What is the oldest species on the planet?

Answer 1

There are probably a variety of bacteria species, algae and other single-celled species that have survived virtually unchanged for hundreds of millions, perhaps even a billion years.

Some of the sulfur metabolism bacteria found around the deep-sea volcanic vents known as 'black smokers' may have survived since pretty much the beginning of life on Earth. However, it can be difficult to tell from fossil material if these are in fact the same species as have always existed in those habitats, or if there have been changes in the species composition over time.

In terms of multi-cellular animals, there are types of sponge, coral and jellyfish that have a fossil history going back nearly 800 million years. Again, these may not be the same exact species that have survived to present day.

The horseshoe crabs (Limulus), however have a fossil history going back unchanged over 400 million years. The same genus and species of these 'living fossils' have existed since the Cambrian period - before there were even any terrestrial insects, or amphibians, let alone dinosaurs. These horseshoe crab species were in existence even before there were sea turtles, sharks or crocodiles, let alone the species of those groups that live today.

In terms of vertebrates, the hagfish (Myxini) is generally considered one of the most primitive of living chordates. However, it is not well represented in the fossil record. The earliest fossil hagfish are only 300 million years old - and appear very similar to modern hagfish. It's assumed that their fossil history actually goes much farther back, since less primitive types of fish have fossil histories going back as far as 520 million years, but no one's actually found older fossils yet.

Answer 2

Oldest Shark Species

Answer 3

Living Cells Is The Oldest Species On Earth?

Answer 4

The keyword in the question is "species". It is true that crocodiles, sea turtles, cockroaches, sharks, and various other general types of animals have existed on earth for many millions of years. However that doesn't mean that the sea turtle or shark species that are here today are the same species that were here a million years ago. There are few species living today that were here 100,000 years ago, though in many cases the species of 100,000 years ago were quite similar to the species of today.

Answer 5

Sea turtles are the oldest species on the planet, with origins some 150 million years ago.

Answer 6

Depends if you mean living or not.

The oldest living species has only been around for a relatively short period of time if you compare it to creatures that have been extinct for millions of years, with the exception of some single celled organisms such as phytoplankton.

Answer 7

you didn't state animal or vegetable.
some ferns have not changed since pre historic times as fossils have been found that are identical to some of those existing today.
if you mean animal the shark reached the peak of its evolution thousands of years ago,(the oldest known fossil sharks are from the late Silriun mare than 400 million years ago.Sharks are older than the dinosaur and are still successful as one of the top preditors in the ocean)if i remember correctly from the walking with dinosaurs series the rodent is the oldest land mammal(but don't quote me on that 'cos i wasn't paying attention)

Answer 8

Bacteria, but since nobody has understood what a bacteria species is, I would say the Coelacanth, a really ancient fish from the Paleozoic. Also, the Ginkgo biloba, sharks and crocodiles are very ancient.

Answer 9

Probably some types of bacteria/germ.They were the first living things which lived in the ocean 3,500millions years ago.

Answer 10

Mosquitos are preyyt old , however its said that crocodiles and aligators havent changed for millions of years and are true living animals from the dinosaur era.