living fossil

noun

1. an organism that is a living example of an otherwise extinct group and that has remained virtually unchanged in structure and function over a long period of time, as the coelacanth and the horseshoe crab.

living fossil

noun

1. an animal or plant, such as the coelacanth and ginkgo, belonging to a group most of whose members are extinct

Word History and Origins

Origin of living fossil¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

A living fossil had been found, and botanists were excited.

From Seattle Times

In 1859 Charles Darwin coined the term “living fossil” to describe lineages that have looked the same for tens of millions of years, such as the coelacanth, sturgeon, and horseshoe crab.

From Science Magazine

"It's like finding a living fossil at the genetic level."

From Science Daily

Several of those compounds also trigger receptors in bony fish such as zebrafish and the “living fossil” coelacanth, and all of them taste bitter to humans.

From Science Magazine

The species is often referred to as a living fossil—a category that also includes horseshoe crabs and royal ferns, among others—because it’s a remnant of a once diverse group that existed millions of years ago.

From National Geographic