The fossil fish Tiktaalik made headlines in 2005 because it
A) was preserved with a hook in its mouth and represents the oldest evidence of human fishing.
B) was the largest shark ever recovered from the fossil record.
C) represents a transitional form between lobe-finned fish and terrestrial vertebrates.
D) was found alive in the modern deep ocean; previously,the fish was thought to be extinct.

Question

The fossil fish Tiktaalik made headlines in 2005 because it 
A) was preserved with a hook in its mouth and represents the oldest evidence of human fishing. 
B) was the largest shark ever recovered from the fossil record. 
C) represents a transitional form between lobe-finned fish and terrestrial vertebrates. 
D) was found alive in the modern deep ocean; previously,the fish was thought to be extinct.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tiktaalik is an important transitional fossil because it exhibits both fish-like traits (such as gills, scales, and fins) and tetrapod-like traits (such as a flattened skull, neck, and robust ribcage) that suggest it was capable of supporting itself on land. Its discovery provides critical evidence for the evolution of vertebrates from fish to land-dwelling animals.

The Fossil Fish Tiktaalik Made Headlines in 2005 Because It