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The Early Evolution of the Tetrapod Humerus
Journal article   Peer reviewed

The Early Evolution of the Tetrapod Humerus

Neil H. Shubin, Edward B. Daeschler and Michael I. Coates
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), v 304(5667)
02 Apr 2004
PMID: 15064415

Abstract

A tetrapod humerus from the Late Devonian of Pennsylvania has a novel mix of primitive and derived characters. A comparative analysis of this fossil and other relevant humeri from the Devonian shows that the role of the limb in propping the body arose first in fish fins, not tetrapod limbs. The functional diversity of the earliest known limbs includes several different kinds of appendage design. This functional diversity was achieved with a humeral architecture that was remarkably conserved during the Devonian.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Multidisciplinary Sciences
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