Project 3480: R. Cloutier, A. M. Clement, M. S. Lee, R. Noël, I. Béchard, V. Roy, J. A. Long. 2020. Elpistostege and the origin of the vertebrate hand. Nature. 579 (7800):549-554.
Specimen: † Elpistostege (MHNM/Paleontology:06-2067)
View: dorsal

Abstract

The evolution of fishes to tetrapods (four-limbed vertebrates) was one of the most important transformations in vertebrate evolution. Hypotheses of tetrapod origins rely heavily on the anatomy of a few tetrapod-like fish fossils from the Middle and Late Devonian period (393–359 million years ago)1. These taxa—known as elpistostegalians—include Panderichthys2, Elpistostege3,4 and Tiktaalik1,5, none of which has yet revealed the complete skeletal anatomy of the pectoral fin. Here we report a 1.57-metre-long articulated specimen of Elpistostege watsoni from the Upper Devonian period of Canada, which represents—to our knowledge—the most complete elpistostegalian yet found. High-energy computed tomography reveals that the skeleton of the pectoral fin has four proximodistal rows of radials (two of which include branched carpals) as well as two distal rows that are organized as digits and putative digits. Despite this skeletal pattern (which represents the most tetrapod-like arrangement of bones found in a pectoral fin to date), the fin retains lepidotrichia (fin rays) distal to the radials. We suggest that the vertebrate hand arose primarily from a skeletal pattern buried within the fairly typical aquatic pectoral fin of elpistostegalians. Elpistostege is potentially the sister taxon of all other tetrapods, and its appendages further blur the line between fish and land vertebrates.


Read the article »

Article DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2100-8

Project DOI: 10.7934/P3480, http://dx.doi.org/10.7934/P3480
This project containsMatrices
  • 1 Media
  • 1 Matrix
  • 42 Taxa
  • 9 Specimens
  • 202 Characters
Total size of project's media files: 431.72k

Download Project SDD File
Total scored cells: 5247
Total media associated with cells: 0
Total labels associated with cell media: 0
Characters
Total characters: 202
Total characters with associated media: 0
Total characters with media with labels: 0
Total character states: 436
Total character states with associated media: 0
Total character states with media with labels:0
Total unordered/ordered characters:185/17
Currently Viewing:
MorphoBank Project 3480

    Authors' Institutions

    • Flinders University

    • South Australian Museum

    • Université du Québec à Rimouski (University of Quebec at Rimouski)



    Members

    member name taxa specimens media media
    notes
    chars character
    comms
       
    notes  media
    labels
    cell scorings
    (scored, NPA, "-")
    cell
    comms
        
    notes  medialabels
    rules
    Richard Cloutier
    Project Administrator
    42910202013005121
    (4906, 0, 215)
    0202000
    Alice Clement
    Full membership
    0000000000
    (0, 0, 0)
    00000
    Mike Lee
    Full membership
    0000000000
    (0, 0, 0)
    00000
    John Long
    Full membership
    000000000126
    (117, 0, 9)
    0103000


    Taxonomic Overview for Matrix 'M26094' (42 Taxa)

    taxon unscored
    cells
    scored
    cells
    no cell
    support
    NPA
    cells
    "-" cellscell images labels on
    cell images
    member
    access
    [1] † Youngolepis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    7412112107004
    [2] † Diabolepis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    121727109004
    [3] † Powichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    7712011805004
    [4] † Porolepis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    5214214108004
    [5] † Glyptolepis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    19169169014004
    [6] † Tungsenia
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    128716203004
    [7] † Kenichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    8011811704004
    [8] † Gooloogongia
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    961059902004
    [9] † Sauripterus
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    167343101004
    [10] † Barameda
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    4914912905004
    [11] † Screbinodus
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    123774802004
    [12] † Rhizodus
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    130715301004
    [13] † Strepsodus
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    125765701004
    [14] † Gyroptychius
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    7012812604004
    [15] † Osteolepis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    5913813406004
    [16] † Gogonasus
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    1191175010004
    [17] † Medoevia
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    4215515305004
    [18] † Cladarosymblema
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    4215314407004
    [19] † Megalichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    21171169010004
    [20] † Ectosteorhachis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    8411111107004
    [21] † Beelarongia
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    125746103004
    [22] † Canowindra
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    129706603004
    [23] † Koharalepis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    102957005004
    [24] † Marsdenichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    8311610203004
    [25] † Spodichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    8811211202004
    [26] † Tristichopterus
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    6813011304004
    [27] † Eusthenopteron
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    019819604004
    [28] † Jarvikina
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    9110810803004
    [29] † Platycephalichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    103989601004
    [30] † Cabonnichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    5214614504004
    [31] † Mandageria
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    4415315205004
    [32] † Eusthenodon
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    103979602004
    [33] † Hongyu
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    153474702004
    [34] † Bruehnopteron murphyi
    Last Modified in 08/28/19
    9410410104004
    [35] † Tinirau clackae
    Last Modified in 08/28/19
    7412312105004
    [36] † Panderichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    819117906004
    [37] † Elpistostege
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    34160148011004
    [38] † Tiktaalik
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    30165151010004
    [39] † Ventastega curonica
    Last Modified in 06/20/19
    1028988011004
    [40] † Acanthostega
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    18172171012004
    [41] † Ichthyostega
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    21170169011004
    [42] † Tulerpeton curtum
    Last Modified in 06/17/19
    167333202004


    Project views

    type number of views Individual items viewed (where applicable)
    Total project views19789
    Project overview1820
    Media views2399Media search (2009 views); M687517 (390 views);
    Matrix views829Matrix landing page (704 views); Tetrapodomorph_phylogeny (125 views);
    Taxon list6823
    Specimen list5866
    Bibliography1301
    Views for media list748
    Documents list3




    Project downloads

    type number of downloads Individual items downloaded (where applicable)
    Total downloads from project169
    Project downloads140
    Matrix downloads23Tetrapodomorph_phylogeny (23 downloads);
    Media downloads6M687517 (6 downloads);