8 Weird Prehistoric Creatures That Still Exist Today

 It seems that today we are living in a world free of the ancient horrors that haunted prehistoric people and while this may be correct up to a point (the T-Rex is gone), there are still some creatures that haven't changed much since they came into existence. They appeared millions of years ago. Most of these critters aren't gigantic in size (Giant Krakens and Squids are hard to find these days) but they do look peculiar and sometimes even scary. It seems that Mother Nature has completely forgotten about their existence and evolution just stopped at some point. Here are 3 strange creatures that haven't changed much in the last few million years.

 

 

Casserole Crab
Have you ever wondered what kinds of animals were on Earth before the dinosaurs appeared? Well, that's what some of them looked like. These incredible survivors are 540 million years old and have successfully outlasted some of the most threatening and aggressive species. Perhaps it was the fierce-looking shell that has protected them for millions of years, or perhaps it is the 5 pairs of eyes they have. Two of them you can see coming out of the shell. Pan crabs are related to ancient trilobites that once inhabited our planet. Even their blood is used to test vaccines and medicines.


Giant Squid
While scientists are still unsure of the age of this species (it could turn out to be a more 'modern' animal), this Giant Squid really does look like it belongs in the prehistoric era. Trapped in the waters of Antarctica, this huge animal weighed in at 770 pounds and was as long as a huge bus. Colossal squid sightings are something you only read about in books or hear from sailors, but here it is – something from the legends!


ctenophores
These ancient creatures look both beautiful and weird at the same time. They have been here for over 700 million years and are truly the oldest creatures on Earth. You have tentacle-like appendages called 'combs' that are used for swimming. As they move, the Ctenophores reflect light in a peculiar and beautiful way, creating beautiful rainbows around them.


Nautilinians
Today there are only 6 species of Nautilinians left, out of hundreds that once inhabited the oceans. Nautilinums have an incredible shell that functions like a submarine and has compartments that can be filled with water or gas when the creature needs to go deeper or ascend. Aside from 'driving' the first 'submarine' ever invented, these creatures haven't really changed a thing in the last 500 million years or so.


tuatara
Tuatara are probably the closest thing to dinosaurs that we can still see on Earth. Scientists sometimes refer to them as 'living dinosaurs' because of their similarity to the giant lizards that once roamed our planet. Being nearly 220 million years old, they really haven't changed much during the course of history. This unevolved species can be found on a number of islands around New Zealand and sometimes on the mainland as well.


Tadpole Shrimp
You don't need to know the exact age of the tadpole shrimp to see that these creatures are prehistoric. They just have that weird 'old' image that can't be mistaken for anything else. Tadpole shrimp (also called 'shield' shrimp because of their appearance) develop rapidly from egg to adult, taking only three weeks to grow. It is easy to see how they have survived for 250 million years, outliving the dinosaurs and other great prehistoric creatures.


coelacanth
This menacing species of fish was only recently re-discovered in 1938. Scientists believed that they had gone extinct along with the dinosaurs millions of years ago, but these creatures re-emerged on the shores of South Africa, proving that they are still quite alive and kicking. Just like most prehistoric animals that can be found today, Coelecanthus haven't changed much and look very much like fossils that are 350 million years old.


Elephant Shark
Both New Zealand and Australia are known for their quirky and exotic creatures, so it's no surprise that one of the oldest shark species is found there. Elephant Sharks use their peculiar snouts to get crustaceans that hide in the sand, that's basically how they hunt. According to the journal Nature, they are the slowest evolving shark species. Also known as the Australian Ghost Shark, these creatures are around 420 million years old.