Living Fossils

Living Fossils are organisms that are alive today that resemble organisms from the fossil record. There is a wide variety of living fossils still around these days, but these species have survived for millions of years before humans. They serve as reminders that we must protect our remaining species. Here are some examples of living fossils...

Cycad:

These plants range from the Permian to present. They have a short woody trunk with a large crown covered in evergreen leaves. They live for a long time, up to 1000 years, and are often mistaken for palms. They can be found in tropical and subtropical parts of the world.

Modern Cycad

Fossilized Cycad

Elephant Shrew:

Elephant shrews are small, insect eating, mammals that have relatives that date from the Oligocene to modern day. Even though they have "shrew" in their name, they are not related to shrews. Elephant shrews live in all over Africa. There are four different species of Elephant shrews.

Modern Day Giant Elephant Shrew

Relative of Elephant Shrew Fossil

Tuatara:

Tuataras are local onl  to New Zealand. They are from the Pleistocene and there are only two surviving species from the order Sphenodontia. They are nocturnal and spend most of their day sunbathing. They are not very active and grow very slowly so they can live up to 100 years.

Modern Tuatara

Hagfish:

Hagfish are jaw less, eel-like, slimy marine organisms that have been around since the Permian. This hermaphroditic organism is similar to lamprey and is the only living animal with a skull and no spine. Hagfish eat anything that floats down to the bottom of the ocean such as fish and whales.

Modern Hagfish