“Living fossils” are animals that look very similar to their fossilized ancestors, maintaining physical characteristics that have remained virtually unchanged over thousands or even millions of years. Here are seven striking examples:

1. **Coelacanth (Latimeria): This prehistoric fish was discovered alive in 1938, after having been thought to be extinct for millions of years. Its appearance is virtually identical to fossils dating back to about 400 million years ago.

2. **Tuatara**: Native to New Zealand, the tuatara is a reptile that closely resembles lizards and iguanas, but belongs to a distinct evolutionary lineage that dates back to the time of the dinosaurs, around 200 million years ago.

3. **Limulus (Horseshoe Crab)**: Although it looks like a crustacean, the horseshoe crab is actually more closely related to arachnids. Its appearance hasn't changed much in the last 450 million years.

4. **Nautilus**: This cephalopod mollusk has a spiral shell and is a distant relative of octopuses and squid. Its appearance is similar to that of fossils from the Paleozoic period, more than 500 million years ago.

5. **Sturgeon**: Similar in appearance to sharks, sturgeons are known for their bony scales and for being one of the oldest species of fish, having existed for around 200 million years.

6. **Soft-shelled turtles (Pygmy and Alligator snapping turtles): These turtles have an appearance that seems to have remained largely unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs. Their soft-shelled shell distinguishes them from other turtles, giving them a more primitive appearance.

7. **Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus): This amphibian, which can reach enormous sizes, has an appearance that closely resembles its prehistoric ancestors. Its shape and physical characteristics have remained virtually unchanged over millions of years.