The fin-limbs of sarcopterygiians are so like the expected ancestral form of tetrapod limbs that they have been universally considered the direct ancestors of land vertebrates.

• 肉鳍四脚鱼的鳍肢与人们想象的四脚动物祖先的脚十分相似，因此肉鳍四脚鱼是陆地脊椎动物的直系祖先这一说法被广泛认可。