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Fish Walks, Climbs Waterfalls Like a Salamander (discovery.com)

Posted by msmash on from the climb-like-no-one-is-watching dept.

An anonymous reader links us to an article on Discovery News: A species of cavefish in Thailand has been documented walking and climbing waterfalls in a manner similar to four-footed creatures such as salamanders, in a find researchers call "huge" in evolutionary terms. In a press release Brooke E. Flammang, an assistant professor of biological sciences at NJIT, said that the fish has anatomical features previously known only in tetrapods -- four-limbed vertebrates that include amphibians and reptiles. "What these fish do, in complete darkness, is stick to the rock and climb waterfalls, completely underwater."

37 comments

  1. I fully expect... by fishscene · · Score: 2

    After watching the video, I fully expect the slashdot community to tear it apart limb-from-limb the same way they would tear apart a video that shows absolutely NO EVIDENCE whatsoever of doing what the article claims.

    1. Re:I fully expect... by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      If we at least remotely considered pondering about maybe caring a little what a fucking fish does, we probably could think about possibly doing so.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    2. Re:I fully expect... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did we watch the same video? It showed evidence. But even if it didn't, the article did. What kind of dumb bias are you bringing to the table? Creationism?

    3. Re:I fully expect... by fishscene · · Score: 2

      Here's the video shown in the article linked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... Shows pictures and closely-cut videos of nothing walking. Unless I'm missing something? Full disclosure, I'm very much a creationist/Christian, but how does that factor here? Although I have a bias - in this case, I think it's fair to say my bias is: "I see nothing in the video supporting the claims they are making - regardless of their bias, my bias, or any bias" Could someone point out to me what I'm missing?

    4. Re:I fully expect... by fishscene · · Score: 5, Informative

      Here's a FAR better video than whatever was linked in the article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... Someone went into a cave and filmed the fish. What I *liked* about it is it shows it is actually crawling/walking/scaling instead of maybe using its fins as possible spoilers to generate a downward force to keep it on the rock as water flows over it. Maybe someone can post this video instead to the article instead?

    5. Re: I fully expect... by jovius · · Score: 1

      True. Much easier for the brains and better for the popcorn industry than discussing about the actual paper: http://www.nature.com/articles...

    6. Re:I fully expect... by 50000BTU_barbecue · · Score: 1

      I'm also a creationist, but I believe the Norse version. Where's your evidence for your version?

      --
      Mostly random stuff.
    7. Re:I fully expect... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here's another one, shorter but higher quality.

    8. Re:I fully expect... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 1

      What does creationist/Christian have to do with it? It either climbs or it doesn't.

      Creationist/Christian would only be relevant if you were discussing *why* it climbs (or doesn't).

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  2. Welecome by Nkwe · · Score: 3, Funny

    I for one welcome our rock climbing fish overlords.

    1. Re:Welecome by Z00L00K · · Score: 2

      Like the "Darwin" fish sticker you can purchase.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
    2. Re:Welecome by jellomizer · · Score: 2

      I never really got the idea of the "Darwin" Fish.
      Because Darwinism is opposite of christianity?
      While many major Christian religions fully accept the theory of evolution. Also the symbol of the fish symbol was meant because Jesus called to the disciples where were Fishermen to be Fishers of Men.

      Now you don't need to believe in the religion, but if you are going to protest some subset of a religion you probably should do it is a better way.
       

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    3. Re:Welecome by religionofpeas · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Because Darwinism is opposite of christianity? While many major Christian religions fully accept the theory of evolution

      According to a fairly recent poll, 42% of the Americans believe that God created humans, and another 31% believe in evolution, but with God guiding the process. Only 19% believe in Darwin's theory of evolution. So, while major Christian religions may fully accept the theory, most of its followers do not.

    4. Re:Welecome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      According to a fairly recent poll, 42% of the Americans believe that God created humans, and another 31% believe in evolution, but with God guiding the process. Only 19% believe in Darwin's theory of evolution.

      In f**k's sake, please make sure that those believe in "God" are all christians as there are many religions other than christianity. Christianity is not "THE" religion and your christianity god (or gods) not "THE" (only) god.

    5. Re:Welecome by religionofpeas · · Score: 1

      In f**k's sake, please make sure that those believe in "God" are all christians as there are many religions other than christianity. Christianity is not "THE" religion and your christianity god (or gods) not "THE" (only) god.

      Your objection is hardly relevant in the context, as 90% of US theists are Christians.

    6. Re:Welecome by Black+Parrot · · Score: 1

      I never really got the idea of the "Darwin" Fish.

      Probably just for trolling creationists.

