A new study by the researchers from Tel Aviv University has revealed that a tiny parasite called Henneguya salminicola is the first animal on Earth that can thrive without oxygen. H. salminicola is a relative of jellyfish and corals and is considered relatively harmless. Researchers unknowingly made this discovery while sequencing the “Henneguya” genome and were amazed to find that H. salminicola lacks mitochondrial genes, that captures oxygen to make energy through aerobic respiration. However, it is still uncertain how exactly this parasite generates energy. The unusual findings have somehow changed the scientists’ point of view towards animal species.