A team of scientists have created 3D models of two 305-million-year-old fossil harvestmen or Opiliones in scientific language, which were the first land-based animals to evolve modern bodies.

According to the report in the online journal Nature Communications, the 3D models were created with the help of a CT scanner at the London's Natural History Museum. The team of scientists from different countries, led by scientists at Imperial College London took more than 3000 X-rays of the harvestmen fossils from France.

The fossils are form the Carboniferous Period, which was over 300 million years ago.

The computer images were edited to create accurate models. They showcase two new species of harvestmen, Macroglyon cronos and Ameticos scolos.

The team said that the Harvestmen bodies have changed very little over the last 300 million years and was among the first animals on land to evolve modern body plans.

“It is absolutely remarkable how little harvestmen have changed in appearance since before the dinosaurs. If you went out into the garden and found one of these creatures today it would be like holding a little bit of prehistory in your hands,” said Dr Russell Garwood, who works at Natural History Museum’s computed tomography lab and had conducted the research while working at Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London.