What is a living fossil?

A living fossil is an organism that has remained largely unchanged for an extremely long time. Horseshoe crabs, coelacanths, and nautiluses are classic examples with lineages dating to the Devonian or earlier.

Home/Prehistoric Periods/Devonian onwards

Devonian to Present

419 million years ago to present

Some living groups have origins stretching all the way back to the Devonian Period, over 400 million years ago. Sharks, horseshoe crabs, and coelacanths are classic examples of lineages with ancient Devonian roots that persist today, largely unchanged in body plan.

Fun Facts

✓Sharks have existed since the Devonian Period, making them one of the oldest surviving vertebrate lineages.
✓Coelacanths, once thought extinct, were discovered living in 1938 and represent an ancient Devonian lineage.
✓Some invertebrate groups like nautiloids have changed remarkably little since the Devonian.

Questions About the Devonian onwards

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