There are no animals alive today that have actual dinosaur DNA, as dinosaurs went extinct millions of years ago. However, there are some animals that are closely related to dinosaurs or share common ancestors with them. These animals can give us a glimpse into what dinosaurs may have been like.
1. Birds: Birds are the closest living relatives of dinosaurs. In fact, birds are considered to be a type of dinosaur themselves, belonging to the group known as theropods. Theropod dinosaurs include famous species like Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor. Birds share many characteristics with their dinosaur ancestors, such as feathers, beaks, and laying eggs. They also have hollow bones, just like some dinosaurs, to make them lightweight for flight. So, in a way, every time we see a bird soaring through the sky, we are witnessing a living dinosaur.
2. Crocodiles: Crocodiles are another group of animals that are related to dinosaurs. They are part of a larger group called archosaurs, which also includes dinosaurs, birds, and their extinct relatives. Crocodiles have been around for millions of years and have changed very little during that time. They have a similar body shape to some ancient dinosaurs, with a long snout, sharp teeth, and a powerful tail. While crocodiles and dinosaurs may have had common ancestors, they evolved along separate paths, with crocodiles taking on a more aquatic lifestyle.
3. Sea Turtles: Sea turtles may not be the first animals that come to mind when thinking about dinosaurs, but they actually have a long evolutionary history. Like crocodiles, sea turtles are also part of the archosaur group, making them distant relatives of dinosaurs. Sea turtles have been around for over 100 million years and have survived through many mass extinctions. Their ancient ancestors would have lived alongside dinosaurs, and they have retained some primitive features, such as their shell and flippers.
4. Sharks: Sharks are another group of animals that have been around for a very long time, even predating the dinosaurs. While sharks and dinosaurs are not closely related, they did coexist during the Mesozoic Era. Sharks have a unique evolutionary history and have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years. They are often referred to as “living fossils” because they have retained many primitive traits. Sharks may not have dinosaur DNA, but they provide a glimpse into the marine world that dinosaurs inhabited.
5. Crabs: While crabs may seem like an unlikely candidate, they actually belong to a group of animals called arthropods, which also includes insects and spiders. Arthropods have a long evolutionary history and were present during the time of dinosaurs. While crabs and dinosaurs are not closely related, they share a common ancestor that lived hundreds of millions of years ago. This shared ancestry can be seen in some similarities, such as jointed limbs and a hard exoskeleton.
While there are no animals alive today that have dinosaur DNA, there are several species that are closely related to dinosaurs or share common ancestors with them. Birds, crocodiles, sea turtles, sharks, and crabs all provide fascinating insights into the world of dinosaurs and help us understand their legacy. It is truly remarkable to think that we still have living relatives of these ancient creatures roaming the Earth today.