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What animals are living fossils?

2023-05-20 01:59:31 158

Living fossils refer to organisms with ancient characteristics whose morphology and physiological characteristics are relatively stable and have been maintained to this day. Here are some common living fossil animals:


1. Elephant-nosed dolphin: A dolphin found only in the waters near the Indian Ocean and Pacific Islands. They have a long, thin snout that resembles an elephant's trunk, hence their name.


2. Silver Shark: A deep-water shark that lives in all oceans. It looks very primitive in appearance, similar to sharks from the dinosaur age. The silver shark, with its blue-grey skin and steel-hard scales, is believed to be one of the oldest sharks in the world.


3. Leaf-footed insect: An arthropod that lives in the ocean and has a shell-like exoskeleton and multiple tentacles. Dating back to the Cambrian period about 500 million years ago, they are among the oldest animals on Earth.


4. Cockroaches: Cockroaches can be traced back to more than 300 million years ago, and there are approximately 4,500 species today. They have flat bodies, can survive in small gaps, and are very adaptable to changes in the environment.


5. Sea snakes: Sea snakes are a type of venomous snakes that live in tropical and subtropical waters in all oceans around the world. They date back to the Cretaceous period about 160 million years ago, making them one of the oldest branches of reptiles.


In short, these animals are of high scientific value because their existence proves the evolution and diversity of life forms on earth.


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