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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
Saved By
20 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.

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 (WCAG compliance)

PDF files partially meet criteria. Video files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 03.28.14

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 (2020)

Topic(s): 2.6, 2.7

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

Use This Resource With

Activity Resource
Activity for The Origin of Tetrapods

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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This Resource Appears in the Following Playlists

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Teaching Evolution Using Lizards and Tetrapods
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