Ichthyostega
genus of tetrapodomorphs (fossil) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ichthyostega (meaning 'roof fish') is an extinct fishapod. It lived in Greenland during the Late Devonian. Ichthyostega was one of the first vertebrates with four limbs. It was also one of the first that could hold its weight on land. Ichthyostega had lungs and limbs that helped it live in shallow water in swamps. While Ichthyostega is often called a 'tetrapod' because of its limbs and fingers, it evolved long before true tetrapods, and is better called a 'stem tetrapod'. Also, while Ichthyostega looked like an amphibian, it is not really one, as the first modern amphibians (members of the group Lissamphibia) appeared in the Triassic Period. Until other early fishapods were found in the late 20th century, Ichthyostega was the only transitional fossil between fish and tetrapods, with features of both. Scientists thought it moved similar to a salamander, but newer research has shown that it moved more similar to a seal.[3]
Ichthyostega | |
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Reconstructed skeleton in Moscow Paleontological Museum | |
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Drawing of the skeleton | |
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Family: | Ichthyostegidae Säve-Söderbergh, 1932 |
Genus: | Ichthyostega Säve-Söderbergh, 1932 |
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†Ichthyostega stensioei Säve-Söderbergh, 1932 | |
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