rarity, a relic of a bygone era, the residual effect of the distant past, persistent, isolate - these words can define this concept.Simply put, a relic - a thing, phenomenon or body, survived much time.No wonder the word itself comes from the Latin relictum, which means "residue".
Classification
In biology, a relic - is first and foremost a living organism that has preserved its existence in modern ecosystems, previously more widespread in the last geological epoch.Thus, the phylogenetic relicts scientists call the plants and animals that became extinct millions of years ago, and their individual representatives are preserved to this day.A geographic relics called the organisms preserved in this particular region.For example, in Colchis relic - a chestnut tree, boxwood, rhododendron.The great scientific value of these plants.Scientists believe that they - the real wealth of information about previous eras.
plants-relicts
Not all rare plants are relics.Many of them have limited habitat in which to meet such a plant - a common occurrence.Belonging to the relic plants paleobotanical determined according to the data.Many of them were widespread in the fauna of the past.Thus, gingko plant is now - the only representative of gymnosperms that existed once on the Earth in abundance.A well-known plane tree is found in the Mediterranean, Asia, and North America.The same vast, but space is area torn another relic plant - lotus.According to the timeline relic plants are classified into preglacial, glacial and post-glacial.The most ancient of living plants include the ginkgo (silver apricot), whose age, according to scientists, more than 200 million years.These peers also applies Metasequoia dinosaurs found in China.All plants-relicts need in saving and protecting as valuable living "exhibits" of days gone by.Many countries have organized special reserves, where flora past is under state protection.
Animal relics
most ancient relics - bacteria (they are isolated in a special realm, different from animals and plants).Archaea were found that existed on the planet 2.5-4 billion years ago.Truly old age!
found in the underwater depths of some creatures that survived his time in the many thousands.These relics include Crossopterygii fish or another, no less ancient - monkfish.Crabs glipidii existed in the ocean waters, about 70 million years ago and thought to be extinct.Only recently, scientists have found living representatives of the ancient species.
Among land animals and relict.One of them, a relic - is the Komodo dragon, lizard, reaching 7 meters long.Tuatara, lives in New Zealand, and is comparable in age with dinosaurs.A amkuru, transitional step from fish to amphibians, existed 400 million years ago.There are ancient representatives among beetles, among ants.
Trio "Relic»
and music have their "relics."For example, in Russia the famous eponymous trio performs Russian romances past years and gained great popularity among the audience thoughtful, loving such works.
trio "Relict" - a brilliant representative of the so-called Russian style romance singing to the accompaniment of classical guitar.
