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Journal article
A new elpistostegalian from the Late Devonian of the Canadian Arctic
Nature (London), v 608(7923), pp 563-3
18 Aug 2022
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Abstract
A fundamental gap in the study ofthe origin of limbed vertebrates lies in understanding the morphological and functional diversity of their closest relatives. Whereas analyses of the elpistostegalians Panderichthysrhombolepis, Tiktaalikroseae and Elpistostege watsoni have revealed a sequence of changes in locomotor, feeding and respiratory structures during the transition, an isolated bone, a putative humerus, has controversially hinted at a wider range in form and function than now recognized. Here we report the discovery of a new elpistostegalian from the Late Devonian period of the Canadian Arctic that shows surprising disparity in the group. The specimen includes partial upper and lower jaws, pharyngeal elements, a pectoral fin and scalation. This new genus is phylogenetically proximate to T. roseae and E. watsoni but evinces notable differences from both taxa and, indeed, other described tetrapodomorphs. Lacking processes, joint orientations and muscle scars indicative of appendage-based support on a hard substrate, its pectoral fin shows specializations for swimming that are unlike those known from other sarcopterygians. This unexpected morphological and functional diversity represents a previously hidden ecological expansion, a secondary return to open water, near the origin of limbed vertebrates.
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Details
- Title
- A new elpistostegalian from the Late Devonian of the Canadian Arctic
- Creators
- Thomas Stewart - University of ChicagoJustin Lemberg - University of ChicagoAilis Daly - University of ChicagoEdward Daeschler - Drexel UniversityNeil Shubin - University of Chicago
- Publication Details
- Nature (London), v 608(7923), pp 563-3
- Publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000828280500004
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85134511510
- Other Identifier
- 991019169520604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Multidisciplinary Sciences