All kids in childhood love books about dinosaurs and prehistoric animals. And not only children, but also adults dream of participating in archaeological and paleontological excavations.
It turns out that you should not go far at all - a dream can become a reality. "Fossil" creatures, whose age is many millions of years, still live on our planet. If you get the hell out of it, you can watch them during one of your educational trips.
Did you know that even spotted poisonous fly agarics have been living on the planet for more than 100 million years? And crocodiles, in fact, are the same dinosaurs that are already 83 million years old.
Today we have prepared a review of the 10 most ancient inhabitants of our planet, which you can see (and sometimes touch) without much difficulty.
10. Ant Martialis heureka - 120 million years ago
The hardworking ant began its earthly journey a long time ago and was miraculously preserved. Scientists have discovered in resin and other rocks of the same ant ant species Martialis heureka, which has existed for more than 120 million years.
The insect spends most of the time underground, where it is freely oriented thanks to the location system (it does not have an eye). The ant does not exceed 2-3 mm in length, but it has, as we see, colossal vitality and endurance. It was opened for the first time in 2008.
9. The black-headed shark - 150 million years ago
It is not for nothing that the representative of the species is not similar to her modern relatives - something asymmetrical-prehistoric remained in her appearance. A fiery shark lives in the cold depths (one and a half kilometers under water), so they did not find it right away. Maybe that's why she was able to exist for so long - as much as 150 million years. Externally, the shark resembles a specific eel more than the usual shark.
8. Sturgeon - 200 million years ago
Both adult and small ones like to indulge in sturgeon and caviar. But few people traced the history of this species - it rests on the counter, let it be. Nevertheless, before being chosen by culinary specialists, the sturgeon dissected in the water surface for more than 200 million years.
And now, as far as we remember, their catch has to be limited, otherwise the oldest representatives will die out. If it weren’t for man’s economic activity, darkness would have bred sturgeons, because this fish is capable of living for a century.
7. The Shield - 220 million years ago
A funny and at the same time repulsive creature is the oldest representative of freshwater waters. The scabbard is a three-eyed creature in which the third nauplial eye is designed to distinguish and locate in the conditions of darkness and light.
The first shields appeared about 220-230 years ago, and are now on the verge of extinction. During this time, they changed little in appearance - only slightly decreased. The largest representatives reached a length of 11 cm, and the smallest did not exceed 2. An interesting fact is that cannibalism is characteristic of the species during the period of famine.
6. Lamprey - 360 million years ago
Specific and externally repulsive lamprey dissects in water open spaces neither more nor less than 360 million years. A wriggling slippery fish, so reminiscent of an eel, threatens to open its huge mouth, in which the entire mucous surface (including the pharynx, tongue and lips) is dotted with sharp teeth.
Lamprey appeared in the Paleozoic era and perfectly adapted to both fresh and salt water. It is a parasite.
5. Latimeria - 400 million years ago
The oldest fish is a real rarity in the random catch of fishermen. For many decades, this whole-fish was considered extinct, but in 1938, to the delight of scientists, the first living specimen was found, and after 60 years, the second.
Modern fossil fish for 400 million years of existence has practically not changed. Cystepera coelacanth has only 2 species that live off the coast of Africa and Indonesia. It is on the verge of extinction, so its catch is prosecuted by law.
4. Horseshoe Crab - 445 million years ago
Did you know that the arthropod clumsy horseshoe crab is a real "old man" of the water world? He has been living on the planet for more than 440 million years, and this is even more than many ancient trees. At the same time, the surviving creature did not change its specific appearance.
The first horseshoe crab in the form of a fossil was found by Canadian archaeologists in the same notorious 2008. It is interesting that the horseshoe crab body contains copper in excess, so that the blood acquires a bluish tint. It also reacts with bacteria, resulting in the formation of protective clots. This allowed pharmacists to use the creature’s blood as a drug reagent.
3. Nautilus - 500 million years ago
A small pretty cuttlefish is on the verge of extinction, although it boldly kept on the planet for half a billion years. The cephalopod has a beautiful shell, divided into chambers. A creature lives in a large chamber, while others contain biogas, which allows you to swim like a float when immersed to a depth.
2. Jellyfish - 505 million years ago
Sailing into the sea, it is difficult not to notice the transparent slippery jellyfish, the burners of which vacationers are so afraid. The first jellyfish appeared about 505-600 (according to various estimates) millions of years ago - then they were very complex organisms, thought out to the smallest detail. The largest caught representative of the species reached a diameter of 230 cm.
By the way, jellyfish does not exist for long - only one year, because it is an important link in the food chain of marine inhabitants. Scientists are still wondering how jellyfish capture impulses from the organs of vision in the absence of the brain.
1. Sponge - 760 million years ago
A sponge, contrary to prevailing stereotypes, is an animal and, in combination, the most ancient creature of the planet. Until now, the time of the appearance of the sponges has not been precisely established, but the oldest, according to the analysis, was already 760 million years old.
These unique inhabitants still inhabit our planet, while we dream of restoring dinosaur or mammoth prototypes from genetic material. Could it be worth being more attentive to what surrounds us?