The Fossil Record: Evolution or "Scientific Creation"

Clifford A. Cuffey

Missing Links

“Missing links” are probably the most widely known argument against evolution. “Creation scientists” claim that transitional fossils do not exist and that systematic gaps between taxa (especially higher taxa) are ubiquitous in the fossi l record (Morris, 1985, p. 78, 79; Morris & Parker, 1987, p. 11, 12; Gish, 1995, p. 80, 81, 100-103, 109, 186, 187). Concerning the lack of transitional fossils connecting ichthyosaurs with other reptiles, Gish (1995, p. 109) stated, “What we have is undoubted proof of special creation, if ever such proof is possible.” It is certainly true that transitional forms have not been found to bridge the gap between some taxa. Transitional fossils connecting the ichthyosaurs or pterosaurs with other reptiles, or the bats with other mammals are not known (Carroll, 1988, p. 251-254, 331-337, 463, 464). However, this is absence of data, and the absence of data by itself is ambiguous. It is certainly not proof of anything. That is a serious logical fallacy and a fatal flaw in “creation science” arguments against evolution. What is relevant is that are many other transitional fossils, which corroborate evolution but contradict “creation science.”

The absence of data can be interpreted in a number of different ways. First, some transitional forms may have been soft-bodied organisms that were never fossilized. A few exceptional fossil deposits (such as the Burgess Shale; Dott & amp; Prothero, 1994, p. 216-219) demonstrate that significant numbers of soft-bodied organisms lived with skeletal organisms, but that for the most part they are not preserved. Second, transitional forms may not have been preserved because of geographic a ccidents: some organisms lived in actively eroding, instead of depositing areas, or they were destroyed in an orogeny (or major erosional event). Third, transitional forms may not have been found yet. As discussed earlier, prior to the early 1980’s no tra nsitional forms were known to connect whales with their most closely related fossil relatives, the mesonychids. Since then, an impressive succession of intermediate forms has been found clearly documenting their evolution. Science progresses by finding ne w data. Fourth, transitional forms may have existed for such a short duration of geologic time that they were not preserved, resulting in evolution by punctuated equilibrium. Fifth, transitional forms may have lived elsewhere and the organisms subsequentl y migrated to other locales. In the upper Upper Cretaceous (Campanian and Maastrichtian) of North America, we find abundant ceratopsian dinosaurs with no obvious local ancestors (Carroll, 1988, p. 309-311). However, in eastern Asia, we find two forms in t he upper Lower and lower Upper Cretaceous, Psittacosaurus and Protoceratops, which bridge the gap between generalized bipedal ornithopods and classical quadrupedal ceratopsians (Carroll, 1988, p. 309-311; Norman, 1998, p. 128-133). Apparentl y, the protoceratopsians migrated to North America during the middle of the Upper Cretaceous and an adaptive radiation ensued resulting in a plethora of genera, including the most famous, Triceratops (Edwords, 1982; Carroll, 1988, p. 309-311).

Questions or Comments about GCSSEPM?

Send us e-mail and we will get back to you as soon as we can.