375 Million Year Old Fish Fossil Reveals Link From Fins to Feet

Evolve!

All animals with four limbs – reptiles, birds, amphibians and even humans – descended from common ancestors that made that initial transition from fins to feet. But how and why this evolutionary leap occurred has long been a scientific puzzle.

Now, the partial remains of a 375-million-year-old fish have emerged to help fill in some of the blanks. Paleontologists have uncovered new fossils from Tiktaalik roseae, which, while still a fish, is considered a transitional fossil that also has traits common to the first four-footed animals.