prehistoric life Archive
A Really Good Day For Science
Boo-ya! The “missing link” between fish and land dwelling animals has been discovered 600 miles from the North Pole!
Here is a link to the New York Times article; here’s one for Nature, and here’s one for the University of Chicago — any of those can explain it more greater detail, but essentially: gills, fins, scales like a fish, shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints capable of supporting weight on land, a neck, and interlocking ribs (found in most animals with lungs) like an amphibian.
It’s called Tiktaalik roseae. Tiktaalik is Inuktikuk for “large, shallow water fish.” Since the fossils — ranging from four to nine feet in length — were discovered in Nunavut territory, the Elders Council of the Nunavut had the honor of naming the beastie.
So… we have a transitional form between dinosaurs and birds, Archaeopteryx. And we have a land-dwelling ancestor of the whale, Pakicetus, and now, Tiktaalik. Time to eat yer hats, creationists!
Also: A new oviraptor species, Hagryphus giganteus, was announced by the University of Utah. This puppy was about seven feet tall, feathered, and birdlike. You can’t have enough new dinosaurs, truly.
