The term living fossil It is an informal expression used to describe non-extinct species that have evolved slowly.in addition to preserving features of their oldest ancestors.
In Mexico City, specifically in the Chapultepec Forest, a living fossil is found from Chinasince in 1964, the Japanese emperor Akihito planted a tree in that place. Because this species of tree has existed for millions of years on Earth, it is considered a living fossil.
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The tree he brought with him is called Ginkgo biloba and, currently, It is one of the few that exist in Mexico. One of these trees is located in the Central Offices of the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research (INIFAP) and another of them is located in the Parque de la Bombilla in the Álvaro Obregón mayor’s office.
This tree is located in front of the Monumental Fountain of Nezahualcóyotl and has a plaque that says: “Guinto planted by His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Akihito of Japan on May 14, 1964.”
Specimens that are more than 2,500 years old have been found. X / @ChapultepecCDMX
The INIFAP indicates that This species of tree began to be used 4 thousand years ago for religious and ornamental purposes in ChinaIn addition, Ginkgo biloba tolerates air pollution and cold places.
The modern Gingko biloba is a living fossil, with related fossils dating back to the Permian, 270 million years ago. This species of trees spread throughout Laurasia (a continental mass that formed 300 million years ago, made up of present-day North America, Europe and Asia) during the Middle Jurassic and Cretaceousbut At the end of the Pleistocene, ginkgo fossils disappeared except for a small area in central China.
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