Scientist raise air-breating fish on land to test evolution
Scientists tried raising the bichir (Polypterus senegalus), a modern African fish that has lungs for breathing air, and stubby fins it can use to pull itself along on land, out of water for eight months to better understand how ancient creatures may have transitioned to life on land.
"The researchers discovered the bichir raised on land were dramatically different than those raised in water. The land-raised fish lifted their heads higher, held their fins closer to their bodies, took faster steps and undulated their tails less frequently and had fins that slipped less often than bichir raised in water. These land-based fish also underwent changes in their skeletons and musculature that likely paved the way for their changes in behavior."
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2014/0828/To-study-evolution-scientists-raise-fish-to-walk-on-land
"The researchers discovered the bichir raised on land were dramatically different than those raised in water. The land-raised fish lifted their heads higher, held their fins closer to their bodies, took faster steps and undulated their tails less frequently and had fins that slipped less often than bichir raised in water. These land-based fish also underwent changes in their skeletons and musculature that likely paved the way for their changes in behavior."
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2014/0828/To-study-evolution-scientists-raise-fish-to-walk-on-land
