Last Updated：2025/11/21

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(evolutionary theory) Any species discovered first as a fossil and believed extinct, but which is later found living; an organism that has remained unchanged over geological periods.

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living fossil

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Source Word

living fossil

IPA(Pronunciation)

/ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈfɒsl̩/

Noun

(evolutionary theory) Any species discovered first as a fossil and believed extinct, but which is later found living; an organism that has remained unchanged over geological periods.

Japanese Meaning

（進化論の文脈で）かつては化石として発見され、絶滅したと考えられていたが、その後現生種として確認された生物。地質時代を通じてほぼ形態が変わらず存続している例を示す。 / 生きた化石とも呼ばれ、化石の状態で保存されるほど進化の変化が極めて少ない現生生物を指す。

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Google Translation / DeepL Translation

シーラカンスは化石で初めて発見され絶滅したと考えられていたが、後に生きて発見された種として生きた化石と称賛された。

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(evolutionary theory) Any species discovered first as a fossil and believed extinct, but which is later found living; an organism that has remained unchanged over geological periods.