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Pelvic girdle and fin of Tiktaalik roseae
Journal article   Open access

Pelvic girdle and fin of Tiktaalik roseae

Neil H. Shubin, Edward B. Daeschler and Farish A. Jenkins
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, v 111(3), pp 893-899
21 Jan 2014
PMID: 24449831
url
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1322559111View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze) Open

Abstract

Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology Science & Technology - Other Topics
A major challenge in understanding the origin of terrestrial vertebrates has been knowledge of the pelvis and hind appendage of their closest fish relatives. The pelvic girdle and appendage of tetrapods is dramatically larger and more robust than that of fish and contains a number of structures that provide greater musculoskeletal support for posture and locomotion. The discovery of pelvic material of the finned elpistostegalian, Tiktaalik roseae, bridges some of these differences. Multiple isolated pelves have been recovered, each of which has been prepared in three dimensions. Likewise, a complete pelvis and partial pelvic fin have been recovered in association with the type specimen. The pelves of Tiktaalik are paired and have broad iliac processes, flat and elongate pubes, and acetabulae that form a deep socket rimmed by a robust lip of bone. The pelvis is greatly enlarged relative to other finned tetrapodomorphs. Despite the enlargement and robusticity of the pelvis of Tiktaalik, it retains primitive features such as the lack of both an attachment for the sacral rib and an ischium. The pelvic fin of Tiktaalik (NUFV 108) is represented by fin rays and three endochondral elements: other elements are not preserved. The mosaic of primitive and derived features in Tiktaalik reveals that the enhancement of the pelvic appendage of tetrapods and, indeed, a trend toward hind limb-based propulsion have antecedents in the fins of their closest relatives.

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Multidisciplinary Sciences
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