Is the Oldest Living Fossil Really an Oxymoron?

Thread starter timejim
Start date Jan 4, 2004

AI Thread Summary

The discussion centers around the term "living fossil," with participants debating its validity. One contributor expresses skepticism about the term, suggesting that "living" and "fossil" are mutually exclusive concepts. Another participant humorously acknowledges the term by referencing the coelacanth, a fish often labeled as a living fossil, while also making a light-hearted comment about their father. The conversation highlights the confusion and irony surrounding the terminology used in paleontology.

Jan 4, 2004

timejim

I think it was somewhere oiverseas but I'm not sure. Oh, please re-read the subject heading and see if you catch what I really said.
Is it an oxymoron?

Physics news on Phys.org

Jan 13, 2004

Gara

i sure think so. a better line would be "oldest intact fossil" :)

Jan 13, 2004

amp

No

I believe 'Living' and 'Fossil' are mutually exclusive.
<edit>
I'm wrong the Celocant is called a living fossil.

Last edited by a moderator: Jan 13, 2004

Jan 14, 2004

jimmy p

Gold Member

they haven't met my dad obviously

Thread 'Status Update by JRMichler'

Just ONCE, I wanted to see a post titled Status Update that was not a blatant, annoying spam post by a new member. So here it is. Today was a good day here in Northern Wisconsin. Fall colors are here, no mosquitos, no deer flies, and mild temperature, so my morning run was unusually nice. Only two meetings today, and both went well. The deer that was road killed just down the road two weeks ago is now fully decomposed, so no more smell. Somebody has a spike buck skull for their...

View full post »

Thread 'RIP Jane Goodall (91), primatologist and conservationist'

https://abcnews.go.com/International/jane-goodall-famed-primatologist-anthropologist-conservationist-dead-91/story?id=109868347 https://www.npr.org/2025/10/01/459238450/jane-goodall-primatologist-dead-91 https://whyy.org/articles/jane-goodall-died-chimpanzee-research-environomental-advocacy/ https://freshairarchive.org/guests/jane-goodall

View full post »