Even though humand are on top of the food chain there are a lot of animals and creatures that outlive humans. These are the oldest creatures of their kind!
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-- knows the earth has been around long before us and will continue to thrive long after us, but what some don’t know is that some animals have existed way before the dinosaurs were ever around and that we have a surprisingly short lifespan compared to a lot critters that walk this earth despite the fact that humans are at the top of the food chain.
First, let’s take a look at which critters have been around the longest.
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Coelacanth
Despite their fish-like appearance, these fish are actually more closely related to reptiles and mammals than their ray-finned fish ocean roommate.
Horseshoe Crab
This next oldest critter on earth is also known as a living fossil as it hasn’t really evolved at all since it’s made its appearance on earth. The horseshoe crab was known as one of the longest living creatures, dating back to 345 million years ago.
Nautilus
The nautilus is another creature that’s considered to be a living fossil. These molluscs have been around for 500 million years and seen all the major mass extinction events. Somehow, they’ve managed to survive them, but the threat to their existence is still very real.
Jellyfish
If you’ve ever been to an aquarium or zoo, you’ve probably seen these angelic-like sea critters floating around without a care in the world. Even though land animals didn’t exist half a billion years ago, jellyfish did.
Sponge
No, we aren’t talking about the germ-ridden piece of foam sitting in your kitchen sink…although, let’s face it, that’d probably survive global mass extinction too. We’re talking about sea sponges, and yes, they are technically an animal.
Next, join us as we uncover some of the critters with the longest lifespans!
Macaws
These gorgeous tropical birds are a popular choice for bird lovers as they are highly intelligent and social, but if you don’t want your pet outliving you, you might want to spring for a puppy instead. Macaw is actually a classification of birds that covers six species.
African Elephant
Elephants don’t just have an impressive memory. They also have an impressive lifespan. Deemed the largest surviving land animal, African elephants can live up to 70 years old, and recent findings suggest that female African elephants can stay fertile until their time on planet earth is up.
Galapagos Giant Tortoise
Given their reputation for being one of the longest living animals, it’s no surprise to see them on this list. The Galapagos Giant Tortoise, which can weigh up to 919 pounds, is the largest species of tortoise...and this tortoise can actually outlive you by a landslide.
Koi Fish
These brightly colored fish are commonly kept as a decoration in ponds and water landscaping projects, but Koi also have the potential to outlive you, your children, and possibly even your grandchildren.
Jellyfish
No, you’re not experiencing deja vu....jellyfish are one of the oldest species to ever live on Earth, but one species of jellyfish is also deemed immortal. The Turritopsis Dohrnii jellyfish essentially has no life expectancy.
It’s fascinating to look at something today and know that it was living on the Earth millions of years ago even before the dinosaurs. It’s also intriguing to learn about the lifespans of animals that can live way beyond our own years. What are your thoughts on our list of longest living creatures? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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