The first evidence of life was recorded around 3.8 billion years ago. However, most of the creatures that existed in the prehistoric period are no longer found today.
A few animals we find today have roots back to prehistoric periods, but very few of us know about this. These prehistoric species offer a glimpse into those ages, evolutions, and adaptions.
In this article, let’s discuss the top 8 oldest animals around the world that came into existence in the prehistoric periods but still exist today.
8 Oldest Animals Around The World That Even Exist Today
1. Sponge (600 million years ago):
Scientifically known as Porifera, the fossils of sponges date back to 600 million years ago. Sponges are among the world’s oldest living animals and are distributed in a wide range of ocean habitats, from the polar region to the tropics.
Sponges are multicellular organisms consisting of jelly-like mesohyl between two thin layers of tube-like cells. Despite having a simple porous structure, a sponge plays an important role in filtering water and providing habitats for other smaller organisms.
2. Nautilus (550 million years ago):
Nautilus, also known as ‘little sailor’, belongs to the family of Nautilidae, which are often considered as living fossils. Living in the deep sea, nautiluses are almost extinct today.
It is believed that nautiluses originated almost 550 million years ago. Since then, the species hasn’t evolved much, and as a result, it is on the verge of extinction.
3. Dendrogramma enigmatica (550 million years ago):
Dendrogramma enigmatica is the only one of its genus siphonophore, first discovered in 2014. Originating 550 million years ago, the deep sea creature is still alive today and resembles tiny mushrooms.
Dendrogramma is a unique creature that lacks sex organs and a nervous system but has a simple gastrovascular system. These creatures are usually found near Tasmania, Australia, at a depth of 400-1000 meters.
4. Jellyfish (500 million years ago):
The jellyfish is a free-swimming marine invertebrate, also known as sea jelly due to its appearance and texture. There are more than 4000 species of jellyfish found today, from the shallow riverbeds to the deep seas.
5. Horseshoe Crabs (450 million years ago):
Horseshoe crabs are the only surviving xiphosurans. These are not true crabs or crustaceans but chelicerates, closely related to scorpions, spiders, or ticks. This species survived 5 extinctions (including the one that wiped away dinosaurs). The creature, which has ten eyes and poor vision, is threatened due to its increasing consumption in Southeast Asia and its use as bait.
6. Australian Ghost Shark (400 million years ago):
Australian Ghost Shark, also known as elephant fish, makorepe, whitefish, or plough-nose chimaera, is generally found in southern Australia (Tasmania) and New Zealand at a depth of 0-200 metres.
Ghost Sharks are distinct from other sharks in that they live solitary and forage for small prey on the seafloor. These sharks are silver in color with iridescent reflections and dark on their sides.
7. Sea Lamprey (340 million years ago):
The Sea Lamprey, also known as vampire fish, is a parasitic lamprey native to the northern hemisphere, usually found in the northern and western Atlantic Ocean along the shores of Europe and North America.
Sea lampreys resemble eels (however, they are not related). They migrate from ocean to river to mate and feed on the blood of fish like lake sturgeon and salmon. In their natural habitat, they coevolve with their hosts, who take measures to resist the lampreys.
8. Alligator Gar (110 million years ago):
Alligator Gars, closely related to bowfins, are the largest species of gar and one of North America’s largest freshwater fish. They are known as “primitive fishes” or “living fossils” as they have retained some of the morphological characteristics of their ancestors.
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