. – AP
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, June 26, 2008
For Info on ‘Ventastega’ from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventastega
Article from ScienceNews: “Fossil helps document shift from sea to land”
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/33623/title/Fossil_helps_document_shift_from_sea_to_land
Article from BBC News: “Fossil fills out water-land leap”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7473470.stm
Grateful thanks to AP, The Hindu, Wikipedia, ScienceNews and BBC News.
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