Vestigial organs/limbs

[Deep Sea Isopod]

OK, just wondering. Are vestigial organs/limbs which are still used, but not for their original purpose, still vestigial? Penguin wings, for example?

[JimC]

OK, just wondering. Are vestigial organs/limbs which are still used, but not for their original purpose, still vestigial? Penguin wings, for example?

No, they are (to use a term from Gould) exaptions, and are one of the crucial strands of evidence which demolish the absurdities of creationist woo...

[Deep Sea Isopod]

OK, just wondering. Are vestigial organs/limbs which are still used, but not for their original purpose, still vestigial? Penguin wings, for example?

No, they are (to use a term from Gould) exaptions, and are one of the crucial strands of evidence which demolish the absurdities of creationist woo...

(exaptations) Just Googled it. Thanks Jim.

[Millefleur]

I've been wondering about dew claws on dogs, if indeed they were a fifth toe that became vestigial as the need to run faster on the middle toes arose, similiar to a horse, as Bella uses hers like thumbs to great effect.

[mistermack]

I don't think you could call the penguins' wings vestigial.
Otherwise you would have to say that they are vestiges of vestiges of vestiges, as they were originally fins, then forelimbs, then wings, then flippers.