/r/LivingFossils

Photograph via snooOG

Living Fossils - like traveling back to the time of dinosaurs!

Living Fossils - it's like traveling back to the time of dinosaurs!

Definition

A living fossil is a living species (or clade) of organism which appears (visually) to be the same as a species otherwise only known from fossils and which has no close living relatives.
Examples of living fossils

Rules/Suggestions for posting

  • Include the name of the organism in the title.

  • If known, add the age of the corresponding fossil in the title.

  • Include scientific species- or family- name whenever possible, also more info in the comments is always appreciated.

Related subreddits

/r/LivingFossils

3,092 Subscribers

32

New Zealand has some of the coolest living fossils in the world - tuatara and giant wētā that have been around unchanged for over 200 million years. Here’s a video of me trying to find them whilst camping alone on an island! 🦖🦖🦖

2 Comments
2021/05/07
21:35 UTC
12

The Giant Squid demonstrates Deep Sea Gigantism, a phenomenon whereby deep dwelling species grow far larger than shallower water relatives to be more efficient in the depths where food is scarce.

1 Comment
2020/07/28
11:18 UTC
29

The Ancient One, the Coelacanth was though to be extinct for 65 million years but it was rediscovered last century!

0 Comments
2020/07/01
18:32 UTC
41

The call of the Siriema bird. Just sounds amazing. They are left over from giant carnivorous "phorusrhacids".

4 Comments
2019/06/21
10:34 UTC
16

Guys, i have question: is Goblin shark considered as living fossil and where is that border to consider something as living fossil?

7 Comments
2019/04/08
22:22 UTC
13

Found in the White Desert in Egypt. Any thoughts about what it might be?

3 Comments
2019/01/18
19:31 UTC
3

Saving a Dinosaur!

Check out this team from NOAA as they work to save a 200 million year old living Dinosaur! video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t2C9Dikr7Y

0 Comments
2018/03/12
03:45 UTC
7

Tuatara All The Way Down – Face To Face With A Living Fossil!

0 Comments
2018/02/08
16:24 UTC
0

Big Size Fossils

1 Comment
2017/12/20
09:04 UTC
0

Best Dinosaures Fossil.

1 Comment
2017/12/17
10:55 UTC
19

Ran into the snapping turtle while on a walk. He or she was definitely giving me the side-eye.

2 Comments
2017/11/08
19:30 UTC
50

The coelacanth's slow, graceful stroke is like no other fish's.

2 Comments
2017/09/23
17:40 UTC
10

Living Fossil Enamel Pins Kickstarter! Coelacanth, Horseshoe Crab, and Nautilus! (Link in comments)

1 Comment
2017/08/27
02:46 UTC
18

Video of my African lungfish

2 Comments
2016/02/25
07:12 UTC
37

A snapping turtle caught in Oklahoma this week. xpost from /r/pics

10 Comments
2014/05/13
20:54 UTC
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