The ancestor of all land vertebrates was a fish with a functional neck
The transformation from fish to land dweller is epitomized by Tiktaalik, a 375-million-year-old 'fishapod' that possessed a functional neck and limbs capable of performing push-ups.
Tiktaalik roseae, discovered in the shales of Ellesmere Island, serves as a critical evolutionary bridge between lobe-finned fish and the first four-legged land animals. Living approximately 375 million years ago during the Devonian period, this 'fishapod' possessed scales and gills but also featured a flat head with eyes on top and a mobile neck—a trait absent in typical fish. Its pectoral fins contained a primitive wrist and finger-like bones, allowing it to support its weight in shallow water or mud.
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