The dragon fish provides information to the researcher about the process which compels fish to move onto dry land. Dragon fish is quite different from the other ones since it can stay alive without water.
The researchers observed that when the fish changes remarkably when it begins to live out of water. The fish reared out of water demonstrated alterations in their bones and muscles which are responsible for the movement.
The experts performed this research for a time period of eight months. Hans Larsson of McGill University’s Redpath Museum stated that the chief purpose of this experiment was to discover the physical changes in Dragon fish which lives outside the water. Experts wanted to expose this cryptic deviation by compelling them to live without water.
The fish which survived on dry land changed itself into quadruped vertebrates nearly 400 million years ago. Experts believe dragon fish to be a living illustration of phenomena generally known as developmental plasticity. The theory states that a creature’s structure can be changed through environmental conditions and sometimes these changes are into the genesis of that animal.
The experiment went as it was expected that the Dragon fish raised outside of the water was very alike when it came out. Subsequently, research stored it in a tank which only contained 1mm of water on its surface.
After the long time of eight months this fish was compared to the ones which was living inside the water. The fish raised outside the water experienced several changes such as being more skilful at walking, always placed their pectoral fins near to the center of their bodies.
Researchers are intended to perform some more experiment on this species in the future like assessing the force of the fishes, comparing them with fossil records etc.
This study is printed in the Journal Nature.