This week's Nature reports on the discovery of the oldest known animal which
has fully formed legs and feet. The report can be found at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_2089000/2089873.stm
This creature fits in line with the sequence of creatures leading to
amphibians. See http://www.glenn.morton.btinternet.co.uk/transit.htm
I have added the following to that page:
"350 MYR ago. Pederpes finneyae- This creature was discovered at Dumbarton,
Scotland. It has 5 toes on each foot with the exception of a small relict
finger/toe on the forepaw. Because of this, this creature is transitional
between the later amphibians and Acanthostega and Ichthyostega discussed
above (Carroll, 2002, p. 35). This creature has a primitive stapes, the bone
used in hearing and it resembles that of Acanthostega rather than those of
the later amphibians. The expanded triangular flair on the ribs resemble
Ichthyostega. (Clack, 2002, p. 74). But, unlike the early tetrapods this
creature has a "clearly distinguishable metatarsals that are bilaterally and
proximodistally asymmetric." (Clack, 2002, p.75). This is a trait which it
shares only with the later terrestrially adapted amphibians. Thus, once
again, this creature shows intermediate or transitional traits. Those who
erroneously claim transitional forms don't exist, haven't looked at the
data."
glenn
see http://www.glenn.morton.btinternet.co.uk/dmd.htm
for lots of creation/evolution information
anthropology/geology/paleontology/theology\
personal stories of struggle
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