From an ocean of 165 submissions, five fish clambered onto the terra firma of victory – and one may get to reproduce

Listen up. Loads and loads of people (Who knew our readers were such a talented and witty bunch?) wanted to add their own descendants to the Darwin Fish Car Emblem family, and they kicked their creativity into fifth gear to secure a spot on the tree. Getting submissions (see them here: Your Chance to Be an Intelligent Designer) for this contest has been the single most entertaining part of my day for the past two weeks.

Some were as pointed as BBQ skewers (Dave Becker’s #5 Fish Massage, #12 Another Pooping Fish, #97 Kiss My Evolved Ass Fish). Others came out of left field (#29 Jump the Shark Fish, #91 The Dancing Fish, #125 The Magic Fish or #159 The Visa Fish). A handful were educational (#37 Tiktaalik Fish, #61 Relativity Fish, #74 Toxic Fish) . An entire school of play-on-words fish made it our way (#7 Fish Oil, #9 Fish Tank). Some were cultish (#57 Witch Fish, #89 Answer to Everything Fish) and a large number of them gave kudos to other non-Darwin scientists (#21 Wallace Fish, #22 Russell Teapot Fish, #39 Huxley Fish, #41 Lamarckian Fish, #42 Uncertainty Fish). (By the way, if you’re late to the party, these numbers refer to fish designs in the original story. Check’em out.)

Competition – that age-old driver of evolution – was tough. But whatever mysterious force guided our judges’ hands was hard at work. We’re very proud to announce that the winner is the very yummy Fish Food by Godfrey Temple (#78). Next up is Pekka Strandroth’s Skepfish (#84). In third place is Amy Prostko’s “Opposable Thumbs Up for Evolution” Fish (#150). Tied for fourth are the Ribbon Fish by Tom E. (#81) and Dean Macaulay’s Evolution Fish (#86 and #87). Judges, you did a wonderful job and we’re very grateful that joined in the fun.

“Yummy!” says Nona Williams from Ring of Fire designs. “We’re interested in manufacturing the fish food emblem and we’d like to discuss that possibility with the designer.” So here’s to us sticking that scrumptious little fishie on bumpers across the nation. Eat it up and make it happen readers!! Let’s move this debate out of the Bible and onto our plates. Nona’s also very interested in developing the DNA Fish (which got the popular vote and garnered comments like “DNA Fish kicks ass!"), which didn’t make it into the winner’s circle.

Finally, a large and hearty thank you to everyone who sent us their talented artwork. It was a delight from start to finish and we stand wholly impressed.

Your fans,

Anne & Anna