Ancient walking mystery deepens

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Ancient walking mystery deepens

By Helen Briggs
BBC News

One of the first creatures to step on land could not have walked on four legs, 3D computer models show.

Textbook pictures of the 360-million-year-old animal moving like a salamander are incorrect, say scientists.

Instead, it would have hauled itself from the water using its front limbs as crutches, research in Nature suggests.

The move from living in water to life on land - a pivotal moment in evolution - must have been a gradual one.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18177493



Reconstruction of the body of Ichthyostega

[Schema Thing]

1. papa!

[sakabatou]

2. Haven't we known that for a few years?

[greyl]

3. Maybe stop calling it "a pivotal moment" then... ;)

Since it was gradual and all.

[applegrove]

4. There is another 'post of photo of your ancestor' thread today in the DU Lounge. Shame on

you for posting another thread on the same topic!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018120833

[damyank913]

5. Kewel...

...I'll fire up the grill.