From cute fluffy pandas to fearsome predators, here are 10 examples of real, living fossils!!
10.
Aardvark
The aardvark is a perfect example of a living fossil.
It’s a totally unique mammal and has remained unchanged for millions of years.
Also known as “oryc-ter-opus afer” the word ‘aardvark’ comes from the Afrikaan
language in South Africa.
It means “earth pig” or “ground pig”.
The solitary creature’s strong senses of smell and hearing make it an excellent hunter
on open grassland.
It has a long nose which it uses to sniff out termites and ants.
That combined with its tough hide, big claws and long sticky tongue means this critter
creates a big headache for any insects crossing its path.
The aardvark emerges at night from a burrow.
They’re great burrowers and can dig a shelter for themselves surprisingly quickly with their
claws.
Those claws come in really handy when tucking into a termite burrow.
The aardvark sticks its 1.5 foot (0.46 m) tongue in the hole and licks out the unlucky
inhabitants.
It has a strong tail which can be used to brace itself as it feeds.
The tail can also be used as a club.
The aardvark is a highly specialized animal that has all kinds of talents!
9.
Red Panda
Everyone loves the giant black and white panda.
But did you know this isn’t the original?
The word ‘panda’ was first used to describe this little fella in 1825 by Frédéric Cuvier,
a zoologist from France.
Its other, less catchy title is ‘Ail-urus ful-gens’ which means “fire-colored cat”
even though it isn’t a cat.
It actually has its own family name, ‘Ailuridae’.
Fossils of the red panda have been discovered that are up to 4 million years old!
You wouldn’t think that such a cute critter existed that long ago!
The red panda lives in Asia at high altitude in trees and mountains and has fur the colour
of cinnamon.
Isn’t it cute??
They’re small and are generally as big as a house cat, between 30-50 inches long (76cm-127cm).
Like the giant panda, its diet consists mostly of bamboo and maybe some other small birds
and rodents every now and then for some protein.
Another similarity is the prominent wrist bone which can be used like a thumb to grip
stuff.
Its long claws help it hold onto tree bark and a long tail helps it balance.
You need a good sense of balance when you’re so high up!
The face markings on a red panda are called “tear tracks” which is appropriate as
the panda is on the endangered species list.
Deforestation has spelled disaster for its habitat.
Because bamboo is disappearing it means the red panda could too.
It has to eat between 1-2 kg (2-4 lbs) of bamboo to survive.
That’s 20-30% of its own body weight!
Hunting and poachers have also greatly affected the red panda population.
By the way if you think this amazing animal looks familiar it’s probably because the
red panda (and of course the fox) inspired the logo of Mozilla Firefox.
You could even be watching this video on a Firefox browser.
Coincidence, I think not!
8.
Tuatara
This next living fossil co-existed with the dinosaurs before its order died out 60 million
years ago.
The tuatara lizards are found on the islands of New Zealand and Australia and live off
of other little animals and eggs amongst other things.
They’ve even been known to eat their own young so… don’t mess with them.
On their neck and back you’ll see a crest made of spines.
This is used both to attract mates and fend off opponents.
It’s very versatile… when it comes to the tuatara, crest is best!
Their coloring ranges from green to brown to red.
They can actually change color during their lifespan.
They grow up to an impressive 1.6 ft (0.5 m) and weigh up to 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs).
The tuatara is a big lizard but its greatest threat is of the smaller variety.
Rats and mice can quickly eat through their food supply and the tuatara’s slow breeding
means they’re too slow to stop them.
It’s hard to keep up with the reproductive capabilities of a rodent!
A tuatara can live anywhere between 60-100 years so they need to keep themselves topped
up!
It doesn’t help that so many of them have been poached for private collections.
The tuatara have been protected by New Zealand law since 1895.
If you’re looking to go and see one up close we recommend you try a zoo.
Try avoiding going into their natural habitat because you may cause more harm than good.
7.
Nautilus Cephalopod
This species of cephalopod is 500 million years old!
A cephalopod is a kind of mollusc but the Nautilus is an unusual example.
