Living fossil

As living fossils, even permanent forms or types, species or species groups ( taxa ) denotes whose body plan has not changed much over geologically long periods. The reasons for the emergence of such phylogenetic permanent molds are a relative constancy of their habitats, lack of competition and predation and often isolation. Frequently they were once widespread, but now inhabit only small areas ( relict occurrence). Some of them were even considered extinct and were rediscovered ( Lazarus effect). Living fossils are organisms for which there are many, some are very old fossil evidence, based on which occurs the comparison with the extant forms. The - language paradoxical - term was introduced by Charles Darwin in the literature.

Characteristics of a living fossil

Generally, there are some features that connect all " living fossils " and have led to this name.

  • The organisms are members of a geologically old Tier-/Pflanzengruppe.
  • Their position in the system of extant species is isolated.
  • In comparison to the prehistoric, related species living fossils have a very limited and relic -like spatial distribution. The distribution areas are often geographically narrowly defined areas such as islands or closed valleys.
  • Their appearance has changed only slightly over time, so they have many ancient features.

Vegetable kingdom

  • The tree ferns ( Cyatheales )
  • Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
  • Horsetail ( Equisetum )
  • The birds in the tree ( Cathaya argyrophylla )
  • The Welwitschia ( Welwitschia mirabilis, a nacktsamige desert plant )
  • The Wollemia ( Wollemia nobilis, a Araukariengewächs )
  • The dawn redwood ( Metasequoia glyptostroboides )

Animal kingdom

  • The brachiopods
  • The lungfish
  • The tuatara (or Tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus )
  • The bichirs
  • The billfishes
  • Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis ( a frog )
  • Neopilina galatheae ( a mollusc )
  • The nautilus ( Nautilidae, original form of cephalopods )
  • The horseshoe crabs ( Limulidae )
  • The coelacanth ( Latimeria )
  • Lampreys ( Petromyzontidae )
  • The monotremes ( Monotremata: to the Ursäugetieren ( Protheria ) scoring echidna ( Tachyglossidae ) and the platypus ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus ) )
  • Triops ( a genus of Kiemenfußkrebse )
  • The Teufelskärpfling ( Cyprinodon diabolis )
  • The Solenodon ( Solenodontidae, family of small mammals)
  • Giant Salamander
  • The frilled shark ( Chlamydoselachus anguineus - Classification as a "living fossil" is problematic, since the fossil record is very poor. )
  • The Israeli Disc- ( Discoglossus nigriventer or newly Latonia nigriventer, a Froschlurch )
  • Protanguilla palau ( an eel )

Documents

West Indian Ocean coelacanth History of the Earth Biotope Range (biology) Lazarus taxon Ghost lineage
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