If such gradual changes and transitional forms are so clear in the fossil record, I wonder why Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould felt the need to publish a paper developing the theory of punctuated equilibrium. 
If an enviroment changes very little, then there is only a need for refinement of already adapted forms.
You are, for example, different from your parents, but there are no fundamental issues affecting your survival or reproduction that would favour one trait over another. So although you are different you are only a bit different. So the species changes gradually.
But if a lush area becomes arid, or a cold area becomes warm, there is bigger environmental pressure on evolution, so bigger changes happen over a relatively small time.
Fits perfectly with the theory of evolution.
The alternative 'magic man dun it' does not cut the ice.
If an enviroment changes very little, then there is only a need for refinement of already adapted forms.
You are, for example, different from your parents, but there are no fundamental issues affecting your survival or reproduction that would favour one trait over another. So although you are different you are only a bit different. So the species changes gradually.
But if a lush area becomes arid, or a cold area becomes warm, there is bigger environmental pressure on evolution, so bigger changes happen over a relatively small time.
Fits perfectly with the theory of evolution.
The alternative 'magic man dun it' does not cut the ice.
You can fix ignorance, you can't fix stupid.
Tinkety Tonk and down with the Nazis.
