African Lungfish Has Scientists Rethinking 100's Of Millions Of Years Of Evolutionary History

Business Insider ^ | 12/14/2011 | Dina Spector

[SeekAndFind]

A fish that uses its fins to walk across the floor is causing scientists to rethink the evolution of walking on land, according to a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers at the University of Chicago observed an African lungfish using its pelvic fins "as hind legs to propel itself along the bottom of the tank," reports Victoria Gill and Jason Palmer at BBC News.

This could mean that our ability to walk developed underwater—before creatures grew toes or limbs necessary to move on land—essentially rewriting hundreds of millions of years of evolutionary history.

Previously, scientists thought that terrestrial mobility was an innovation of tetrapods, or animals with four limbs that have backbones.

Vertebrates are believed to have evolved from fish with the ability to breathe air, also known as lungfish.

"This study tells us that walking behaviors are not exclusive to tetrapods in that period and suggests that the evolutionary route to land walking began with their finny forebears," says James Owen at National Geographic News.

The finding also suggests that ancestors of the lungfish may be responsible for old fossil tracks recently discovered by scientists, instead of the earliest four-legged animals.

[oh8eleven]

Researchers at the University of Chicago observed an African lungfish using its pelvic fins ...
This can't be new ... I read about this 50 years ago.
Gotta' be about the grant money.

[Sacajaweau]

They’re sooooooo confused. Bet God is laughing!!

[Steely Tom]

I thought “evolutionary history” was “settled.” I was under the impression that evolution represented a “scientific consensus” and, for that reason, anyone who questioned it was a crank.

[ully2]

Yep, we will have to study this further, send the money.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

New TV series coming out,
“My Mother, The Lungfish.”

[Secret Agent Man]

I bet He is. Never-ending rationalization of any kind can reduce anyone watching, to laughing.

Just watch a drunk on camera explain to the officer he’s not drunk.

Just watch a crook caught with a bunch of stolen stuff on their person explain how it all got there.

[mamelukesabre]

looks to me like a salamander that is de-evolving.

[YoungCurmudgeon]

We had an African lungfish in our home aquarium for about 8 years. It was a great fish. He definitely got people's attention when they came over to out house. He'd go to the surface and take a huge breath every so often and yes, he'd use his pectoral ‘fins’ to move around and to ‘stand’ vertically in the tank. Powerful jaws. He could crush a snail into a paste without effort. He grew to well over two feet long and when he died we had a difficult time lifting him out of the tank (it took two people). We made a plaster cast of him, but have never gotten around to making a mold.

But regarding the scientific study referenced here, whatever Mr. Scientist. Get your grant money and pretend to work.

[presently no screen name]

before creatures grew toes or limbs necessary to move on land—

Well, then, there is hope scientists will grow another brain - the current one is contaminated by deception.

[presently no screen name]

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Cor 1:27

[bunkerhill7]

African BlowHardfish Found in Kenya Has Scientists Rethinking 100’s Of Millions Of Years Of Obummer`s Evolutionary History

[blueunicorn6]

Take a look at Joy Behar, and then take a look at a Sea Cucumber. Evolution? They’re the same thing.

[Daffynition]

Leave her aloooooooone!

[count-your-change]

The result of lung fish development is that this trait of under water walking expressed itself in humans wearing heavy suits to walk around under water.
But strong evolutionary pressure made them develop into aqua lung fish and they lost the ability to walk under water but gained the ability walk freely on land wearing their gear.
At the same time they developed fins and began to swim in packs. Today some humans are known as Finns and have a desire to eat fish, obviously an inherited characteristic.

[FrogMom]

Possible interest over here.

[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
Thanks FrogMom. Getting a Leg Up on Land [Evolution] Newly found species fills evolutionary gap between fish and land animals Fisherman catches 'living fossil' To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[null and void]

looks to me like a salamander that is de-evolving.

Watch it, buddy.

[1010RD]

I too cannot see anything new in this ‘discovery’.