A living fossil is a living species (or clade) of organism that appears to be similar to a species otherwise known only from fossils, typically with no close living relatives. Normally the similarity is only apparent, between two different species, one extinct, the other extant. It is an informal non-scientific term, mostly used in the media. These species have survived major extinction events, and generally retain low taxonomic diversities. A species that successfully radiates (forming many new species after a possible genetic bottleneck) has become too successful to be considered a living fossil.
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