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Nature 440, 881 (13 April 2006) | doi:10.1038/440881a; Published online 12 April 2006

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Evolution: A catfish that can strike its prey on land

Sam Van Wassenbergh1, Anthony Herrel1, Dominique Adriaens2, Frank Huysentruyt2, Stijn Devaere2 & Peter Aerts1,3

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This denizen of tropical swamps may shed light on how ancient fish were able to survive out of water.

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An important step towards understanding the evolution of terrestriality in vertebrates is to identify how the aquatic ancestors of tetrapods were able to access ground-based prey. We have discovered that the 'eel catfish' Channallabes apus, an inhabitant of the muddy swamps of tropical Africa, has a remarkable ability to forage and capture prey on land. The animal's capacity to bend its head down towards the ground while feeding seems to be an essential feature that may have enabled fish to make the transition from an aquatic to a terrestrial mode.

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