Tiktaalik Fossil: Humerus

This model shows the humerus bone of Tiktaalik, a vertebrate that existed about 375 million years ago and had features of both fish and tetrapods (four-limbed animals).

Many lines of evidence indicate that tetrapods evolved from fish ancestors between 385 million and 365 million years ago. Fossils of transitional forms, such as the prehistoric animal Tiktaalik, help scientists reconstruct the evolutionary steps from one lineage to another.

This 3D model shows Tiktaalik’s humerus, a long bone that was part of the animal’s pectoral limb. Tiktaalik had limblike fin bones with wrists like those found in tetrapods. The model was created from 3D scans of fossil specimens. Researchers can use scans like these to study the anatomical features of fossilized organisms and learn about vertebrate evolution.

The 3D model can be viewed and rotated in the online 3D Viewer, which includes labels, measurements, and other information.

Copyright © Government of Nunavut. Used under license.