Living Fossils
A living fossil is a group of organisms that disappears from one or more periods of the fossil record, only to appear again later.
Connected Sites
| Site | Rationale | Link |
| Alejandro de Humboldt National Park | rare large shrew-like insectivore Cuban solenodon Solenodon cubanus (EN), considered a living fossil (UNEP-WCMC) | |
| Greater Blue Mountains | Wollemia | |
| Huangshan | Gingko Biloba | |
| Kinabalu Park | The mountain flora has diverse 'living fossils' such as the celery pine and the trig-oak, the evolutionary link between oaks and beeches. (AB ev) | |
| Lagoons of New Caledonia | Nautilus | |
| Los Alerces National Park | "Other distinctive fauna includes the “Monito del Monte” (Dromiciops gliroides - NT) a nocturnal marsupial which is monotypic, endemic to Patagonia and a “living fossil” which can be linked to ancient and extinct marsupials." (AB ev) | |
| Mount Wuyi | Gingko Biloba | |
| Namib Sand Sea | welwitschia | |
| Ohrid Region | Lake Ohrid is so old and isolated by surrounding hills and mountains that a unique collection of plants and animals has evolved. These include a number of relict species, or “living fossils” (including Ohrid trout (Salmo letnica)) | |
| Shark Bay | Stromatolite | |
| Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries | Gingko Biloba | |
| Three parallel rivers of Yunnan | Gingko Biloba | |
| Viñales Valley | Microcycas calocoma, cork palm, "a living fossil of the Cretaceous phanerogamic flora" (AB ev) | |
| iSimangaliso Wetland Park | Coelacanth |
Suggestions?
Do you know of another WHS we could connect to Living Fossils?
A connection should:
- Not be "self evident"
- Link at least 3 different sites
- Not duplicate or merely subdivide the "Category" assignment already identified on this site.
- Add some knowledge or insight (whether significant or trivial!) about WHS for the users of this site
- Be explained, with reference to a source