Relic is representative of past eras that exists in our time

A Rarity, a relic of a bygone era, the residual phenomenon of the past, persistent isolate – these words can define this concept. Simply put, relic – a thing, phenomenon or organism survived much of his time. No wonder the word comes from the Latin relictum, which means “balance”.

Classification

In biology, the relic – is first and foremost a living organism, maintaining its existence in the modern ecosystem, previously more widespread in past geological epoch. Thus, phylogenetic relicts scientists call plants and animals that died millions of years ago, and individuals have survived to this day. And geographical relics called the organisms surviving in this particular region. For example, in Colchis relic – chestnut, boxwood, rhododendron. Great scientific value of such plants. Scientists believe that they are the real storehouse of information about previous eras.

Plants-relics

Not all rare plants are relicts. Many of them have a limited habitat in which to meet such plant – business as usual. Belonging to the relict plants shall be determined according to paleobotanical data. Many of them were wide spread in the fauna of the past. Thus, the plant Ginkgo now – the only representative of the gymnosperms, which once existed on Earth in abundance. And the well-known sycamore tree found in the Mediterranean, and in Asia, and in North America. The same extensive, but the spatial torn area has another relict plant – Lotus. Timeline relic plants are classified as pre-glacial, glacial and post-glacial. The most ancient of living plants include Ginkgo (silver apricot), whose age, according to scientists, more than 200 million years. To these contemporaries of dinosaurs is the metasequoia found in China. All plants-relics of the need to conserve and protect as valuable live "exhibits" of the past. In many countries organized special sanctuaries, where the flora of the past is under state protection.

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Animals-relics

The Most ancient relics – bacteria (they are classified in a separate Kingdom, distinct from animals and plants). Discovered archaebacteria that existed on the planet for 2.5-4 billion years ago. Truly old age!

In the underwater depths discovered some creatures, emerging from its era for many millennia. Such relics include lobe-finned fish, or other no less ancient, – the monkfish. Crabs of globigii existed in the ocean about 70 million years ago and was considered extinct. Only recently scientists have discovered the living representatives of the ancient form.

Among terrestrial animals there are also relic. One of them, relic, – Komodo dragon, lizard, reaching 7 meters in length. The tuatara that lives in New Zealand, the age is also comparable to dinosaurs. And Amuru transitional step from fish to amphibians, existed 400 million years ago. There are ancient representatives and among the beetles, and among the ants.

Trio “a Relict”

In music have their "relics". So, the famous in Russia, the eponymous trio performs Russian songs of the past years and have gained much popularity in a thoughtful audience who loves such works.

The Trio “a Relict” - a bright representative of the so-called Russian style of singing of the song to the accompaniment of classical guitar.