Picture a world where massive creatures roamed the land, sea, and sky. While many prehistoric animals have long since disappeared, some have managed to survive to this day, almost unchanged by time. These living fossils offer us a glimpse into the distant past and remind us of the incredible resilience of life on our planet.
In this blog, I’ll introduce you to 15 prehistoric animals that still exist today.
Horseshoe Crab
The horseshoe crab has been around for over 450 million years. It’s not actually a crab, but more closely related to spiders and scorpions. These creatures have blue blood that is used in medical research. Horseshoe crabs play a vital role in their ecosystem by providing food for birds and other animals.
Coelacanth
The coelacanth was thought to be extinct until it was found alive in 1938. This fish can grow up to 6.5 feet long and live for about 60 years. It has a unique hinged jaw and fin-like limbs that help it move in the water. Coelacanths are sometimes called “living fossils” because they’ve changed very little over millions of years.
Tuatara
Tuataras are reptiles that look like lizards but aren’t actually lizards. They live only in New Zealand and can live for over 100 years. Tuataras have a third eye on top of their head that helps them sense light and temperature. These creatures have remained mostly unchanged for about 200 million years.
Nautilus
The nautilus is a sea creature with a beautiful spiral shell. It has been around for about 500 million years, surviving multiple mass extinctions. Nautiluses have up to 90 tentacles and use jet propulsion to move through water. They can dive very deep in the ocean, going as far as 2,000 feet below the surface.
Platypus
The platypus is a weird animal that lays eggs but feeds its babies milk. It has a duck-like bill, webbed feet, and a beaver-like tail. Platypuses can sense electricity to find food underwater. They’ve been around for about 120 million years and are only found in Australia.
Crocodile
Crocodiles have existed for about 200 million years, since the time of dinosaurs. They are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for up to an hour. Crocodiles have powerful jaws and can regrow lost teeth throughout their lives. Some species can grow up to 20 feet long and live for over 70 years.
Sturgeon
Sturgeons are fish that have been around for more than 200 million years. They can grow very large, with some species reaching lengths of 20 feet. Sturgeons don’t have scales like most fish, but bony plates are called scutes. These fish are known for producing caviar, which are their unfertilized eggs.
Goblin Shark
The goblin shark is a rare deep-sea creature that has existed for about 125 million years. It has a long, flat snout and jaws that can extend out of its mouth to catch prey. Goblin sharks can grow up to 13 feet long and live in very deep waters. They are sometimes called “living fossils” because of their ancient lineage.
Giant Salamander
Giant salamanders can grow up to 6 feet long, making them the largest amphibians in the world. They’ve been around for about 170 million years and live in rivers in China and Japan. These creatures can breathe through their skin and can live up to 60 years. Giant salamanders are excellent swimmers but rarely leave the water.
Tadpole Shrimp
Tadpole shrimp have existed for about 300 million years without changing much. They live in temporary pools of water and can survive long periods of drought. Tadpole shrimp eggs can stay dormant for years until water returns. These creatures look a bit like tiny horseshoe crabs and can grow up to 3 inches long.
Komodo Dragon
Komodo dragons are the largest lizards in the world, growing up to 10 feet long. They’ve been around for about 4 million years and are only found on a few islands in Indonesia. Komodo dragons have a venomous bite and can eat very large prey, including deer and pigs. They have a keen sense of smell and can detect food from miles away.
Lamprey
Lampreys are jawless fish that have existed for about 360 million years. They have a round, suction-cup-like mouth filled with sharp teeth. Lampreys are parasites that attach to other fish and feed on their blood and body fluids. Some species of lamprey can grow up to 3 feet long.
Cockroach
Cockroaches have survived on Earth for about 350 million years. They can live without food for a month and can even survive without their heads for a week. These tough bugs are found all over the world and can adapt to many different environments. Cockroaches help break down dead plants and animals, which is important for the ecosystem.
Lungfish
Lungfish have been around for about 400 million years. They can breathe air and survive out of water for long periods. Some lungfish can even hibernate in mud for years when their homes dry up. These unique fish are found in parts of Africa, South America, and Australia.
Pig-Nosed Turtle
The pig-nosed turtle has been around for about 70 million years. It’s the only turtle that has flippers like a sea turtle but lives in freshwater. These turtles have a long snout that looks like a pig’s nose. Pig-nosed turtles are found in rivers in Australia and New Guinea.
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