The Oldest Surviving Species in the World Lives in New York

New York State is full of amazing plants and animals, but did you know that the oldest species on the planet can be found just a short drive from the Hudson Valley?

There are many mind-blowing records set in New York. The world's oldest forest is located in Cairo, NY, and some of the most impressive (and ridiculous) Guinness Book of World Records have also been set in the Empire State (Hudson Valley residents know all about the world's largest lawn gnome). But what about the oldest species on the planet?

Ancient Animals Living in New York State

Animal enthusiasts looking for prehistoric creatures will have the most success when they look towards the water. Sharks, for example, are older than trees, with fossil evidence of the species dating back over 400 million years. There isn't a surviving species, however, older than a much smaller (and far less intimidating) creature found on New York shores.

Horseshoe Crabs in New York

Nicknamed "living fossils", horseshoe crabs, which can be found up and down the east coast of the United States, have remained relatively unchanged for more than 440 million years, with the most "recent" horseshoe crab dating back roughly 200 million years.

Read More: Massive Snail Species That Carries Meningitis Found in New York

How Long Do Horseshoe Crabs Live?

To be clear, while the species dates back hundreds of millions of years, an individual horseshoe crab has a life expectancy of up to 25 years. That means that over 17,000,000 generations of horseshoe crabs have walked (or crawled) this earth, including the current animals in New York State.

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Harvesting Horseshoe Crabs in New York

While horseshoe crabs aren't actually crabs (scientists say they're more similar to animals like scorpions), they are still classified under certain shellfish regulations in New York State. Residents with the correct permits are allowed to harvest horseshoe crabs, and New York has placed a limit of 150,000 horseshoe crabs to be harvested across the state in a year.