Science...the past of our ocean,Scientists say a fossil of a four-legged fish sheds new light on the process of evolution...
A fossilized
Ammonite from the Jurassic period
some 160 million years ago.
This photo of the Nautilus, (a close relative of the
Ammonite)
was taken in Palau Micronesia.
Fossil fills out water-land leap
Courtesy By Matt McGrath
BBC science correspondent
Scientists say a
fossil of a four-legged fish sheds new light on the
process of evolution. The creature had a fish-like
body but the head of an animal more suited to land
than water.
The researchers' study, published in the journal
Nature, says Ventastega curonica would have looked
similar to a small alligator. Scientists say the
365-million-year-old species eventually became an
evolutionary dead end.
Counting digits
About one hundred million years before dinosaurs
began to roam the Earth, Ventastega was to be found
in the shallow waters and tidal estuaries of modern
day Latvia.
According to lead author, Professor Per Ahlberg, from
Uppsala University, Sweden, this creature had the
head of a tetrapod, an animal adapted to live on
land. The body, though, was fish-like but with four
primitive flippers.
"From a distance, it would have looked like an
alligator. But closer up, you would have noticed a
real tail fin at the back end, a gill flap at the
side of the head; also lines of pores snaking across
head and body.
"In terms of construction, it had already undergone
most of the changes from fish towards land animal,
but in terms of lifestyle you are still looking at an
animal that is habitually aquatic."
Experts believe that Ventastega was an important
staging post in the evolutionary journey that led
creatures from the sea to the land. Scientists once
believed that these early amphibious animals
descended in a linear fashion, but this discovery
instead confirms these creatures diversified into
different branches along the way.
Professor Ahlberg points to the discovery of a fossil
called Tiktaalik in Canada in 2004. It is believed to
be the "missing link" in the gap between fish and
land mammals. Ventastega is a later species but is a
more primitive form of transition animal.
"Ventastega fills the gap between Tiktaalik and the
earliest land based mammals. All these changes in
these creatures are not going in lockstep; it's a
mosaic with different parts of animal evolving at
different rates. Ventastega has acquired some of
land-animal characteristics, but has not yet got some
of the other ones."
For instance, the creature had primitive feet - but
with a high number of digits...read more & photos
go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7473470.stm
Welcome to PALAU...by palautours.com, Visit Palau and explore this Nature Paradise below and above the waves...
To get you excited about Palau we have decided to bring you this little slide show direct on our blog, sit back and enjoy.
For more images please visit our Photo Gallery @http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html
ROCK ISLAND TOURS for more detailed info please go to: http://www.palautours.com/tours.html
Among the most popular tours is the exploration of the awe-inspiring Rock Islands, with its stunning topography and the wide variety of action to be experienced.
Dive shop activities such scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking tours as well as sailing, water skiing and banana boat rides, the latter especially fun for kids, are all available. With two atolls to the north and a fringing reef surrounding the main island, encounters with exotic marine life and kaleidoscopic coral formations are not uncommon.
The white sand beaches, which mostly slope very gently into shallow water, are a joy for all age groups, accommodating everyone from novice swimmers to experts. Another exciting diversion is fishing, with its unique catch-and-release fishing technique an environmentally friendly alternative.
DIVE the WRECKS of Palau Micronesia there is a good choice of Wrecks you can Dive and EXPLORE...including the DEEP USS PERRY, a must for TECH DIVERS.
Bichu Maru:
10m/33ft to starboard rail amidships
The Bichu, a 110m/363ft long army cargo ship, lies on
its port side at about a 60-degree angle. Bombs sunk
the ship on March 30, 1944 by inflicting gaping holes
through the numbertwo hold forward of the
superstructure. All of the holds are now empty, while
the starboard anchor still lies in its stowed
position at the bow with beautiful sea whips growing
on it.