It’s part of a group of 7 alongside the Allonautilus that are living fossils.
It’s known for its hard shell which it uses to protect itself.
The shell also has pockets inside which fill with gas making sure it stays buoyant.
Unfortunately for the Nautilus it’s not the fastest growing of cephalopods.
It takes around 5-10 years for it to develop and it only lays approximately 12 eggs every
year.
It only covers 0.3 miles (0.45 - 0.8 km) per day.
They used to be masters of the sea but young and faster species have wrecked their reputation.
Still the Nautilus can reach a depth of 1562 ft (476 m) which is pretty impressive!
As with many of the species on this list the Nautilus is in danger from humans.
Its pretty shell is a highly desirable item and a shocking number of Nautiluses die because
people want one for their collection.
In New Caledonia 10,000 were caught for this horrible purpose.
They’re also captured for aquariums which is a tragedy because obviously it’s not
the best environment, especially since they have been used to the ocean for millions of
years.
The worst of it is due to a lack of information.
Did you know that the Nautilus is not protected by the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES)??
6.
Purple Frog
The purple frog is so rare the people who discovered it have called it a “once in
a century find”!
It’s 7 cm (2.7 inches) long and was found in the state of Kerala in India in 2003.
It spends most of its time in burrows and only ventures out during monsoon season when
it’s in search of a mate.
Watch out ladies!
It’s also called the “pignose frog”.
That’s because of its pointy snout which it uses to sniff out termites in the soil.
Check out those powerful arms.
This guy can really dig.
When it comes to its back legs however it’s a different story.
When you see a frog you expect it to hop around with its back legs.
Not this one!
The purple frog’s back legs are so short it takes strides rather than leaps.
Fun fact: almost the entire species is made up of males.
Out of 135 purple frogs only 3 are female.
Maybe that is not so fun...
Strangely the purple frog isn’t always purple.
Sometimes they can be grey in color.
But one thing’s for sure.
These stout-looking fellows know a thing or two when it comes to outlasting the dinosaurs!
5.
Mantis Shrimp
The mantis shrimp is truly a fearsome predator of the sea.
The mantis shrimp is part of the ‘stomatopoda’ order of crustaceans.
It gets its name from those powerful second limbs which resemble those of the legendary
praying mantis.
And like its namesake the mantis shrimp doesn’t mess around when it comes to catching its
dinner.
Ranging from 1 - 30 cm (0.4 - 12 inches) the mantis shrimp smashes the shells of its prey.
Though if you don’t have a shell, you’re still in big trouble as it can stab you to
death too!
It lives underground so you never know when one might come out getchu as you swim around
minding your own business.
There are 350 species of mantis shrimp and they cover a wide area.
The squilla mantis can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
The squilla empusa lived on the North American Atlantic coast.
(I just like saying these names).
The Oratosquilla oratoria is over in Japan but it’s regularly caught and eaten and
it doesn’t really have a great time of it!
Almost makes us feel sorry for this formidable little creature!
4.
Hoatzin Bird
The Hoatzin is easily the most recognizable living fossil.
Look at that crazy punk-style crest.
This bird’s a rock star!
Along with its blue face and red eyes it makes a striking addition to the wildlife living
along the Amazon Basin.
You can find the Hoatzin in Northern and Central South America as well as the Atlantic coast.
They don’t travel far though as their bulky proportions and stubby wings mean they can’t
fly too well.
It is the only member of its family and its evolutionary tree is missing a lot of branches.
On the whole the Hoatzins prefer to take it easy and can be spotted in the open where
they hang out in groups.
They like a forest habitat where they can live in trees and shrubs.
A place by a river or lake is perfect for them because they build their nests over water.
They have some characteristics that are not found in any other birds, for example the
chicks have little claws that help them climb trees like a little pterodactyl.
They eat young leaves and buds which is just as well as they don’t make the best hunters.
This is down to their ungainly way of moving.
They’re known for crashing through the undergrowth so you can hear them coming a mile away!
They’re also pretty noisy with a range of vocal patterns.
In fact some have described them as “flying cows” which isn’t too flattering!
