Important to remember that three Tiktaalik individuals were found in 2004 and first proposed as a possible "missing links" between fish & amphibians.
Two years later that proposal was challenged, in 2006 and again in 2010, so science has been doing its thing -- reviewing, analyzing & hypothesizing.
In addition to Tiktaalik science has discovered at least half a dozen other "transitional" species from that time, any or all of which might fill the role:
Further, there are even older impressions in rocks which may or may not be "trackways" from as-yet undiscovered amphibians.
So, it's an exciting period for science, which on this subject at least is far from "settled".
Bob434: " 'Tiktaalik, the transitional star, faces an evolutionary dead-end'
A total upset
This is not some small correction or a minor detail.
It has turned the paleontological world upside down."
Well... no, it's simply science doing what science does -- trying to make the best it can from available data.
All recognize that Tiktaalik, by itself cannot be the single "missing link", so the question is, precisely where in the great scheme of things does Tiktaalik fit?
Bob434 quoting: " 'They force a radical reassessment of the timing, ecology and environmental setting of the fish-tetrapod transition, as well as the completeness of the body fossil record.'7
'[It] will cause a significant reappraisal of our understanding of tetrapod origins.'8 "
etc., etc.
Those quotes are talking about the 2004 first discovery if Tiktaalik and proposals for "missing link" status.
Two years later, in 2006 and again in 2010, such proposals were challenged by other scientists, and all now recognize this issue, at least, is far from "settled".
