Livoniana

Livoniana is a genus of prehistoric lobe-finned fish which lived during the Devonian period (Givetian - Frasnian stages, about 374 - 391 million years ago).[1]

Livoniana
Temporal range: Devonian
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Sarcopterygii
Clade: Tetrapodomorpha
Clade: Elpistostegalia
Family: †Panderichthyidae
Genus: †Livoniana
Species:
†L. multidentata
Binomial name
†Livoniana multidentata
Ahlberg et al., 2000

This species is a transitional form between fish and the earliest tetrapods, like Tiktaalik, Ichthyostega and Acanthostega. Before Livoniana there was Elginerpeton and Obruchevichthys.

Four legs developed in water, not on land, to better escape waterliving predatory creatures like Hyneria. There were very lush forests, and particularly swamps, where four limbs became very useful to avoid predators.[2]

References
  1. Ahlberg, P.E., E. Luksevics and E. Mark-Kurik. 2000. "A near-tetrapod from the Baltic Middle Devonian". Paleontology 43(3): 533-548.
  2. "BBC - Science & Nature - Horizon - the Missing Link".


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