Ventastega curonica and the origin of tetrapod morphology

Per E. Ahlberg (), Jennifer A. Clack, Ervīns Lukševičs, Henning Blom and Ivars Zupiņš
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Per E. Ahlberg: Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18A, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
Jennifer A. Clack: University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
Ervīns Lukševičs: University of Latvia, Rainis Blvd 19, Riga LV-1586, Latvia
Henning Blom: Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18A, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
Ivars Zupiņš: Natural History Museum of Latvia, K. Barona Str. 4, Riga LV-1712, Latvia

Nature, 2008, vol. 453, issue 7199, 1199-1204

Abstract: Abstract The gap in our understanding of the evolutionary transition from fish to tetrapod is beginning to close thanks to the discovery of new intermediate forms such as Tiktaalik roseae. Here we narrow it further by presenting the skull, exceptionally preserved braincase, shoulder girdle and partial pelvis of Ventastega curonica from the Late Devonian of Latvia, a transitional intermediate form between the ‘elpistostegids’ Panderichthys and Tiktaalik and the Devonian tetrapods (limbed vertebrates) Acanthostega and Ichthyostega. Ventastega is the most primitive Devonian tetrapod represented by extensive remains, and casts light on a part of the phylogeny otherwise only represented by fragmentary taxa: it illuminates the origin of principal tetrapod structures and the extent of morphological diversity among the transitional forms.

Date: 2008
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DOI: 10.1038/nature06991

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