extant

(adjective)

still in existence; not extinct

Related Terms

Examples of extant in the following topics:

  • Characteristics of the Animal Kingdom

    • Although over one million extant (currently living) species of animals have been identified, scientists are continually discovering more species as they explore ecosystems around the world.
    • The number of extant species is estimated to be between 3 and 30 million.

  • Agnathans: Jawless Fishes

    • The superclass Agnatha describes fish that lack jaws and includes the extant species of hagfish and lampreys.

  • Characteristics and Evolution of Amphibians

    • An important characteristic of extant amphibians is a moist, permeable skin that is achieved via mucus glands that keep the skin moist; thus, exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the environment can take place through it (cutaneous respiration).
    • All extant adult amphibians are carnivorous.

  • Characteristics of Eukaryotic DNA

    • All extant eukaryotes have cells with nuclei; most of a eukaryotic cell's genetic material is contained within the nucleus.
    • All extant eukaryotes have these cytoskeletal elements.

  • Modern Reptiles

    • Crocodilia ("small lizard") arose with a distinct lineage by the middle Triassic; extant species include alligators, crocodiles, and caimans .
    • Squamata ("scaly") arose in the late Permian; extant species include lizards and snakes.
    • Squamata is the largest extant clade of reptiles .

  • Bryophytes

    • Bryophytes are the group of seedles plants that are the closest-extant relative of early terrestrial plants.

  • Early Plant Life

    • Seedless non-vascular plants (bryophytes), such as mosses, are the group of plants that are the closest extant relative of early terrestrial plants.

  • Evolution of Land Plants

    • Paleobotanists distinguish between extinct species, as fossils, and extant species, which are still living.

  • Chordates and the Evolution of Vertebrates

    • Extant members of Cephalochordata are the lancelets, named for their blade-like shape.

  • Binary Fission

    • While both proteins are found in extant organisms, tubulin function has evolved and diversified tremendously since evolving from its FtsZ prokaryotic origin.