Scientists have confirmed the oldest living animal on Earth is a jellyfish-like creature known as a ctenophore (the “c” is silent), otherwise known as “comb jellies”. Knocking the sea sponges out of the running for oldest creature, ctenophore appeared 700 million years ago, compared to the sponges’ 600 million. And to put that into further perspective, dinosaurs only appeared 230 million years ago.
So, what do these primordial beings look like? Ctenophores have eight sets of tentacle-like features known as cilia, running down their sides, which help propel through water, as they move from place to place more than four miles below the ocean’s surface. Looking to catch a glimpse of these underwater beings? Rest assured that ctenophores are alive and well today, living in oceans and many aquariums.
Source: Daily Mail
ctenophore (the “c” is silent),Photo: Getty Images