living-fossil
Evolutionarily unchanged organism
A living fossil is a species that has survived largely unchanged for millions of years, resembling its ancient ancestors found in fossil records: The coelacanth is a living fossil, virtually identical to specimens from 400 million years ago.
The term extends to anything outdated that persists: His flip phone makes him a living fossil.
Primordial fish still swimming
- ginkgoAncient Chinese deciduous tree
- nautilusChambered marine mollusk
- tuataraLast rhynchocephalian species
- lungfishFish that breathes air
cycad · okapi · platypus · echidna · sturgeon · hagfish · lamprey · brachiopod
Very old indeed
- unchangedNot modified at all
- relictBiological or legal survivor
- primitiveIn earliest form
- archaicBelonging to earlier times
surviving · prehistoric · lineage · ancestor · morphology · stasis · extinction · resilient
No longer in use
- relicPreserved ancient object
- anachronismHistorical time-placement error
- dinosaurExtinct Mesozoic reptile
- antiqueOld valued collectible
obsolete · old-fashioned · throwback · vestige · holdover · antiquated · traditionalist · Luddite
coelacanth
Primordial fish still swimming
- ginkgoAncient Chinese deciduous tree
- nautilusChambered marine mollusk
- tuataraLast rhynchocephalian species
lungfish · cycad · okapi · platypus · echidna · sturgeon · hagfish · lamprey · brachiopod · crocodilian
ancient
Very old indeed
archaic · surviving · prehistoric · lineage · ancestor · morphology · stasis · extinction · resilient · endemic
outdated
No longer in use
- relicPreserved ancient object
- anachronismHistorical time-placement error
- dinosaurExtinct Mesozoic reptile
antique · obsolete · old-fashioned · throwback · vestige · holdover · antiquated · traditionalist · Luddite · curmudgeon