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Identification problem
[[Creationist]]s claim that transitional forms between different kinds of creatures are systematically absent.
[[Creationist]]s claim that transitional forms between different kinds of creatures are systematically absent.
Other scientists typically reject this claim. One such attempted rebuttal is that by [[Kathleen Hunt]] who created a Transitional Vertebrate Fossil FAQ.<ref>Hunt, Kathleen, [http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-transitional.html Transitional Vertebrate Fossils FAQ] (Talk.Origins)</ref>
Other scientists typically reject this claim. One such attempted rebuttal is that by [[Kathleen Hunt]] who created a Transitional Vertebrate Fossil FAQ.<ref>Hunt, Kathleen, [http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-transitional.html Transitional Vertebrate Fossils FAQ] (Talk.Origins)</ref>
== Identification problem ==
A major problem with identifying transitional forms is in determining whether a particular fossil or living thing is truly intermediate between two others, or is merely an unrelated form which has characteristics common to both other forms.
[[Archaeopteryx]], for example, has some features in common with both living [[bird]]s and [[reptile]]s, and is often quoted as an intermediate form.
It was not covered with part-[[scale]]s/part-[[feather]]s, but had fully-functioning feathers and [[wing]]s, and was capable of [[flight]].
There is therefore no reason to think that it is not simply a bird with some features in common with reptiles.
Evolutionists have criticised creationists for claiming that if an intermediate form is discovered, it merely creates two gaps where there was previously one.
This criticism ignores the size of the gaps.<ref>Woodmorappe, John, [http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/4248 Does a ‘transitional form’ replace one gap with two gaps?], ''Journal of Creation'' 14(3):5–6, August 2000.</ref>
If the remaining two gaps are large, then the creationist claim is justified.
Rather than simply producing the occasional form which appears to be intermediate between two different forms, evolutionists need to demonstrate what [[Charles Darwin]] called a "finely-graduated organic chain"
{{QuoteBox|Why is not every geological formation and every stratum full of such intermediate links? Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely-graduated organic chain; and this is the most obvious and serious objection which can be urged against the theory.<ref>(reference to come)</ref>}}
Despite many more fossils being discovered since Darwin's time, the continued lack of a series of fossils showing a smooth transition led [[Stephen Jay Gould]] and [[Niles Eldredge]] to propose [[Punctuated Equilibrium]], which says that the change from one form to another took place is short bursts which generally would not leave a fossil trace.
Evolutionists continue to claim that such intermediate forms exist or existed, but have failed to adequately demonstrate any such smooth sequence, as opposed to the occasional form with features common to two other forms.
== Claims of transitional forms ==
== Claims of transitional forms ==