Scientists are learning more about how some fish became landlubbers. According to a new study of a "missing link" fossil presented recently at the annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, these adventurous swimmers were already losing their ability to feed by suction before their fins evolved into limbs. By giving up the skill, which involves deforming the skull to create a vacuum that draws in prey, the fish were more able to raise their heads out of the water--and breathe air. (source: sciencenow.sciencemag.org)
|
