Pseudo-tetrapods

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Pseudo-tetrapods; land vertebrates evolve multiple times
Topic Started: Jun 20 2010, 12:59 AM (659 Views)
Toad of Spades	Jun 20 2010, 12:59 AM Post #1
Clorothod Posts: 624 Group: Members Member #114 Joined: Dec 27, 2008 Nationality: United States Favorite Quote: Street smart is just an excuse for dumb people to use the word smart to describe themselves.	Given that many kinds of fish alive today are capable of moving out of water and obtaining oxygen out of water in some way(whether its air-breathing or storing water in gills), how likely do you think it is that vertebrates akin to a primitive-tetrapod will evolve again? I think its highly likely. Something like a tetrapod rising again from fish is possible, though they will be limited to certain niches. Tetrapods already dominate the land and a pseudo-tetrapod would be restricted to certain lifestyles and environments. However, if tetrapods were completely wiped out, something like a tetrapod could evolve again and go through a similar process as tetrapods when adapting to land life. This is highly unlikely though, considering tetrapods have a stranglehold on pretty much every land niche. Even the Permian Extinction couldn't wipe them out. It would take something really extreme to destroy tetrapods, and even then it might kill off fish completely.
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MitchBeard	Jun 20 2010, 02:25 AM Post #2
proud gondwanan Posts: 431 Group: Members Member #281 Joined: Mar 10, 2010 Gender: Male Nationality: Australian	I think that they wouldn't be very much like tetrapods, considering that ray-finned fish are the dominate group at the moment.



Ook	Jun 20 2010, 02:25 AM Post #3
not a Transhuman Posts: 2,933 Group: Members Member #282 Joined: Mar 10, 2010 Gender: Male	i think its more likely,than land squids



Pando	Jun 20 2010, 09:01 AM Post #4
Obey or I'll send you to the moon Posts: 5,648 Group: Members Member #275 Joined: Feb 24, 2010 Area of expertise: Future Evolution	But think about this, if tetrapods go extinct then the next fish in line probably would too.



The Dodo	Jun 20 2010, 09:32 AM Post #5
Prime Specimen Posts: 1,382 Group: Members Member #189 Joined: Jul 26, 2009 Gender: Male Nationality: Australian	Not necessarily, ray-finned fish are a very diverse and would take a lot to cause their extinction.



Kamidio	Jun 30 2010, 03:32 PM Post #6
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The Dodo	Jun 30 2010, 07:17 PM Post #7
Prime Specimen Posts: 1,382 Group: Members Member #189 Joined: Jul 26, 2009 Gender: Male Nationality: Australian	On the subject, the Giant Blue Anteater made a topic similar to this not too long ago. http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/2165729/1/#new



MitchBeard	Jun 30 2010, 10:45 PM Post #8
proud gondwanan Posts: 431 Group: Members Member #281 Joined: Mar 10, 2010 Gender: Male Nationality: Australian	all the musculature for their fins are in their bodies though, so they would look a lot more like insect like with comparatively spindly legs.



The Dodo	Jul 1 2010, 04:11 AM Post #9
Prime Specimen Posts: 1,382 Group: Members Member #189 Joined: Jul 26, 2009 Gender: Male Nationality: Australian	Alternatively, they could cut out the legs all together and move unto land as a legless, snake like creature.



MitchBeard	Jul 1 2010, 04:41 AM Post #10
proud gondwanan Posts: 431 Group: Members Member #281 Joined: Mar 10, 2010 Gender: Male Nationality: Australian	Yeah, I've considered that one too. Probably a whole lot more likely, but a lot more restricting.



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