Shubin is credited with having discovered what is often referred to as a missing link in evolution. He discovered Tiktaalik, a species that represents the transition from water to land. Tiktaalik is of special interest because it has features of both tetrapods and fish. Shubin states that “Tiktaalik’s message is so straightforward even preschoolers can see it. For our purposes, there is an even more profound take on Tiktaalik. This fish doesn’t just tell us about fish; it also contains a piece of us” This fish was the first one discovered that has its head free from the shoulder, as in humans. This trait can be explained by the loss of several small bones in a fish similar to Tiktaalik. Furthermore, Tiktaalik has tetrapod featured like a flat head and neck but also fish features such as scales and fins. It is clearly a transitional fossil that shows when fish started to venture out onto land.
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