Extant: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฟ
extant
[ หษkstษnt ]
existing species
The term 'extant' refers to a species, organism, or group that is currently living and has surviving representatives in the modern era. It is typically used in contrast to 'extinct', which describes species that no longer exist. Extant species play a crucial role in understanding biodiversity and ecological systems. Conservation efforts often focus on extant species to prevent their extinction. Paleontologists may refer to extant species when discussing their ancient relatives or when comparing them to fossil records.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The extant population of the species is critically endangered.
- There are only a few extant species of the once diverse group.
- Researchers study extant relatives to understand evolutionary processes.
Translations
Translations of the word "extant" in other languages:
๐ต๐น existente
๐ฎ๐ณ เค เคตเคถเคฟเคทเฅเค
๐ฉ๐ช lebendig
๐ฎ๐ฉ ada
๐บ๐ฆ ััะฝัััะธะน
๐ต๐ฑ istniejฤ cy
๐ฏ๐ต ็พๅญใใ
๐ซ๐ท existent
๐ช๐ธ existente
๐น๐ท mevcut
๐ฐ๐ท ์กด์ฌํ๋
๐ธ๐ฆ ู ูุฌูุฏ
๐จ๐ฟ existujรญcรญ
๐ธ๐ฐ existujรบci
๐จ๐ณ ็ฐๅญ็
๐ธ๐ฎ obstojeฤ
๐ฎ๐ธ til
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฑะฐั
๐ฌ๐ช แแ แกแแแฃแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ mรถvcud
๐ฒ๐ฝ existente
Etymology
The word 'extant' originates from the Latin word 'extans', which is the present participle of 'extare', meaning 'to stand out' or 'to stand forth.' It was adopted into English in the late 15th century. Initially, 'extant' was used in legal and scholarly contexts to refer to documents or records that are still in existence. Over time, its usage expanded to include biological terminology, particularly in discussions about species and their survival. In contemporary usage, 'extant' functions primarily in ecology, conservation, and philosophy to describe what currently exists in contrast to that which is lost or extinct. The evolution of the term mirrors the growing awareness and concern for biodiversity and the importance of conserving surviving species.