Top 5 Oldest Living Species on Earth

Human beings have been around for some time now, but we’re not the oldest living creature. There are many oldest living species around the world, and many haven’t uncovered yet. Here are some of the oldest living species and animals that have evolved over time.

Horseshoe Crab

AGE: 445 million years 

Place: ocean water, muddy bottoms

The horseshoe crab is the perfect example for the title “survivor”. In 2008, a team of Canadian researchers found that it has been on earth for at least 445 million years. Horseshoe crabs live on the Atlantic coast of North America and around the Florida coast. Humans are the biggest threat to horse crabs, and they are used for biomedical purposes.

Crocodiles

AGE: 200 million years 

Place: lakes, rivers, and wetland

Crocodiles are the ultimate survivors. They shared the world with dinosaurs. It is even said the Cretaceous period (145-66 million years ago) was full of giant crocodiles like Sarosuchus, Dryosaurus, Deinosuchus, Shieldcroc. 

Sponges

AGE: 600 million years

Place: Marine water 

Sponges lack cells, tissues, and organs and have asymmetrical bodies, yet they are among the greatest survivors of evolution. There are nearly 10,000 different species of sponges. Researchers found that the fossil records of sponges date back to 580 million years ago. 

Velvet Worm

AGE: 540 million years 

Place: Rainforests  

Fossil analysis says Velvet worms are 540-million-year-old, and they are closely related to crabs and spiders. Velvet worms can be found in moist and dark places around the tropics of Australia and New Zealand. Velvet worms are about 8 inches long. 

Duck-Billed Platypus

AGE: 110 million years

Place: Freshwater 

Duck-billed platypus is a good adapter of the environment. It has excellent features for adaptations like thick waterproof fur, webbed feet, padded tail, and dense bones. This can be one of the reasons for its survival. 

Greatest Survivor of Evolution

Lystrosaurus is one of the greatest survivors in Earth’s history. Lystrosaurus was a dog-sized animal, and it looked like a pig and a lizard. Fossil evidence says it was found in Antarctica. It is said they have been herbivorous.