Which one of the following is categorised under living fossils : -
More than one option is correct.
A
Pinus
B
Cycas
C
Selaginella
D
Metasequoia
The answers are B and D.
Solution
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.
ConceptCycas and Metasequoia as living fossils
Plant Kingdom in past papers
105 questions from this chapter have appeared across 27 exam years.
