In
biogeography and
paleontology a
relict is a
population or
taxon of organisms that was more widespread or more diverse in the past. A
relictual population is a population that presently occurs in a restricted area, but whose original
range was far wider during a previous
geologic epoch. Similarly, a
relictual taxon is a taxon (e.g. species or other lineage) that is the sole surviving representative of a formerly diverse group.