Reptiles' Walking Ability 'Evolved' Fast

Secular scientists no longer think the process took "20 to 30 million" years.

SUMMARY: Secular scientists had thought it took between "20 and 30 million years" for reptiles to "evolve" the ability to walk. Now new research shows reptiles began walking with legs tucked underneath their bodies much earlier.

Professor Mike Benton of the UK's Bristol U. said, "Dinosaurs, and later the mammals, owe their success to being upright. An upright animal, like an elephant or a diplodocus, can be very large because its weight passes directly through the pillar-like legs to the ground. Another advantage is that other upright animals, such as monkeys, can use their arms for climbing or gathering food."

Newly-found footprints suggest to these scientists that upright-walking reptiles quickly replaced sprawling reptiles of earlier epochs rather than the two groups competing to cohabit the earth.

(Picture of green iguana from Wikipedia)

To read the entire article, click on this link to BBC NEWS.

COMMENT: This is not by any means the first time paleontologists have looked at the "evolution" of some feature in some creature and moved it back much earlier into time. Discoveries like this one may surprise evolutionary scientists, but it certainly is no surprise to Bible-believers. Of course reptiles who today walk upright on legs walked upright on legs far earlier than scientists have assumed. In fact, these reptiles walked upright on legs from the very first day they appeared on earth.

Where is there any suggestion in nature that lizards like Komodo dragons or iguanas or any other lizard ever did not walk on legs? Where is there a series of fossils showing the evolution of the walking ability of any lizard from a relative who could only crawl?

God knows what is best for each creature. Whether they crawl, swim, fly or walk, all animals get along just fine with the features and abilities they have been given.

God knows what is best for humans too. He hasn't given us the strength of an elephant or the speed of a cheetah. But He has given us creative minds that have placed us above all animals. And He has given only us, among all His creatures, eternal souls. May we care for our souls by washing them clean of sin in the blood of Jesus Christ, Who gave up His life so that we could enjoy eternity in heaven.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

How dangerous is it for a patient to leave a hospital against the doctor's advice?

The Mayo Clinic in March reported 20% of patients who left a hospital against medical advice were readmitted within 15 days, compared to 3% who were discharged through normal procedures. Heart attack patients in the first group had a 60% higher risk of dying or being readmitted within two years.

Source: Consumer Reports OnHealth (October, 2009)