You’d think such a beautiful creature would have a better nickname…
3.
Koala
This cute animal is seen all the time and whenever you think of Australia you think
of koalas!
However did you know it’s also a living fossil?
There’s far more to this little guy than being cute and munching eucalyptus leaves.
One discovery in 2013 revealed the koala has been in existence for 20 million years!
The ancient ancestor of the koala was discovered when a skull was found in Northern Australia.
This koala was named ‘Lito-koala Dick-smithi’ in honour of Dick Smith, an adventurer famous
for funding fossil research.
It was not only a third of the size of the koalas we know today, it was more agile than
its descendant.
We expect koalas to laze around in trees.
This one was a dynamo by comparison!
There are 18 extinct species of koala dating back thousands of years.
15 million years ago the Northern Australian rainforest dried out and the likes of Dick
Smith’s koala went with it.
It’s reassuring to know that while many koalas are no longer with us their legacy
lives on…
2.
Elephant Shrew
The African elephant shrew wins the race for the fastest living fossil!
It’s small, it’s light and it sure is fast!
It can move at a surprising 8 mph (13 km/h) and because it has long back legs it’s also
called the “jumping shrew”.
That can spell big trouble for the insects that make up its diet.
Elephant shrews are insectivores, munching their way through grubs, spiders and worms.
Look at that long nose.
Sniffing out a meal is not a problem for these guys!
Measuring 10-30cm (4-12 inches) the elephant shrew lives anywhere between 2 and 5 years
and is one of 20 different species.
However don’t confuse it with the common shrew we see today.
This living fossil is in a class of its own.
The elephant shrew enjoys its own company, hunting as soon as the sun comes up.
It likes the undergrowth in a habitat like a forest or grasslands.
This creature keeps things nice and tidy, clearing a series of pathways through its
habitat in order to chase down its prey.
Because it’s small it can run into a few predators but it’s really good at hiding
and sleeps at night where it can avoid some of the nastier locals such as snakes and birds
of prey.
Clearing a pathway also removes any obstacles in case it needs to sprint back home!
And now for the most formidable of all!
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1.
Crocodile
The crocodile is arguably the most famous reptile on Earth.
We’re sure you’ll agree there’s nothing quite like it!
Its strong connection to the dinosaurs makes it a great example of a living fossil.
The skull structure of a crocodile is shared with its prehistoric ancestors, containing
features such as holes behind the eye sockets.
Fossils have been found of crocodile species that date back to the Late Triassic Epoch
over 200 million years ago.
So when I say this creature has been around a while I really mean it!
They’re found in the Northern and Southern hemispheres in humid conditions.
There are 23 known species and they can grow up to 20 ft (6m) in length.
They’ve been estimated to live as long as 70 years or more.
The crocodile’s jaws contain teeth that are not only razor sharp but they live forever.
Or rather when the old teeth are done new teeth rise up to replace them.
No retirement to the old crocs’ home for these predators!
A crocodile is amphibious by nature and has a body structure that enables it to move through
the water with ease.
Not only does its big tail give it power but an ‘I Beam’ structure of interlocking
plates on its back keeps it nice and rigid so it can cut through a lake or swamp like
a knife through butter.
It has receptors located in the scales of its mouth that can pick up vibrations so try
not to splash around too much if you’re going swimming in your local swamp!
The most impressive ability of the crocodile is the way it can submerge the majority of
its body.
Its eyes, ears and nostrils stay above the surface though if necessary it can breathe
underwater thanks to a system of membranous flaps which open and close.
It lies as still as possible, waiting for an unsuspecting meal to come along.
The crocodile then strikes without mercy, drowning its victim or ripping them to shreds.
To make matters worse they’re nocturnal hunters so you don’t even see them coming
a lot of the time!
Ironically we are a bigger threat to crocodiles than they are to us.
We kill them to make things like handbags and their meat is eaten worldwide.
Plus we are destroying their habitats through our constant expansion.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has placed species like the
Chinese Alligator and Siamese Crocodile on its endangered list.
For animals with such a fearsome reputation the crocodile is surprisingly persecuted.
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