Tiktaalik

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Tiktaalik
Tiktaalik.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Subkingdom Bilateria
Phylum Information
Phylum Chordata
Sub-phylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Information
Class Osteichthyes
Sub-class Sarcopterygii
Infra-class Tetrapodomorpha
Genus Information
Genus Tiktaalik
Species Information
Species T. roseae
Population statistics
Conservation status Extinct

Tiktaalik roseae is an extinct lobe-finned fish. Evolutionists claim it is from the Devonian period. It has been dubbed a "fishapod" by one of its discovers, Neil Shubin, and is falsely claimed to be a transitional form between fish and tetrapods (in this case, amphibians). It is dated by evolutionists at approximately 375 million years, while young earth creation scientists hold that it was fossalized during The Great Flood around 4500 years ago.

As a transitional

Tiktaalik was clearly aquatic and was clearly a fish. However, it has several features which resemble those of amphibians, considered the earliest tetrapods. Its front fins contain primitive wrist bones and even bones which resemble fingers, suggesting that Tiktaalik used its fins to bear weight, though most likely not to actually walk. Tiktaalik also had a neck, a distinctly tetrapod feature. It probably had primitive lungs in addition to gills. It also had its eyes on the top of its head, similar to the position of the eyes in amphibians such as salamanders.

As a fish

Despite its tetrapod-like features, creationists contend that it was simply a specialized fish. Though its fins somewhat resemble limbs, they were not connected to its vertebra, meaning two things: Tiktaalik itself certainly could not walk like a true tetrapod, and the fin bones would have to become fused to the vertebra in order for the evolution of tetrapods to be complete.

Also, several living species of fish exhibit the ability to "walk" or crawl over land using their fins,[1] though these fish are not considered significant in the fish-to-tetrapods issue.

Reconstruction of Tiktaalik

The above image is from the National Science Foundation, a U.S. Government agency to fund science. While reconstructions such as this one appear to show what the species in question may have looked like, the true appearance of Tiktaalik is unknown. Notably, the difference in appearance between the head and the "shoulder" area is speculative, as is the implication in the image that Tiktaalik walked on land. It is equally plausible that it used its robust fins to "walk" on the sea floor, helping it to catch prey in an alligator-like manner. Although the tail and rear fins are displayed in the artist's interpretation, no evidence of either has been located yet.

References

  1. http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/aid/v1/n1/story-walking-fish