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Great Transitions: The Origin of Tetrapods

Topic
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Skin & Musculoskeletal System
  • Evolution
  • Paleobiology
  • Human Evolution
Resource Type
  • Videos
  • Short Films
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Duration
00:17:11
Used In
1 BioInteractive Playlists
Favorited By
8 Users
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Description

This film describes the discovery of Tiktaalik, a key fossil that illuminates the evolutionary origins of four-legged animals.

The Origin of Tetrapods provides a firsthand account of the search for Tiktaalik, a creature with a mix of features common to fish and four-legged animals. Tiktaalik, along with a series of species that existed before and after, illuminates key evolutionary steps in the transition of life from water to land.

The “Abbreviated Film Guide” provides a short summary of the film, along with key concepts and connections to curriculum standards.

An audio descriptive version of the film is available via our media player.

Details
Key Terms

Charles Darwin, evolutionary transition, fossil, paleobiology, tetrapod, Tiktaalik, transitional fossil

Primary Literature

Daeschler, Edward B., Neil H. Shubin, and Farish A. Jenkins Jr. “A Devonian tetrapod-like fish and the evolution of the tetrapod body plan.” Nature 440 (2006): 757–763. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04639.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level

This resource complies with accessibility standards in accordance with the final rule for Section 508 of the National Rehabilitation Act.
Version History
Date Published 03.28.14
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS4.A

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1, EVO-2, EVO-3

IB Biology (2016)

5.1, 5.4, 10.3

AP Environmental Science (2013)

III.A

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

8.1

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC2

Materials
HD (M4V) 646 MB
HD (WMV) 533 MB
SD (M4V) 143 MB
SD (WMV) 136 MB
Transcript (PDF) 275 KB
Article: It's a Fishapod! (PDF) 378 KB
Abbreviated Film Guide (PDF) 465 KB

Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.
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1-Minute Tips
Your Inner Fish and Origin of Tetrapods
Chi Klein describes how she uses both the "Your Inner Fish" film series and the "Origin of Tetrapods" short film in her classroom. These films are accompanied by a wealth of additional educational materials about the evolutionary origins of the anatomical features found in animals today.
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