What is Tetrapodomorpha?
Q: What is Tetrapodomorpha?
A: Tetrapodomorpha is a clade of vertebrates which includes tetrapods (four-limbed vertebrates) and their closest relatives.
Q: What are 'fishapods'?
A: Fishapods are advanced transitional fossils between fish and the early labyrinthodonts, informally called 'fishapods' by their discoverers. They appear to be half-fish half-tetrapods in both appearance and limb morphology.
Q: What does the clade Tetrapodomorpha contain?
A: The clade Tetrapodomorpha contains the stem group tetrapoda, extinct fossil relatives of the crown group, as well as several groups of related lobe-finned fishes collectively known as osteolepiforms. It also contains the crown group tetrapods, which is defined as the last common ancestor of living tetrapods and all its descendants.
Q: What are some defining characteristics of Tetrapodomorphs?
A: Some defining characteristics of Tetropadomorphs include modifications to their fins such as a humerus with convex head articulating with the glenoid fossa (the socket of the shoulder joint).
Q: When did Tetropadomorph fossils first appear?
A: Tetropadomorph fossils first appeared during the early Devonian period and have been found since then in various forms including Eusthenopteron, Osteolepis, Panderichthys, Tiktaalik, Ventastega and Kenichthys.
Q: Are there any other early tetropadomorphs whose relationships are not yet clear?
A: Yes, there are two other early tetropadomorphs whose relationships are not yet clear - Pederpes from the Early Mississippian period and Whatcheeria.
