In an evolutionary first, researchers at McGill University have bred "terrestrialized" fish able to walk better on land than the land-walking African dragon fish.

A study published in the journal Nature said these scientists used the African dragon fish, also called Polypterus, to support their theory that ancient fishes similar to the Polypterus evolved into tetrapods that first walked on land.

Like Us on Facebook

Polypterus can breathe surface air and "walk on land" using their fins, as well.

Hans Larsson, of McGill University's Redpath Museum said they wanted to push the envelope on evolution and see what changes would happen if Polypterus was placed in a land environment.

"We wanted to push them in this new environment to see if we could reveal this cryptic variation, and if it works, what does it look like?" he said.

For almost a year, researchers raised young Polypterus on damp land to observe whether or not there would be changes in how the fish looked and moved.

The tank housing the fish contained one millimeter of water. The fish were kept damp using vegetable misters.

What researchers found was that the fish displayed significant anatomical and behavioral changes.

The "terrestrialized" fish were able to walk with more efficacy; able to raise their heads higher, placing their fins closer to their bodies so they wouldn't slip like fish raised in water.

Their bodies also became more elongated than their counterparts raised in water.

They had stronger attachments across the chest, an adaptation resulting from the need for more support when walking and greater head and neck motion.

Larsson said the biological changes were the same as the changes observes in fossil records. Behavioral changes were also more likely the same when prehistoric fish started walking on land with their fins.

Researchers are currently conducting more experiments on the fish.

These experiments will include measuring the force of their "steps" and comparing these to fossil records of ancient fish.