5 Animals from Prehistoric Times That Are Still Alive

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Life on Earth has never stopped changing. Old species disappear, and new ones are born. This has been happening for billions of years. Most animals from prehistoric times are gone today. We only know them from fossils and bones. But not all of them vanished. Some prehistoric animals survived through it all. They are still alive today, almost unchanged from their ancient ancestors.

In this article, we will take a look at some wonderful animals from prehistoric times that still life on Earth today. They have endured, providing a living link to the distant past.

The nautilus, with its unique spiral shell, is often referred to as a "living fossil." These mysterious animals have changed very little in the last 500 million years, making them one of the oldest living species on Earth. Nautiluses are cephalopods, distant relatives of modern-day squids and octopuses. Their unique shell buoyancy system and primitive anatomy offer insights into the ancient oceans that once teemed with life.

Horseshoe crabs are often considered biological marvels. These ancient arthropods have inhabited Earth for about 450 million years — long before the age of dinosaurs. Despite their name, they are not true crabs but are more closely related to spiders and scorpions. Horseshoe crabs play a vital role in medical research. Their blue blood contains a substance called Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), which is used to detect bacterial contamination in vaccines and medical tools.

The coelacanth is a prime example of a Lazarus taxon — a species considered extinct until it was rediscovered in the 20th century. Coelacanths first appeared about 360 million years ago and were believed to have gone extinct around 70 million years ago. However, a living coelacanth was found off the coast of South Africa in 1938, proving that these "living fossils" still exist in the deep waters of the Indian Ocean. Coelacanths provide critical insights into the evolution of vertebrates.

The tuatara, native to New Zealand, is often referred to as a "living fossil" and represents a unique branch of reptilian evolution. Tuataras belong to an ancient order known as Rhynchocephalia, whose family can be traced back around 250 million years. These reptiles have several primitive features, including a third eye on the top of their head. Despite their lizard-like appearance, tuataras are a distinct and ancient group of animals.

The gharial is a long-snouted crocodilian native to the Indian subcontinent and another living proof of prehistoric times. These reptiles have been around for about 200 million years and have changed very little in their physical characteristics. Gharials are uniquely adapted to a fish-based diet, with slender jaws designed for catching fish in fast-flowing rivers. Unfortunately, gharials are critically endangered today, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts to protect these ancient animals.

In a world that has seen countless extinctions and evolutionary transformations, these animals from prehistoric times stand as living relics. They offer invaluable insights into Earth's distant past, serve as a reminder of the strength and adaptability of life on our planet, and guide us to cherish and protect the natural world that has sustained their existence.