How does the theory of evolution explain the lack of transitional forms in the fossil record?
Skeptics of evolutionary theory often point to a lack of transitional forms in the fossil record as evidence against evolution without defining what they mean by “transitional form.” If “transitional form” means a partially adapted species, then no transitional forms will ever be found. All creatures which survive long enough to be fossilized are fully adapted in the sense that they are adapted well enough to survive. A fully adapted species is not an ideal, “perfectly adapted” creature; those exist only in the minds of some people. A fully adapted species is a species which has all the adaptations it needs to survive in its environment. Paleobiologists use a different definition for the term “transitional form”: a species which is found midway between two other species on the phylogenetic tree. They show some characteristics of the descendant group, but not all. But no matter what combination of characteristics they have, they are fully adapted to their environments, because they were
