Transitional turtles. New transitional fossil pre turtle found, discussion of the creationist "There are no transitional fossils" nonsense. [theness.com]
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2 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.We may sometimes forget what sets of circumstances need to occur in order for a creature to become a fossil. The overwhelming majority of animals no doubt decayed naturally, their flesh devoured, their bones scattered, and their very atoms cast into the four winds to be recycled into other living things, including us. To focus on an insufficient fossil record is a red herring, as we clearly have plenty of evidence (geological, biological, paleontological, genetic, embryological, biochemical, climatological, etc.) to support the concept of gradual change over time--in other words, evolution.
p-nullifidian
Level 8
Aug 28, 2018
0
Some scientists will tell you that all species are technically transitional species, that is between the last species and the next one to come.
Heraclitus
Level 8
Aug 28, 2018
1
@Druvius
Yes, the old definition of species, which you can still find in some dictionaries, is that of similar individuals who are capable of interbreeding. But that definition falls apart upon close examination. It is a grey area.
It is true the definition for species can be problamatical at times. It is not a complete definition by any means. However, given the number is"species" that exist today, have existed in the past, what you refer are primarily exceptions to the rule. And exceptions do not define the rule.
Just the other day, I listened to a report about a cockroach that does not reproduce by laying eggs which is part of the definition for an insect. Instead it has live birth and produces milk crystal to feed its young. This indeed an exception. But do we throughout the classification for all insects due to this one exception? I think not.