These animals found themselves in the era of the dinosaurs, they witnessed the Ice Age and outlived many of their less fortunate brethren.
Today's selection presents the most ancient animals living on Earth... Surprisingly, over hundreds of thousands of years, the appearance of these inhabitants of our planet has practically not changed.
10. Platypus
Platypuses are mammals, although they have an undeniable similarity with reptiles. The age of this animal species is about 110 million years. It is believed that the first platypuses appeared on the territory of modern South America, but then migrated to the area that eventually became Australia.
9. Ant
These insects are considered the oldest on the planet. In addition, scientists have long been intrigued by the amazing intelligence of ants and their complex social organization. For millions of years of its history, the appearance of ants has practically not changed.
8. Spider-gold spider
The oldest of the spiders appeared on the planet more than 165 million years ago. Spiders are known for their robust webs of unusual golden hues. You can meet these ancient spiders in Tanzania, South Africa and Madagascar.
7. Echidna
The echidna is related to another ancient animal - the platypus. Echidnas and prochidnas live in Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania. Unfortunately, one of the three genera of the echidnova family has already disappeared from the face of the Earth. And prochidnas are among the most rare and unusual animals on the planet.
6. Shield
This freshwater crustacean of the gillfoot class appeared on Earth about 230 million ribbons ago. The size of the shield is from 3 to 10 cm. These creatures are still very little studied and therefore are of great interest to scientists.
5. Hatteria (tuatara)
Outwardly, this reptile resembles an iguana. The size of the tuatara does not exceed 75 cm.The age of these ancient creatures is more than 220 million years. The tuatara are very small in number and inhabit several of the small islands of New Zealand.
4. Crocodile
These reptiles appeared on Earth about 250 million years ago. Crocodiles can be called "cousins" of dinosaurs. Surprisingly, crocodiles have a lot in common with modern birds.
3. Coelacanth
This cross-finned fish is the only surviving species of the many that lived on Earth about 300-400 million years ago. The arrangement of the coelacanth organs is very different from modern fish, which makes it a truly unique creation.
2. Cockroach
These insects have lived on Earth for much longer than you and I - about 320 million years. More than 4500 species of cockroaches are known to modern science. To survive in the most severe periods of earthly history, cockroaches were helped by the amazing ability to do without any food and water for a long time.
1. Neopilina
These cephalopods appeared in the earth's ocean about 400 million years ago. A small but very hardy creature has a shell with a diameter of only 2 cm. It is curious that, unlike modern mollusks, the right and left sides of the neopilin can be distinguished.