Ichthyostega

Reconstruction of the skull of Ichthyostega in the Geological Museum of Copenhagen

• Greenland

Ichthyostega (Greek ichthys "fish" and stega " roof ", " skull " ) was one of the first tetrapods ( land vertebrates ), who temporarily live in the country. The number of his fingers and toes is now usually given as seven. However, the Ichthyostega expert Erik Jarvik was of the opinion that this figure is based on a misinterpretation of the fossil findings and holds Ichthyostega for fünfzehig. From the extremities only the hind feet are in the fossil record; they are built paddle-shaped. The possession of the typical Tetrapodenextremität makes a amphibian Ichthyostega; the exact way of life is not yet clarified due to special features such as the striking rigid chest.

Remains of Ichthyostega were found in Greenland, their age was at about 370 million years dated ( Upper Devonian ). Ichthyostega is one of the oldest known tetrapods. Next to him another very primitive tetrapods have now been discovered, such as Acanthostega. This represents a more primitive stage of development of tetrapods; he probably lived like a fish exclusively in the water, and was by his limbs - Fins with many radiating little toes - perfectly adapted for a life on muddy ground or in vegetated shore area.