Question

A living fossil is a living species of organism that closely resembles species otherwise known only from the fossil records. Which of the following is not a living fossil?

• A. Mountain beaver
• B. Queensland lungfish
• C. Archaeopteryx
• D. Horseshoe crab

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Archaeopteryx

The term living fossil was coined by Charles Darwin and is used to describe the living creatures that had remained highly unchanged for millions of years. It is a species of organism that closely resembles species otherwise known only from the fossil records. The following are some of the examples:

1) Mountain Beaver is the only living member of a once large and diverse group of rodents (Aplodontoidea), it's fossil record goes back to more than 40 million year.

2) Queensland Lungfish is often described as a living fossil and has changed very little in more than 110 million years.

3) Horseshoe Crabs are a classic example of living fossils. They first emerged in the late Ordovician period some 450 million years ago.

The Archaeopteryx is explained as a transitional fossil between dinosaurs and modern birds. It was on viewed as the earliest known bird and lived around 150 million years ago. Thus, it is not a living fossil as it does not have any living species