Photos: Earth's Most Ancient Organisms

The Oldest Living Things

Photographer Rachel Sussman traveled the planet in search of organisms that have been living for 2,000 years or more. Her book, "The Oldest Living Things in the World," hits bookshelves in the United States on April 22, 2014.

100,000 Years Old: Sea Grass

This sea grass (Posidonia oceanica) spans the ocean floor between Spain's Balearic Islands.

13,000 Years Old: Eucalyptus

The exact location of this rare 13,000-year-old eucalyptus in Australia is kept secret because it is critically endangered. There are only five known individuals of this species, which Sussman was not even allowed to name in her book.

5,500 Years Old: Antarctic Moss

A moss named Chorisodontium aciphyllum grows on Antarctica's rocky Elephant Island.

5,000 Years Old: Bristlecone Pine

Bristlecone pines, found in the western United States, are the oldest known unitary organisms.

2,000 Years Old: Llareta

Though it might not look like it, llareta is actually a cousin of carrots and parsley. This dense plant grows in Chile's Atacama Desert.

Megan has been writing for Live Science and Space.com since 2012. Her interests range from archaeology to space exploration, and she has a bachelor's degree in English and art history from New York University. Megan spent two years as a reporter on the national desk at NewsCore. She has watched dinosaur auctions, witnessed rocket launches, licked ancient pottery sherds in Cyprus and flown in zero gravity. Follow her on Twitter and Google+.