Sarcopterygii

Sarcopterygii are a group of lobe-finned fishes that includes lungfish and coelacanths. They are significant for their evolutionary importance as the closest common ancestors to early tetrapods (four-legged land vertebrates). As such, Sarcopterygii are seen as a critical link in the evolutionary transition from aquatic to terrestrial life. They are also the source of important innovations, such as the development of the first internal lungs and organized vertebral columns. Their fossils and anatomy provide invaluable insight into the origin and early diversification of land-dwelling animals. Sarcopterygii are also of economic importance, providing a source of food in some parts of the world, as well as an important resource in biomedical research.