Caldwell said this in regard to an alleged snake fossil (Tetrapodophis amplectus) with four small legs discovered in 2015 that astonished the evolutionary community.2 The unearthing of the complete skeleton was made in Brazil, dated by evolutionists to be 110 million years old (Cretaceous system).
But Caldwell went on to say,
The major conclusion of our team is that Tetrapodophis amplectus is not in fact a snake and was misclassified. Rather, all aspects of its anatomy are consistent with the anatomy observed in a group of extinct marine lizards from the Cretaceous period known as dolichosaurs.1
Dolichosaurs were small, slender, aquatic varanoids (marine lizards with limbs).
In 2015, ICR addressed this alleged snake with legs announcement, saying:
The Science study authors wrote, “As the only known four-legged snake, Tetrapodophis sheds light on the evolution of snakes from lizards.” Just what light would that be? Based on characteristics that show it was not a marine snake, “Tetrapodophis therefore supports the hypothesis that snakes evolved from burrowing rather than marine ancestors.”2 But from what burrowing ancestor did it evolve? They have no idea.3
Indeed, now they have even less of an idea. The evolutionary community itself put to rest this missing link story in a 2016 Society of Vertebrate Paleontology publication.4 In addition,
After examining the skeleton, they found that the teeth were not hooked or oriented like a snake's teeth, and its skull and skeleton were not like those of a snake. The team also couldn't see the large ventral scales that would have helped mark it as a snake. What's more, in its belly were the remains of one of its last meals, appearing to be fishbones—consistent with an aquatic creature.1
The question arises: Why weren’t these obvious features identified and addressed in 2015? Could it be evolutionists were wanting to see a missing link?
After all, this has happened countless times. For example, news splashed in the spring of 2009 that declared fossil Ida to be a new missing link between humans and primates.5 Then news came in the fall of that same year that Ida was no missing link after all.6
We already documented dozens of proposed missing links that suffer from evolutionary detractors.7 This fossil marine reptile just adds to the list.
Here’s the point. When we read sensational science headlines regarding missing link discoveries we should be extremely skeptical, being confident that—in time—research will show otherwise. Such announcements are contrary to the definitive origins account described in Genesis.
References
1. Starr, M. Famous Discovery of Four-Legged Snake Fossil Turns Out to Have a Twist in The Tale. ScienceAlert. Posted on sciencealert.com November 18, 2021, accessed December 1, 2021.
2. Martill, D. M., H. Tischlinger, N. R. Longrich. 2015. A four-legged snake from the Early Cretaceous of Gondwana. Science. 349 (6246): 416-419.
3. Thomas, B. Snakes with Legs? Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org August 2015, 2015, accessed December 1, 2021.
4. Staff Writer. Tetrapodophis is not a snake! The Pterosaur Heresies. Posted on pterosaurheresies.wordpress November 3, 2016, accessed December 1, 2021.
5. Dr. Jørn Hurum, quoted in Randerson, J. Fossil Ida: Extraordinary find is ‘missing link’ in human evolution. The Guardian. Posted on guardian.co.uk May 19, 2009, accessed December 1, 2021.
6. Beard, C. Why Ida fossil is not the missing link. New Scientist. Posted on newscientist.com Mary 21, 2009, accessed December 1, 2021.
7. Morris, J. and F. Sherwin. 2009. The Fossil Record. Dallas, TX: Institute for Creation Research.
Image: Tetrapodophis amplectus
Image Credit: Copyright © Ghedoghedo. Used in accordance with federal copyright (fair use doctrine) law. Usage by ICR does not imply endorsement of copyright holder
*Dr. Sherwin is Research Scientist at the Institute for Creation Research. He earned an M.A. in zoology from the University of Northern Colorado and received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Pensacola Christian College.
