Newly discovered fossil could prove a problem for creationists

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

Newly discovered fossil could prove a problem for creationists

By Rachel Feltman November 5 at 1:00 PM

Researchers report that they've found the missing link between an ancient aquatic predator and its ancestors on land. Ichthyosaurs, the dolphin-like reptiles that lived in the sea during the time of the dinosaurs, evolved from terrestrial creatures that made their way back into the water over time.

But the fossil record for the lineage has been spotty, without a clear link between land-based reptiles and the aquatic ichthyosaurs scientists know came after. Now, researchers report in Nature that they've found that link — an amphibious ancestor of the swimming ichthyosaurs named Cartorhynchus lenticarpus.

"Many creationists have tried to portray ichthyosaurs as being contrary to evolution," said lead author Ryosuke Motani, a professor of earth and planetary sciences at the University of California Davis. "We knew based on their bone structure that they were reptiles, and that their ancestors lived on land at some time, but they were fully adapted to life in the water. So creationists would say, well, they couldn't have evolved from those reptiles, because where's the link?"

Now the gap has been filled, he said.

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Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2014/11/05/newly-discovered-fossil-could-prove-a-problem-for-creationists/

Related: A basal ichthyosauriform with a short snout from the Lower Triassic of China (Nature)

[Scuba]

1. God put it there to test our faith.

[randys1]

2. Must be the work of the devil...

Now that sounds silly, right?

Say hello to the entire teaparty.

[Scootaloo]

3. Not really. Now there's not one but TWO gaps for them to crow about

This is how they work.

[MisterP]

4. objection! assumes other 400,000 fossils not a deadly problem for creationism!

it's almost like they're nothing more than an intellectually-inbred, overindulged Adventist heresy that's bankrupt in its theological, scientific, moral, philosophical, historical, and social aspects ...

[defacto7]

5. It may be fun to compare reality to creationism...

but if one's ideology exists by believing in things because they can't be proven, and that person also requires of others proof of proof to disprove their position, then it is absurdity to the extreme to bother with an argument. They will always create their world the way they want to see it. Creationism just doesn't matter so I put it on ignore.

[FiveGoodMen]

9. "Creationism just doesn't matter so I put it on ignore"

They want to take real science out of our classrooms.

That matters.

[defacto7]

12. Creationists matter...

Creationism as an argument in the absurd does not. Creationists on the other hand love to have a platform to peddle their tripe. There is no arguing with creationists about creationism; it's a waste of energy. The only value is arguing the law and science with our government representation about the right of human beings to be educated in facts, not religion or myth. Creationists as a group will never yield in an argument about creationism, but creationists have to yield to the law. It's up to us to make sure science is argued with sound and well managed data and that we don't get caught in the endless rhetoric called creationism.

Creationism doesn't matter... creationists as well as all other foolish panhandlers of misinformation do matter.

[FiveGoodMen]

13. Here's where I get stuck

"creationists have to yield to the law"

Creationist are trying hard to change the law so that the rest of us have to yield to them.

If enough get into office, they'll win.

[defacto7]

14. I could not agree more....

That's the fight! We have to fight. Creationism has lost, but the words and deeds of the right wing stupid machine rage on and must be stopped.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

6. Heck, creationists gloss over all their other problems

This one will be no different.

[damyank913]

7. Oh look!!! Another lovely creature that can be added to the "creationist theme park"...

...where happy humans lived in peace with veloceraptors.

[AlbertCat]

8. Newly discovered fossil could prove a problem for creationists

Then there's all the genome evidence......


could prove a problem....but won't...

[Bigmack]

10. Excuse me, but I don't think

science or facts affect those folks' thinking! I mean I could be wrong about this, but don't think I am! Ms Bigmack

[Warpy]

11. Aw, it's just a kid's drawing of an alligator, dontcha know

Nothing new about this fellow, he's been around for the whole 6000 years.

They don't believe in DNA. They still think they're solid inside, like a potato. The less they know about how the body works the better.

[Odin2005]

15. As a paleontology nut this just made my day!