National Geographic are reporting on a new fossil fish found in West Australia, which has some tantalising intermediate forms between ordinary fish and air breathers. It seems that Gogonasus (the Inspector Gadget of evolution?) had precursors to the Eustachian tube and the inner ear, and also had nostrils of an air breather. It also had robust fins, with the homologous bones of a land dwelling tetrapod. Although it is unlikely to have gone on land, it fills in a gap nicely between sea and land dwellers like Tiktalik.
- Log in to post comments