Cut-paper Acanthostega in side view, a long-tailed animal with four short legs and spread fingers

The character cabinet

Acanthostega

Plants and animalsearly four-legged animal

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What it was

An animal with real legs, about ten million years after Tiktaalik. Count its fingers: eight on each hand. The first hands were not built with five fingers.

What the legs were for

Not walking. Those legs were still for the water, for pushing through weeds. Legs were built underwater first.

On screen

Watch it in

Open a chapter to read its story and watch the video. Links include brief mentions and previews within published chapters.