Scientists unearth key fossil of primitive creature (AP/CNN) {No, not McCain}

[eppur_se_muova]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Scientists unearthed a skull of the most primitive four-legged creature in Earth's history, which should help them better understand the evolution of fish to advanced animals that walk on land.

The 365 million-year-old fossil skull, shoulders and part of the pelvis of the water-dweller Ventastega curonica were found in Latvia, researchers report in a study published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.

Even though Ventastega is probably an evolutionary dead-end, the finding brings new details on the evolutionary transition from fish to tetrapods.

Tetrapods are animals with four limbs and include such descendants as amphibians, birds and mammals.

Although an earlier discovery found a slightly older animal that was more fish than tetrapod, Ventastega is more tetrapod than fish.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/06/25/fishfossil.ap/index.html

(OK, maybe McCain's pet.)