IX.—The Postcranial Skeleton of Ensthenopteron foordi Whiteaves

Abstract

Synopsis Well preserved material of the crossopterygian fish Eusthenopteron enables fresh reconstructions and interpretations of its postcranial skeleton to be given. Comparisons throughout with other bony fishes show that it may be primitive in many features. Similarities with early amphibians such as the screw-shaped glenoid, the form of the humerus (on which an attempt to restore the pectoral musculature is based), the dorsal bicipital ribs and the possibility of a sacral attachment, throw much light on the origin of the tetrapod postcranial skeleton, particularly of the cheiropterygium. A functional analysis of the skeleton of Ensthenopteron is attempted, suggesting that it resembled the pike (Esox) in its mode of life and that it may have been capable of short journeys “walking” overland. The possible selective factors stimulating the evolution of such a fish, and further evolution to the tetrapod stage are discussed.