The pectoral fin of Tiktaalik roseae and the origin of the tetrapod limb
Abstract
Wrists, ankles and digits distinguish tetrapod limbs from fins, but direct evidence on the origin of these features has been unavailable. Here we describe the pectoral appendage of a member of the sister group of tetrapods, Tiktaalik roseae, which is morphologically and functionally transitional between a fin and a limb. The expanded array of distal endochondral bones and synovial joints in the fin of Tiktaalik is similar to the distal limb pattern of basal tetrapods. The fin of Tiktaalik was capable of a range of postures, including a limb-like substrate-supported stance in which the shoulder and elbow were flexed and the distal skeleton extended. The origin of limbs probably involved the elaboration and proliferation of features already present in the fins of fish such as Tiktaalik.
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Fossils from transitional species such as Tiktaalik, Acanthostega, and Ichthyostega have helped identify key morphological and anatomical structures crucial to vertebrate terrestrial adaptation.
“Many fossils from important transitional species, such as Tiktaalik, Acanthostega, and Ichthyostega, have helped to identify key morphological and anatomical structures crucial to vertebrate terrestrial adaptation (Coates, 1996; Johanson & Ahlberg, 2001; Shubin et al., 2006).”
From Ancestral developmental potentials in early bony fish contributed to vertebrate water-to-land transition (2021) · cites this paper as Shubin et al., 2006
Geological and anatomical evidence is strongly indicative that Tiktaalik was an animal interacting with the substrate in an aquatic context.
“Geological and anatomical evidence is strongly indicative that Tiktaalik was an animal interacting with the substrate in an aquatic context (12, 42, 43).”
From Fin ray patterns at the fin-to-limb transition (2020) · cites this paper as [12]
The consolidated rays and reduced fin length in Tiktaalik are consistent with previous predictions that its paired fins were adapted for interaction with the substrate and suggest selection for a stiffened fin web.
“The consolidated rays and reduced fin length in Tiktaalik are, therefore, consistent with previous predictions that its paired fins were adapted for interaction with the substrate (12) and suggest selection for a stiffened fin web.”
From Fin ray patterns at the fin-to-limb transition (2020) · cites this paper as [12]
Previous analysis of the pectoral fin endoskeleton and girdle of Tiktaalik predicted that the animal was capable of propping its body off of the substrate, achieving an elevated, fin-supported stance through flexure of the shoulder and elbow and extension of the endoskeleton distal to the ulnare and intermedium.
“Previous analysis of the pectoral fin endoskeleton and girdle of Tiktaalik predicted that the animal was capable of propping its body off of the substrate, achieving an elevated, fin-supported stance through flexure of the shoulder and elbow and extension of the endoskeleton distal to the ulnare and intermedium (12).”
From Fin ray patterns at the fin-to-limb transition (2020) · cites this paper as [12]
Cites
A Devonian tetrapod-like fish and the evolution of the tetrapod body plan
Daeschler, E. B., Shubin, N. H., & Jenkins, F. A. (2006) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature04639 · Cited by 442 · see citing works
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A Devonian tetrapod-like fish and the evolution of the tetrapod body plan
Daeschler, E. B., Shubin, N. H., & Jenkins, F. A. (2006) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature04639 · Cited by 442 · see citing works
Self-citationRokas, A., & Carroll, S. B. (2006) · PLoS Biology · doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0040352 · Cited by 315 · see citing works
Tetrapod trackways from the early Middle Devonian period of Poland
Niedźwiedzki, G., Szrek, P., Narkiewicz, K., Narkiewicz, M., & Ahlberg, P. E. (2010) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature08623 · Cited by 296 · see citing works
SCALE AND HIERARCHY IN MACROEVOLUTION
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The origin of higher taxa: macroevolutionary processes, and the case of the mammals
Kemp, T. S. (2007) · Acta Zoologica · doi:10.1111/j.1463-6395.2007.00248.x · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Stem sarcopterygians have primitive polybasal fin articulation
Zhu, M., & Yu, X. (2009) · Biology Letters · doi:10.1098/rsbl.2008.0784 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Fin ray patterns at the fin-to-limb transition
Stewart, T. A., Lemberg, J. B., Taft, N. K., Yoo, I., Daeschler, E. B., & Shubin, N. H. (2020) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1915983117 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
“Previous analysis of the pectoral fin endoskeleton and girdle of Tiktaalik predicted that the animal was capable of propping its body off of the substrate, achieving an elevated, fin-supported stance through flexure of the shoulder and elbow and extension of the endoskeleton distal to the ulnare and intermedium (12).”
InfluentialSelf-citationGravity, Microgravity and Artificial Gravity: Physiological Effects, Implementation and Applications
Goswami, N., Blaber, A. P., Valenti, G., Hinghofer-Szalkay, H., Evans, J., Bailey, D. M., Vernikos, J., Choukér, A., Green, D. A., White, O., et al. (2026) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.00055.2024 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Bi, X.-P., 深圳518083，中国, 深., BGI-Shenzhen, S., Zhang, G.-J., 650223，中国, 中. 昆., 650223，中国, 中. 昆., Villum Center for Biodiversity Genomics, S. F. E. A. E., Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, C. A. O. S., State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, K. I. O. Z., & Villum Center for Biodiversity Genomics, S. F. E. A. E. (2021) · Zoological Research · doi:10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.066 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“Many fossils from important transitional species, such as Tiktaalik, Acanthostega, and Ichthyostega, have helped to identify key morphological and anatomical structures crucial to vertebrate terrestrial adaptation (Coates, 1996; Johanson & Ahlberg, 2001; Shubin et al., 2006).”
- Authors
- Shubin, N. H., Daeschler, E. B., & Jenkins, F. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Shubin, Neil H.
- ORCID
- Shubin, Neil H.
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 2006-04
- Volume
- 440
- Issue
- 7085
- Pages
- 764-771
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W2007875088
- Cited by
- 377
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 25 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 18.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Keywords
- pectoral fin, fin-to-limb transition, Devonian fishes, endochondral bone, synovial joints, wrist, digits, vertebrate evolution, transitional fossils
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Environment, Biological Evolution, Extremities, Fishes, Fossils, Water, History, Ancient
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