Photo: Ancient Amphibians Bit Instead of Sucking, Skull Study Says

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


An early amphibian called Acanthostega appears to be crawling from the water in this reconstruction of a fossil specimen found by Cambridge University paleontologist Jenny Clack. Acanthostega is a tetrapod, the evolutionary ancestors of all land animals with backbones.

New analysis of tetrapod skulls shows that biting instead of sucking—a key evolutionary step toward life on land—evolved while the creatures were still largely aquatic.

Photograph by Jonathan Blair/NGS

MOST VIEWED NEWS

PICTURES: 2012 Doomsday Myths Debunked

2012: Six End-of-the-World Myths Debunked

APOCALYPSE PICTURES: 10 Failed Doomsday Prophecies
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

50 Drives of a Lifetime

National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.