Access
This article is part of Nature's premium content.
Published online 19 May 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.494
News
Reunion of fossil halves splits scientists
Well-preserved primate suffers identity crisis.
Palaeontologists have identified a new species of primate by putting together two halves of an unusually complete fossil, which were separated for decades by the vagaries of the fossil trade. One half of the fossil — which some media reports have been quick to label 'the missing link' — was even doctored by a past owner to make it look more impressive.
To read this story in full you will need to login or make a payment (see right).
Comments
Reader comments are usually moderated after posting. If you find something offensive or inappropriate, you can speed this process by clicking 'Report this comment' (or, if that doesn't work for you, email webadmin@nature.com). For more controversial topics, we reserve the right to moderate before comments are published.
This is obviously a complete fossil. What Evolution has to show us is fossils of transtional forms with incomplete organs. Half fish half reptile, half reptile half bird. Montrous creatures. And the transitional forms must outnumber the stable species. we must have trillions of hem if evolution is a fact. But we dont have any. We have 100 million fossils today belonging to complete stable species. we dont have even single transitional form. That scientific fact refutes all the claims of Darwinism. Scientific fact disproves the theory of evolution. Species appear abruptly, complete and perfectly formed. This fact poves us an exalted Creation by Allah.
It is asserted that species evolved into one another by successive minute variations, and that this happened over billions of years, then evolutionist have to show us these slow minute changes in the fossilized examples of those species. They must show us half-fish half-reptile half bird fossils. These imaginary species are called transitional forms. There can be no doubt that if there is no such fossil proof concerning changes among the fossil of stable species, then there is nothing left to discuss as regards the theory of evolution?But the number of the so called transitional forms transitional species must be much higher than that of the stable species we observe today.
Oktar, Do you really think you've highlighted something that thousands of scientists from around the world and over the past 150 years haven't thought of? There will never be half fish/half reptile organisms (unless evolution is NOT true!) because evolution doesn't work that way. Evolutionary theory does NOT predict that kind of organism. Evolutionary theory DOES, however, predict the existence of transitional characteristics. And transitional species DO in fact outnumber stable species. In fact, EVERY species that ever existed is a transitional species between it's ancestor and it's descendent--all you have to do is compare their anatomy to see that. Have you spent any time comparing the anatomy of the dozens of fossil whales? Ever compared the jaw/ear anatomy of fossil reptiles, mammal-like reptiles, and reptile-like mammals? Transitional characteristics abound for those interested in looking at them. You probably won't be able to get your hands on the actual specimens, but they're all recorded in great detail in the scientific literature--head on over to your local university library and take a look.
They attempted to show the complete lemur fossil named Ida, which is an extinct species, as a transitional form. About 90 percent of the animal and plant species on earth became extinct. There are 99 species of lemurs. And 16 species of lemurs became extinct and many other species are now being determined as extinct. And many more species have been lost. All the extinct species are all perfect living forms with no sign of the so called transitional forms. Ida, is one the extinct species of lemur. It is a perfect developed lemur and it shows no sign of transitional form. It is an evidence of creation.
Does anyone have any links concerning the geology of the host rocks in Messel? I'm wanting to run a palaeoenvironment exercise with my class while this is in the news.
Oktar, have you ever studied the coelacanth, archaeopteryx,or the Ambulocetus? have you ever sat and pondered in front of the floating hip bones of the modern whale in a museum? Have you ever studied the Hox alleles? Have you ever studied the burgess shale? have you ever smelled a smell in nature that you have also smelled coming from your own human body? Have you ever entertained the idea that your world of religious certainty might be fallacious? If you are capable of doubt, if you are capable of questioning things then perhaps we can start a very important conversation. But if you are already certain you are correct about the evidence in the fossil record then a real dialogue is impossible. If you can answer any of these questions honestly and using your own mental faculties and not some line from a book or saying passed down to you then we can talk about your supposition that "This is an evidence of creation." please consider these questions. Your fellow earthling
Clive, this should get you started: http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/pdf/Messel%20Pit.pdf for more: http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=messel+pit+fossil+site&btnG=Search
Oktar, I'm not sure what characteristics a 'perfect' lemur has, but all living forms have a unique comb tooth. Evolutionary theory would predict that there should be lemur-like primates without a comb tooth (a transitional form) predating those with the comb tooth. A quick review of the literature reveals that just such a transitional form existed: "The Djebelemurinae, including Djebelemur and 'Anchomomys' milleri, are considered as stem lemuriforms preceding tooth comb differentiation" (Lemuriform Origins as Viewed from the Fossil Record, Folia Primatologica 77:2006.). As I said, if you're looking at a fossil, you're looking at an organism that has at least some transitional characteristics--all fossil species are transitional in some form or another. Researchers predicted they would find a fish-like amphibian (transitional form) in rocks of a certain age. When they went to look they found just what evolutionary theory predicted--Tiktaalik: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2008/10/15/the-shoulder-bones-connected-to-the-ear-bone/ The only way to NOT see fossil species that are transitional is to NOT LOOK! Saying that things don't exist when they so obviously do exist is being disingenuous.
Thanks Russell. The first link was excellent.
Mr. Babuna, If you can set aside religious dogma for an hour, point Apple's free iTunes application at iTunes Store -> iTunes U -> Cassiopeia Project - Evolution and download all 10 tracks. Very informative, complete and easy to follow.
Oktar, Do you have a web site or blog? I'd love to hear your opinion on, well, just about anything. Your mind fascinates me. Never mind the biology, just the math behind a "half-fish half-reptile half bird" explodes everything I thought I knew.