Over the centuries, many species have risen and fallen, some of which have left an indelible mark on the evolutionary tree. Many modern animals may trace their genealogy to prehistoric forebears, demonstrating their evolution to endure extreme climate and environmental changes.
8 animals with pre-historic roots
These animals remind us of the past and show Earth’s resilience. We examine eight remarkable prehistoric species and their ancestral lineages and adaptations here.
1. Horseshoe Crab
Many call horseshoe crabs “living fossils.” They predate dinosaurs by hundreds of millions of years at over 450 million years. Their blue blood contains a chemical used in vaccine bacterial contamination testing.
2. Coelacanth
The coelacanth was found living off South Africa in 1938 after being thought extinct 66 million years earlier. This prehistoric fish is important for studying vertebrate evolution because of its lobed pectoral fins and brain shape.
3. Nautilus
Nutilus species are among the earliest cephalopods, dating back 500 million years. Beautiful and practical, their coiled shells regulate ocean buoyancy. Due to its ancient heritage, the nautilus is called a “living fossil” and helps scientists comprehend the evolution of cephalopods like squid and octopuses.
4. Crocs
The dinosaur extinction event killed dinosaurs, although crocodiles and archosaurs survived for 200 million years. They are successful predators because their physical structure has altered little. Known as “living fossils,” crocodiles display their adaptability and evolutionary success in diverse habitats.
5. Tuataras
Reptiles like the New Zealand tuatara have existed for over 200 million years. Tuataras, the Rhynchocephalia order, are often mistaken for lizards. This “third eye” on top of their skull is thought to regulate circadian cycles.
6. Sturgeon
Over 200 million years old, sturgeons predate dinosaurs. The bony scutes of sturgeons make them “living fossils.” They are important to freshwater habitats and commercially significant for their caviar-making roe.
See more: Five Ways the Great Green Wall is Helping to Reforest the Sahel Region
7. Sharks
One of the oldest surviving animals, sharks have lived in the oceans for nearly 400 million years. Their body architecture has shown remarkable consistency over history, helping them to adapt to different aquatic conditions.
8. Ginkgo Biloba
Prehistoric roots distinguish the ginkgo biloba tree. Known as a “living fossil,” ginkgo trees are 270 million years old. Fan-shaped leaves and pollution and disease resistance make them unusual plants. Traditional medicine uses ginkgo biloba, which has survived millennia of environmental and human effects.