Journal article
The pectoral fin of Tiktaalik roseae and the origin of the tetrapod limb
Nature (London), v 440(7085), pp 764-771
06 Apr 2006
PMID: 16598250
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Wrists, ankles and digits distinguish tetrapod limbs from fins, but direct evidence on the origin of these features has been unavailable. Here we describe the pectoral appendage of a member of the sister group of tetrapods, Tiktaalik roseae, which is morphologically and functionally transitional between a fin and a limb. The expanded array of distal endochondral bones and synovial joints in the fin of Tiktaalik is similar to the distal limb pattern of basal tetrapods. The fin of Tiktaalik was capable of a range of postures, including a limb-like substrate-supported stance in which the shoulder and elbow were flexed and the distal skeleton extended. The origin of limbs probably involved the elaboration and proliferation of features already present in the fins of fish such as Tiktaalik.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- The pectoral fin of Tiktaalik roseae and the origin of the tetrapod limb
- Creators
- Neil H. Shubin - University of ChicagoEdward B. Daeschler - Drexel University, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel UniversityFarish A. Jenkins - Harvard University
- Publication Details
- Nature (London), v 440(7085), pp 764-771
- Publisher
- Macmillan Journals
- Number of pages
- 8
- 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:000236548400034
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-33645745783
- Other Identifier
- 991019168127904721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Multidisciplinary Sciences