Journal article
New pectoral fin material from the Late Devonian of Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada and diversity of the radius in finned tetrapodomorphs
Journal of vertebrate paleontology, Forthcoming
03 Sep 2026
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Abstract
The paired fins of stem tetrapods (tetrapodomorphs) have been studied extensively to understand both the phylogenetic framework of early tetrapods and the functional context of the fin-to-limb transition. Attention has predominantly been focused on a few exemplar taxa with well-preserved pectoral fins, and macroevolutionary investigations on individual fin elements have, thus far, focused solely on the humerus. Here we present new isolated pectoral fin material (NUFV 1593) from the Late Devonian of Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada that we identify as likely belonging to an elpistostegalian tetrapodomorph. NUFV 1593 is characterized by a slender, triangular radius and an intermedium with a prominent ventral groove, resembling features known from its contemporary Tiktaalik roseae. Geometric morphometric analyses of tetrapodomorph radii placed NUFV 1593 in a region of morphospace populated by elpistostegalians. However, the anatomy of NUFV 1593 shows a combination of distinctive features that we cannot attribute to any existing taxon. Differences include the relative proportions of the radius and intermedium, and the number of fin rays. Notably, the radius bears a bean-shaped proximal articular facet that is slender and dorsoventrally narrower than the rounded facets of described tetrapodomorphs, implying a movement pattern at the humeroradial joint not previously observed within the clade. The new material expands the functional diversity of tetrapodomorph fins and highlights the importance of incomplete material for understanding the evolution of the closest relatives of limbed vertebrates.
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Details
- Title
- New pectoral fin material from the Late Devonian of Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada and diversity of the radius in finned tetrapodomorphs
- Creators
- Yunyan Mo - Pennsylvania State UniversityYara Haridy - University of ChicagoMichelle Gilbert - Pennsylvania State UniversityEdward B. Daeschler - Drexel UniversityNeil H. Shubin - University of ChicagoThomas A. Stewart - Pennsylvania State University
- Publication Details
- Journal of vertebrate paleontology, Forthcoming
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- Iviq Hunter Trappers Organization Hamlet of Grise Fiord Polar Continental Shelf Program of Natural Resources Canada Department of Heritage and Culture, Nunavut Canadian Museum of Nature Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Brinson Foundation Penn State University Department of Biology PSU Braddock Award
Fieldwork was supported by the Iviq Hunter Trappers Organization; Hamlet of Grise Fiord; Polar Continental Shelf Program of Natural Resources Canada; the Department of Heritage and Culture, Nunavut; and the Canadian Museum of Nature. Specimen photos were taken by Brian Engh. The research was supported by the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University; the Biological Sciences Division of The University of Chicago, The Brinson Foundation, Penn State University Department of Biology and the PSU Braddock Award.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES); Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001866865900001
- Other Identifier
- 991022207147104721