Oldest animal species that are still living on Earth
Throughout history, the conditions on our planet have changed, causing most living creatures to vanish from the face of Earth. However, some animals have survived for millions of years by adapting to their environment and continue to thrive even today! We have compiled a list of some of the oldest and longest-living species that will astound you.
Sea sponge: 760 million years old
Although the age of sea sponges is unknown, they are at least old enough to be the oldest living beings on Earth, distinct from microbes like bacteria. A fossil that was found in a rock that was 760 million years old is the earliest evidence of a sea sponge. This surpassed the previous record held by a 635 million-year-old sea sponge found in 2009.
Jellyfish: 505 million years old
Jellyfish were around 505 million years ago! Who could have thought, right? Scientists at the University of Kansas discovered new fossil evidence of jellyfish in 2007, which dates back more than 500 million years, which is 200 million years beyond the oldest known jellyfish fossils. Thriving in harsh water conditions, they need less oxygen compared to many other marine organisms.
Nautilus: 500 million years old
The nautilus has lived on our planet for half a billion years, surviving every major mass extinction that has ever occurred and resetting life as we know it. Unfortunately, the nautilus is currently in danger of going extinct. Why? Because their cool shells appeal to humans. People harvest the nautilus for its unique spiral shells, treasuring and decorating them for ornamental purposes.
Horseshoe crab: 445 million years old
Known as some of the most prominent "living fossils," horseshoe crabs have existed on Earth for an astonishing 445 million years, during which they have essentially remained unchanged. Additionally, it is important to note that horseshoe crabs are not crabs at all; their closer biological ties are with spiders and other arachnids rather than with crabs or lobsters.
Coelacanth: 360 million years old
The coelacanth was thought to be extinct, but fortunately, it is not! Because of their striking resemblance to the ancient fish that eventually evolved to emerge from the water and become the first land vertebrate, scientists have been studying the extremely rare and endangered fish with great interest. Knowing the genetic code of the coelacanth will help scientists comprehend how they evolved.
