What was the first animal on Earth?

Answer: Sponges were considered as the first animal on Earth, but recent studies suggest that Comb Jelly was the first animal on Earth.

Answering this question might be tricky because of the ongoing findings and research. The first animal has evolved from the sea over half a billion years ago. Traditionally the Sponges were considered as the first animals that appeared around 700 million years ago and possess some key animal characteristics like multicellularity and specialized cell types. However, sponges have simple structures and lack some defining features of most animals such as tissues and complex nervous systems. But, a 2018 study challenged the sponge’s reign by suggesting comb jellies as another simple animal group that can be even older than sponges. They appeared around 550 million years ago and exhibit more complex features like nerve cells and muscle fibers. While they lack some features of true jellyfish, their evolutionary history suggests they may have originated even earlier than sponges. However, this finding is still in debate and there is ongoing research and scientists are discovering some new information about “the first animal on Earth”. However, the answer to this question is unclear and can vary according to the discoveries and findings. So for now, the first animal was Comb Jelly due to its complex features.