Aft of this superstructure with three levels, divers
will find the engine room with lots of valves and
piping making it an interesting penetration. The
galley is just aft of the engine room and has two
doors leading into it. Stoves and a large rice kettle
are visible in it. Below the galley, on the bottom of
the lagoon amongst the silt, divers have uncovered
undamaged pieces of china that slid off the wreck as
it went down.
Juvenile harlequin sweetlips make the Bichu their
home, along with 6-banded angelfish, 8-banded
butterflyfish, 6-banded angelfish, Glossodoris
egretta and eye-catching nudibranch.
Iro: bow in 20m/66ft, stern in 25m/83ft,
forward mast up to 10m/33ft, bottom at
40m/132ft
The Iro was a Japanese navy fleet oiler, 140m/462ft
long, sunk on March 31, 1944 after being damaged by a
US submarine on its journey from the Philippines to
Palau . This is the most popular wreck in Palau since
it lies upright and its massive size and diversity of
exploration points keep one from becoming bored.
There are two huge guns mounted, one on the bow, one
at the stern. Long companionways open into the
quarters. Towards the stern divers find the
smokestack lying towards the port side of the ship.
Just aft of that lies the engine room that divers can
look down into because its ceiling had been
demolished by fire or explosions. The masts and
kingpost have attracted a wide variety of
invertebrate life; from sponges, to staghorn coral,
sea whips, black coral, giant clams and oysters.
Batfish, large pufferfish, 8-banded butterflyfish,
orangebanded butterflyfish, and small big-eye
trevally are commonly found along the ship.
DIVING IN PALAU... the Operators and Dive Centers plus Liveaboards, Dive the Jewel of the Pacific one of the BEST DIVE destination in the World
Many more to come in next few weeks below is just a small selection of the Dive Centers and Liveaboards which are available to you in Palau we are also providing you with a link to the Palau Visitors Authority, PVA
National Geographic Society named Palau as the first Underwater Wonder of the World, and it continues to live up to it's reputation as one of the planets finest places to SCUBA dive. The diversity of marine life in combination with the variety of dive sites provides even the most experienced fish-watcher with amazing diving opportunities. The dive sites around Palau include sheer vertical walls, current-swept channels, high intensity dives like the famous Blue Corner, relaxing dives in coral gardens, unique dives like Siaes Tunnel and Blue Holes, and plenty of wreck diving. All of the dive sites contain examples of Palau's incredible diversity with huge schools of tropical fish and walls adorned with colorful soft corals and, of course, some of the big animals that jump start the adrenalin...read more and go to palautours.com for more detailed information @ http://www.palautours.com/dive-sites.html
Palau Visitors Authority PVA
http://www.visit-palau.com/
NECO
Marine
http://www.necomarine.com/
Day Dream Palau
Ocean Hunter I, II &III Liveaboard
& FishnFins Dive Center
http://oceanhunter.com/
Sam's
Tour Palau, Micronesia
http://www.samstours.com/main.html
Splash Dive Center at PPR
http://www.splash-palau.com/eg/
Sail and DIVE with the Eclipse,
Liveaboard
http://www.palau-divensail.com/
The
Aggressor Fleet - Liveaboard
http://www.aggressor.com/subpage11.php
Palau's mushroom-shaped rock
islands offer a variety of exciting dives: WWII
wrecks, shark-infested channels, blue holes, a
freshwater lake with stingless jellyfish and even a
few caves. There are also sheer walls covered in lush
soft corals and huge anemones. Beginner divers may
find Palau's strong currents challenging. All dives
are made from the 18-passenger dive skiff, which is
lowered into the water by a hydraulic cradle.
Seven-day charters are Sunday to Sunday with five
days and one-half days of diving. Diving begins
Monday and ends Saturday morning. Transfers from the
Palau airport are provided on the day of arrival and
departure.
