Tenth Class: Tiktaalik and Evolution

In this class we looked at the extinct creature the tiktaalik.  This is a transitional fossil that adds one more important link in the long chain of evolution.  The change from fish to animals was a slow one with many holes along the way, but the tiktaalik was an important step in the process.  There is still fossils between the tiktaalik and those around it, but it did fill a gap.  This is what finding any new species does, it fills gaps so that we can explain why animals are very different from their ancestors.  For example by finding ancient horse fossils we can see how at one point, a long time ago, horses used to have three toes.  Over thousands of generations they lost two because they did not need them anymore.  Evolution like this can be seen in any animals around today.  Fossil hunting and identifying explains to humans why we are the way we are.

Tiktaalik display -- We have one in the museum!