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
    7. Re:Welecome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because Darwinism is opposite of christianity? While many major Christian religions fully accept the theory of evolution

      According to a fairly recent poll, 42% of the Americans believe that God created humans, and another 31% believe in evolution, but with God guiding the process. Only 19% believe in Darwin's theory of evolution. So, while major Christian religions may fully accept the theory, most of its followers do not.

      The USA does not contain most of Christianity. IF everyone single person in the USA was Christian (which they are not), the USA would contain at most 15% of the world's Christianity. (~300 million US citizens, estimated 2.18 billion Christians as of 2010).

    8. Re:Welecome by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      The problem with these polls is how they are worded.
      I don't see conflict in Darwin's theory, and the idea that God may be influencing the process. Now you cannot make a scientific theroy saying that God is guiding it. Because God being considered a supernatural entity cannot be proved or disproved by science, as it would be an non-measurable factor. And saying in science that God is controlling it is just lazy approach to stop doing real science. But Darwinism theory is strongly predicated by a degree of luck.
      An Animal happened to have the correct gene mutation that will give it an advantage. That same mutation will not hinder its chances for sexual reproduction.
      Such a trait happens to be better for the environment. There is a lot of luck and random stuff going on. While we can science science can't say this is caused by God, because there is No evidence for this. This doesn't stop someone to personally believe such random factors are being determined or predetermined by some other supernatural intelligence.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  3. The book of Genesis by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1, Funny

    It says it can't happen so these scientists most have a theological agenda and made it up. I prefer truth which is not truth. God must be testing our faith.

    We must vote for Trump Asap to put an end to this and through legislation help restore our culture to save people from thinking such dangerous things.

    --
    http://saveie6.com/
    1. Re:The book of Genesis by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It isn't clear whether you are bing sarcastic.. If not, your thinking is "THE" dangerous thing

    2. Re:The book of Genesis by gtall · · Score: 2

      Trump? Didn't you hear? He just accused Ted Cruz, his wife, and his kids as evolving from fish.

    3. Re:The book of Genesis by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 1

      I assume he is, since Ted Cruz would be the Christian's choice. After all, God told his wife to tell him to run. Of course, maybe he should have mentioned some other things...

  4. Welcome! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I, for one, welcome our new wall walking overlords.

  5. Great now there's two more gaps by guruevi · · Score: 2

    Now that we have walking fish, what came between the walking fish and the non-walking fish and between the walking fish and salamanders?

    --
    Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    1. Re:Great now there's two more gaps by religionofpeas · · Score: 1

      There's only one more gap, as this particular walking fish has nothing to do with salamanders, except for some resemblance in the way it walks. And the gap between walking and non-walking fish was filled with fish with intermediate walking skills

    2. Re:Great now there's two more gaps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No Zeno's Paradox, please.

  6. For commentary, we go to a reporter in the South.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    LOOK WHAT JESUS DID! LOOK WHAT JESUS DID! LOOK WHAT JESUS DID!!!

    This portion added to defeat the lame-ass lameness filter. Disregard.

  7. They live in a cave by jfdavis668 · · Score: 2

    They didn't know they weren't supposed to do that.

    1. Re:They live in a cave by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Could a salamander that climbs waterfalls, be called a scalamander? Ascentamander? Freeclimbamander?

  8. Salamanders do not climb waterfalls by Medievalist · · Score: 1

    Punctuation is, important people!

    1. Re:Salamanders do not climb waterfalls by orledrat · · Score: 1

      Word indeed! Punctuate properly y'all, don't make me have to let loose my Commado Dragon!

  9. You insensitive God! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Christianity is not "THE" religion and your christianity god (or gods) not "THE" (only) god.

    You sound like you've done the research, ran the experiments, and verified your findings. Well done, sir. If these results are correct it would mean one hell (sorry) of a blow against atheists.

  10. Completely New Species..? by red+crab · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Magur fish or Clarias Magur first described in 1822, with habitat in Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins in northern and northeastern India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh is very commonly known to have walking capabilities. The link mentions this fish as "Commercial pond aquaculture of the catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus), commonly known as "pIa duk dan" in Thailand, "ikan lele" in Indonesia, and walking catfish in the U.S.A., first developed in Thailand in the late 1950s". This newly discovered species has climbing capabilities, so this might be just related to walking fish with more developed muscles.

    1. Re:Completely New Species..? by religionofpeas · · Score: 3, Insightful
      It's not the first walking fish, but this one is newly discovered, and has unique way of walking. Quote the abstract:

      In all other fishes, the pelvic bones are suspended in a muscular sling or loosely attached to the pectoral girdle anteriorly. In contrast, the pelvic girdle of Cryptotora is a large, broad puboischiadic plate that is joined to the iliac process of a hypertrophied sacral rib; fusion of these bones in tetrapods creates an acetabulum.

  11. fwwwaaahhhh! you no talk! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Eat now. For great dear reader, eat this