You’re too good to that fish finger, you know. Are those new breadcrumbs?

Well, he’s practically family now and I’m trying to make amends for all the ones I’ve eaten over the years. The plaice, haddock . . .

Family?

Haven’t you heard? They’ve found fossils of a creature that show the evolutionary moment when life was emerging from water and taking to the land with limbs.

Wow, the missing link.

Absolutely. This is a huge discovery. These ancient fish are about 10ft long, with flat, sharp teeth and a head like you’d get on a crocodile. They’re about 375 million years old.

That’s quite an age, mate.

It is. Sir Tom Jones is only 65, for example.

But I thought we knew land life came from water?

Oh yes, with certainty for about 100 years. But scientists have never seen anything at that blurry transition stage, on the brink of making it to dry land. These things have a skull, ribs and neck like early animals with limbs. But also — and here’s the kicker — scales and fins like a fish! Wow, surf and turf.

Indeed. They’re really well preserved and have joints strong enough to support bodies, just like they do in . . . well, us!

Not me after a few jars, though! So, where did it live?

The Arctic Circle on Ellesmere Island.

It sounds a long way to visit; the kids were set on Disneyworld.

No problemo. They’ve made casts and all you’ve got to do is pop down to the Science Museum, in London, which has them on show.

Have they got a name yet, these fish?

Tiktaalik roseae.

So am I, but a kip in the afternoon helps.

No, that’s the name: the first bit means “large shallow water fish” in the local language.

Do say: This extraordinary discovery and exhibition are an opportunity to witness the moment the Earth became populated.

Don’t say: This all sounds a bit fishy to me.