The Mystery Of The First Animal On Earth

To this day, scientists are still trying to uncover the mystery of which animal was the very first to inhabit our Earth. There is evidence all around us that points to a multitude of species that came before us. Throughout history, there have been several theories trying to pinpoint the first living creature to emerge from the primordial soup. In this blog, we will explore some of the most popular contenders for this title as well as the evolutionary and biological processes that ultimately determined the first animal on Earth.

The Earliest Invertebrates

Many researchers believe that the first animals to evolve on the planet were invertebrate marine creatures. This hypothesis fits with the fossil record, which points to the Cambrian explosion period, when the variety and avidity of creatures increased quite rapidly. One of the contenders for oldest known species is the worm-like creature called Wiwaxia Coronata. Although it lacks a backbone, Wiwaxia is an early ancestor of vertebrates and is thought to have lived in shallow parts of the ocean. This particular creature lined its body with small scales made from chitin and had hundreds of tiny teeth scattered on its body to feed on organic matter.

Primordial Fish

When exploring the conditions that made life on Earth possible, the first animals that required oxygen began to emerge. These creatures were believed to be simple fish-like creatures living in the oceans. Both fossil and molecular evidence points to one particular species that began to evolve about 530 million years ago. The name of this species is the Myllokunmingia Foca and it is thought to resemble a primitive eel or lamprey. This creature showed some of the very first signs of true vertebrates which separates it from invertebrate ancestors like Wiwaxia.

The Evolutionary Arms Race

As these first primitive lifeforms began to populate the sea, they started a slow evolutionary arms race. Primitive fish began to explore the land by sealing their gills, allowing them to take bigger and bigger bites of air. Eventually, this process gave birth to the first amphibious creatures. With longer legs, they could now move faster, using the sun and moon above them to find direction in the darkness. This increased mobility allowed them to outrun predators and seek food more efficiently.

When exploring this evolutionary process, many researchers believe that some of the first land creatures were forms of the Anomolocaris and the early ancestor of modern cockroaches. These creatures developed in the Devonian period, about 419 million years ago and gave rise to some the earliest amphibious creatures.

Conclusion

There is still a great deal we do not know about the origins of life on Earth. Of all the contenders, the most likely candidate for the first animal on this planet is Australbolis Sedgwicksii, an insect-like creature that could move quickly on early amphibious legs. It existed about 420 million years ago and is thought to be in the same species family as some of the earliest animals on land. Although much of the mystery remains, the journey of life on our planet has most certainly been an interesting one.