Living fossil
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A living fossil is a term for an extant taxon that phenotypically resembles related species known only from the fossil record, though scientifically the term is deprecated and avoided. To be considere
The coelacanths were thought to have gone extinct 66 million years ago, until a living specimen belonging to the order was discovered in 1938.
170 million-year-old fossil Ginkgo leaves
Living Ginkgo biloba plant
Elephant shrews resemble the extinct Leptictidium of Eocene Europe.
Goblin shark
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The goblin shark is a rare species of deep-sea shark. Sometimes called a "living fossil", it is the only extant representative of the family Mitsukurinidae, a lineage some 125 million years old. This
Living fossil
…Heterodontus sp.) Cow shark (sixgill sharks and relatives) (Hexanchidae) Elephant shark (Callorhinchus milii) Frilled shark (Chlamydoselachus sp.) Goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) Gulper shark (Centrophorus sp.) Insects Cyatta abscondita (most recent common relative of Atta and Acromyrmex ant genera…
Goblin shark
Differing jaw positions in preserved goblin sharks caused several specimens to be described erroneously as distinct species.
The goblin shark's jaws extend dramatically when feeding.
Rattails and other deep-living teleosts are the main food of the goblin shark.