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Plant Kingdom
Gymnosperms: Living Fossils
1 question from 1 paper, each with its answer.
- question
- 1
- paper
- 1
- of Plant Kingdom
- 0.95%
Concepts tested
- Cycas and Metasequoia as living fossils
All Questions
2003 AIPMT 1 question
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Which one of the following is categorised under living fossils : -
More than one option is correct.
A living fossil is a living species that closely resembles ancient species known from fossils and has remained nearly unchanged for millions of years, usually with few surviving relatives.
Cycas is a primitive gymnosperm whose group (cycads) flourished in the Mesozoic era; it is called a living fossil.
Metasequoia (dawn redwood) was known only from fossils until living trees were discovered in China in the 1940s; it is also a living fossil.
Pinus is a common, widespread modern conifer, and Selaginella, though an old group, is not usually called a living fossil.
Note: the answer key of the source accepts both Cycas and Metasequoia, so both are marked correct here.