Page 62 - The Transitional Form Dilemma

THE TRANSITIONAL-FORM DILEMMA

When the first live coelacanth, which evolution-
ists had for years suggested was a transitional
form, was caught in the Indian Ocean in 1938, it was
realized that this fish was not a transitional form at
all. Contrary to what evolutionists had claimed, it
was not a creature preparing for the transition from A modern-day living
sea to land. Indeed, it actually lived in rather deep wa- coelacanth
ters. Neither was any structure found in its fins to re-
semble feet, again contrary to what evolutionists had
maintained.

species. In fact, however, these structures bear no similarity to the front
or hind legs of land-dwelling creatures. Moreover, just as with the
coelacanth, these creatures’ fins are loosely bound to their skeletal mus-
cles, but not connected to the backbone in such a way as to support
their bodies’ weight. In other words, these fishes’ fins display no fea-
tures resembling the legs of land-dwelling animals. Furthermore, the
oldest known fossil amphibians have a pelvis and shoulders that are
broad and powerful—features entirely absent in fish. No vestigial

60