The Remarkable Fossil of the "Fishapod," Tiktaalik, Which Lived About

question 87

Essay

The remarkable fossil of the "fishapod," Tiktaalik, which lived about 375 million years ago, is a beautiful example of an intermediate form, having the attributes of both fish (scales, fins) and tetrapods (a flat head, mobile neck). The presence of Tiktaalik and other fossils of other organisms that lived around the same time shows clear evidence that tetrapods were derived from fish, implying that the grouping "fish" is paraphyletic. Imagine now that there was no fossil record. Would it still be possible to determine whether or not "fish" is paraphyletic?

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Definitions:

Mood Changes

Variations in one's emotional state, which can be influenced by various factors including stress, hormonal shifts, and mental health conditions.

Cessation

The action of bringing or coming to an end; a halt.

Teen Birthrate

Teen birthrate refers to the number of live births per 1,000 females within the age group of 15-19 years in a given population.

Ethnic Group

A community or population made up of people who share a common cultural background, ancestry, history, language, or social experiences.