PALAU is one of the WORLD'S 10 BEST SCUBA SPOTS according to Forbes TRAVELER in 2007
© Photo of Blue Corner by Gunther Deichmann
Blue Corner, Palau, Micronesia
Blue Corner, Palau, teems with all manner of sea life—from turtles to barracudas and sharks. There are WWII wrecks, too. The current is fairly strong here, and most divers use a reef hook so you can "just kinda hang out and watch the action in front of you," says Tom Morrisey. "If you're lucky you'll see lots of sharks feeding naturally right in front of you… a lot people call it the best dive in the world." The best time to dive Palau is from October to early June.
http://www.palautours.com/
Latest NEWS from PALAUTOURS.COM updated DIVE SITES, Wreck Diving, Hotel accommodation…Conservation & other Business establishments
© Gunther Deichmann - Blue Hole
Palau Micronesia
http://www.palautours.com/
More than 60 dive sites with descriptions (click on the image above) have been placed now, we are still working on some of the images in the right order but all the information is now there.
Completed the Wreck Diving pages
Updated also the Research & Conservation page have added detailed info (see below or click on the image)
Under Hotel accommodation PPR is now available.
Under Other Business establishments Palau Helicopters is now offering their service we also added the Palau Shop
A few pages still being worked on but will be available very shortly, in the meantime enjoy the site.
Your Palau Tours Team
http://www.palautours.com/
Did you know? Palau Pacific Resort was named ASIA'S leading Diving Resort in 2007...the World Travel Awards.
© Gunther Deichmann - The place to be at sunset...
Click on the image above or the link below &
visit Palau Tours.com
http://www.palautours.com/
Palau Pacific Resort...
Asia's leading Diving Resort 2007, Micronesia,
The Pearls of the Pacific!
http://www.palauppr.com/ja/
Click the link above and visit PPR's Japanese website
One more reason why YOU should stay at the Palau Pacific Resort during your next vacation, surrounded by a beautiful Garden and your very own Beach.
Dive Palau in the morning and relax at Sunset at the beach or visit the Mandara Spa, it doesn't get any better.
© Gunther Deichmann - relax at the
tranquil Spa...
© Gunther Deichmann - different Orchids are everywhere...
PalauTours.com is offering all you need for Your Journey to PALAU... Your ultimate Tour Guide...information on Resorts, Restaurants, Hotels...Diving plus a lot more...
Your Tour Guide to Palau and Micronesia
© Gunther Deichmann - Kayaks in the Rock Islands, Palau
click the image and go to our Gallery @
http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html
PALAUTOURS.COM is a unique and very informative site for
all Your requirements before traveling to Palau in Micronesia.
The site is fully up and running but we have to fix some minor glitches
and add some more exciting pages for you.
By this coming weekend we should have everything just about in place.
The interesting part is, not only Palau will be represented but we include
islands like Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae in due time.
Just stay tuned or subscribe to our RSS feed for the latest developments.
With these addition we bring you a lot closer to this amazing part of the world, You dont get any closer to Nature...above and below the waves.
To some extend these islands are still unexplored in parts hence the recent discovery of some unusual inhabitants (see our last blog) the scientist are still debating who and where these small people came from. PalauTours.com is trying to keep you well informed from this part of the World, not only on leisure activities, but news on Marine life, Science projects, discoveries and of course environmental related issues. If you have any interesting stories please dont hold back, send it to us, we love to publish it.
© Gunther Deichmann - Hotel, Resorts, Restaurant and Bar
Guide/Information
on Palau...click the image and go to Palautours.com
http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html
© Gunther Deichmann - Duty Free & Retail stores, Tour Operators
Government offices, Conservation & Medical services
plus a lot more...click the image and go to Palautours.com
http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html
© Gunther Deichmann - the World famous Blue Hole and
Blue Corner, Palau, plus many more different dive sites in our
Dive section including Dive Centers & Dive Resorts...
click the image and go to Palautours.com
http://www.palautours.com/gallery.html
We like YOU to use Palau Tours as your Resort, Hotel, Restaurant, Dive & Tour guide... YOU be amazed how beautiful this part of the world really is.
The Editor