According to a study of fossils from around 375 million years ago, an ancient species of fish had hind legs, which may have been used to walk underwater.
A recent study of fossils from around 375 million years ago reveals an ancient species of fish with hind legs that may have been able to walk underwater.
A previous theory of evolution says that animals adapted hind legs after the move to dry land, but the latest evidence shows that this species of fish, known as Tiktaalik roseae not only had back legs, but also a mobile neck and a robust rib cage like modern mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
Fossils of the front half of the prehistoric fish were found on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic in 2004.
When the hind end was discovered a few years later, analysis of the entire fossil showed researchers some unexpected physical traits.
Doctor Neil Shubin, paleontologist from the University of Chicago, and lead author of the study said: “We had long thought that expanded hind limbs and hips were features of limbed animals. Tiktaalik shows that our closest fish relatives had expanded hips and hind fins; hence, this feature may well have arisen in fish.”
The Tiktaalik fish reportedly grew to be a 9 foot long predator that lived in freshwater.
