Re: Tiktaalik

[David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

> By contrast, the transition from basal
> sarcopterygians to modern lungfish was more conservative.

I don't think so. The toothplates and jaws of lungfish are quite 
awe-inspiring. (For example lungfish don't have an upper jaw -- just a 
palate.) The cocoon is almost unique among vertebrates as well.

> True, these guys are photogenic.  :-)  But I don't think the rarity of 
> these
> changes is the critical factor here.  It's the consequences of the changes
> that are important.  In this case, the sarcopterygian can walk on land.

Sorry, I can't help it -- this all sounds so much like an argument for ranks 
:^)