{
  "id": 8229441,
  "title": "Fishapod fossil shows early elbows came in a variety of forms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/fishapod-fossil-shows-early-elbows-came-in-a-variety-of-forms",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-18T11:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Scientist",
    "slug": "new-scientist",
    "url": "https://www.newscientist.com/article/2589938-fishapod-fossil-shows-early-elbows-came-in-a-variety-of-forms/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A 350-million-year-old fish fossil, discovered on Canada's Ellesmere Island, has revealed an unusual elbow joint and pointed forearm bone among its fin-limbs. This fish, along with several other \"fishapods,\" showcases the variety of forms that early arm structures took as vertebrates transitioned from water to land. The long, triangular radius bone in the fin suggests a hinge-like joint similar to but less versatile than the elbows of other fishapods. While the exact purpose of the fin-limbs remains unclear, researchers speculate that these structures may have helped the animal navigate shallow water, evade predators, and hunt for food. The discovery of such diverse fin-limb adaptations underscores the complexity and adaptability of early vertebrate evolution.",
  "summary": "The fish that preceded the first four-legged land animals came in a wider variety of forms than we had thought, and fossils show that one had an elbow joint that moved in an oddly restrictive way",
  "key_points": [
    "350-million-year-old fish fossil found on Canada's Ellesmere Island",
    "Unusual elbow joint and triangular radius bone in fin-limbs",
    "Diverse fin-limb adaptations highlight early vertebrate evolution complexity"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}