'Missing Link' (IMAGE)

Field Museum

'Missing Link'

Caption

An evolutionary tree shows the gradual anatomical changes in the evolution of flatfishes resulting in the origin of their extraordinary, modern body plan. The arrow points to the migrated eye. The skulls of both Heteronectes and Amphistium are asymmetrical, providing a "missing link" in the evolution of flatfishes from symmetrical to asymmetrical. Citharus and Psettodes are modern flatfishes that, like all living members of the group, have both eyes on one side of the head.

Credit

Image by M. Friedman, courtesy of The Field Museum.

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