The fossil fish Tiktaalik made headlines in 2005 because it
A)was preserved with a hook in its mouth and is 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 is 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 known for representing a transitional form between lobe-finned fish and terrestrial vertebrates, providing important insights into the evolution of early tetrapods (four-legged animals). The species was discovered in 2004 and described in 2006, and its well-preserved skeleton showed a mix of fish-like and tetrapod-like characteristics, such as limb-like fins, a mobile neck, and lungs or lung-like structures. Tiktaalik lived about 375 million years ago in shallow freshwater environments in what is now Canada. It is not known to have been caught by humans or to have had any connection with human fishing.

The Fossil Fish Tiktaalik Made Headlines in 2005 Because It