Are There Any Animals Alive Today That Excisted Before The Dinosours

seventy meg years ago, Tyrannosaurus rex was the scariest dinosaur effectually. Today, it's extinct simply like any other dinosaur, but there all the same are some animals roaming the Globe that are connected to those ancient species.

From soaring birds to swimming crocs, we've found ten living species that phone call dinosaurs their (great-great-bang-up-great-corking-great-great) grans and grandads.

one. Chickens

Who are you calling craven? Birds descended from a group of two-legged dinosaurs known as theropods, the members of which include the powerful predator Tyrannosaurus rex and the smaller Velociraptors.

Hang on, the T-male monarch was one of the largest and well-nigh fearsome creatures to accept ever exist, then all its relatives must exist huge and terrifying too, right? Non quite! Fossil studies accept found that the mighty T-king actually shares quite a considerable corporeality of DNA with mod-day chickens and, by extension, all birds. At present you'll never expect at a humble dove the same fashion!

two. Crocodiles

Chomp on this fun fact: many animals that you encounter today share some impressive connections with dinosaurs, including crocodiles – and you lot can really see the similarities in their rubbery skin, their fierce teeth, and their claws!

Chickens may exist the rightful descendants of dinosaurs, but nosotros also know that crocodilians like crocodiles and alligators share mutual ancestors with dinosaurs too. In fact, crocs equally nosotros know them today are actually pretty similar to their ancient ancestors of the Cretaceous period (most 145-166 meg years ago) – and to think that these creatures outlived the dinosaurs!

3. Sea Turtles

Recent studies accept shown that turtles belong in the group Archelosauria, along with relatives similar birds, crocodiles, and – you guessed it – dinosaurs.

Turtles evolved alongside dinosaurs, with bounding main turtles emerging every bit a distinct type about 110 1000000 years ago. All living species of body of water turtle accept origins that can exist traced back to ancient times; nearly 80 meg years ago, a genus of extinct ocean turtles called Archelon swam the oceans. Each one of these guys was over 4 metres long and measured at 5 metres wide from flipper to flipper – we're shell-shocked!

four. Ostriches

Ostriches are whacky-looking creatures at the best of times, merely did you know that they're very closely related to a species of dinosaur dating back to the late Cretaceous period? And, when yous think about it, this makes sense – because ostriches practice have something of a dinosaur look about them.

Their overall size and shape are quite similar to that of a handful of dinosaur species, including the notorious velociraptor; even their talons are claw-like. This remarkable bird, now native to the plains of Africa, has survived a whole host of extinction events, having walked the Earth for over 66 one thousand thousand years.

5. Snakes

When we recall of dinosaurs, we imagine huge beasts roaming the Earth, only not every fauna was then unduly large. Indeed, footing level was a hive of activity, with one of the about prevalent animals existence one we're very familiar with today: the snake.

Snakes accept been around for millions upon millions of years, somehow slithering their way out of umpteen mass extinctions. And scientists tin can show this, with the discovery of several fossilised snakes revealing that they've been effectually for over 140 meg years – that's twice as former as Mr T-Male monarch.

vi. Sharks

Sharks may not await like your typical dinosaur, but these iconic creatures of the deep have been around longer than almost any other animate being on the planet – over 450 meg years to exist exact. That ways, the sharks nosotros know and dear today are descended from creatures that were effectually millions of years before dinosaurs were even a concept. Information technology's almost impossible to fathom.

Of grade, sharks haven't ever looked similar they do now; nor were they always this size. Fossils testify us that sharks used to be much bigger, with the largest known species, the megalodon, being around the size of a blue whale!

vii. Crustaceans

Crustaceans, such as crabs and lobsters, have shown some real staying power over the centuries, with several species known to take been around since the fourth dimension of the dinosaurs. Indeed, many species of lobster predate dinosaurs by hundreds of millions of years, and they're one of the earliest known species of filter-feeders on tape.

And, as with sharks, nosotros know that modern crustaceans are much smaller than their great-great-great-bang-up grandparents. Fossilised remains highlight some truly formidable specimens; nosotros're not sure we would accept been equally keen to take a dip during the time of the dinosaurs.

viii. Bees

Bees are one of the well-nigh of import creatures to inhabit planet Earth, and they've done so successfully for a lot longer than yous might await. Research shows that bees emerged during the Cretaceous period (approximately 60 million years ago), so it's virtually sure they were buzzing from flower to blossom when T-Rex roamed the wilderness.

What we exercise understand about bees, withal, is that they aren't invulnerable to mass extinction events. Scientists believe their numbers were hitting on several occasions throughout history, though none were equally serious every bit the threat that they currently confront through habitat loss.

9. Duck-Billed Platypuses

It's not much of a stretch of the imagination to believe that duck-billed platypuses were around during the time of the dinosaurs. These odd-looking creatures, native to eastern Commonwealth of australia, are a truly unique animate being, whose only other related species are those found in fossilised remains dating back millions of years.

We're non sure how platypuses survived the mass extinction which took care of their forebears, merely we're sure happy to have them around. These unique critters are undeniably cute but sadly, their numbers are in pass up – with a 'Near Threatened' status on the Conservation Index.

10. Tuatara Lizards

All lizards and reptiles are closely related to dinosaurs, but none more and so than tuatara lizards. The last surviving animal within the Sphenodontia family unit, these lizards, native merely to New Zealand, were around when dinosaurs walked the Earth.

Tuatara lizards certainly look primordial, with dark green scales, spiny backs and large, black optics. These elusive chaps, which are classified as Vulnerable to Extinction, take been around for over 250 meg years; it would be a shame to lose them now.

We hope you've enjoyed discovering some of the animals which really did walk with dinosaurs. Nature lovers young and old can encounter incredible marine life at Blueish Reef Aquarium Hastings. For information and tickets, visit the homepage or call our team today on 01424 718776.

Source: https://www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk/hastings/blog/news/10-living-descendants-and-relatives-of-dinosaurs/

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