Prehistoric predators: colorful species. The most famous prehistoric predators The most ancient predators in the world
Our planet has been inhabited by millions of living beings since prehistoric times. Many animals became extinct, some radically changed their appearance, others have survived to this day, retaining their original appearance.
What animals are the most ancient inhabitants of our world?
Crocodiles are considered the most ancient animals on Earth that have survived to this day. They appeared on our planet in Triassic, approximately 250 million years ago and almost did not change their appearance.
Crocodiles belong to the order of aquatic reptiles. These are large predatory animals, reaching a length of 2 to 5 meters. They live in rivers and lakes, in coastal seas tropical countries. They feed on fish, birds, and small animals, but they also attack large animals and even people.
Female crocodiles lay from 20 to 100 eggs on land, covering them with earth, and protect the clutch from enemies. When the crocodiles hatch from the eggs, the female carries them in her mouth into the pond. Crocodiles grow throughout their lives and live up to 80 - 100 years. Crocodile meat is edible and consumed in some tropical countries.
In Japan, Cuba, the USA, and Thailand, crocodiles are bred on special farms. Crocodile skin is used in the haberdashery industry to make bags, suitcases, saddles, belts and shoes.
Hatteria or tuatara
Another amazing animal that has survived to this day lives in New Zealand - this is the tuatara or tuatara, a representative of the beak-headed order. This species of reptile appeared on Earth 220 million years ago. The lifespan of a tuateria is 60 years, but some individuals live for more than a hundred years.
The tuatara has greenish-gray scaly skin and a jagged ridge on its back, which is why locals call this animal tuatara, which means “spiny.” Tuatara have short legs with claws and a long tail. On the sides of the head, there are large pupils of the eyes; on the upper side of the head there is a parietal eye, the so-called third eye, covered with skin.
This animal resembles iguanas in its appearance, weighs 1.3 kg, body length reaches 78 cm. It likes to settle in the petrel’s home and lives in the same hole with it, goes out to hunt at night, and swims well.
At the age of 15 to 30 years, females lay from 8 to 15 eggs every four years, from which small tuataria hatch after 12-15 months.
Hatterias reproduce very slowly and are an endangered species, listed in the Red Book and strictly protected by law.
The platypus is another representative of ancient animals that has survived to this day and has hardly changed its appearance. The ancient platypus appeared on our planet 110 million years ago and was smaller in size than the modern one.
The platypus is a waterfowl, class mammals, belongs to the order Monotremes, lives in Australia and is a symbol of this country.
The body length of the platypus is 30-40 cm, the tail is flat and wide - 10-15 cm long, reminiscent of a beaver's tail, weight up to 2 kg. The body of the platypus is covered with thick soft fur, dark brown on the back, and grayish-red on the abdomen. The head is round with a flat soft beak 65 mm long and 50 mm wide. The beak is covered with elastic bare skin stretched over two thin long arched bones.
The oral cavity contains cheek pouches in which food is stored. The short five-fingered legs have swimming membranes that help the animal row in the water, and when the platypus comes to land, the membranes bend and the claws stick out and the animal easily moves on land and can dig holes.
Female platypus lay 1 to 3 small eggs, only 1 cm in size, incubate the eggs and after 7-10 days, naked, blind, 2.5 cm long cubs with teeth hatch, the teeth are preserved while the female feeds the platypus with milk, then the teeth fall out. Platypuses grow slowly and live up to 10 years, feed on mollusks, crustaceans, worms, swim and dive well, live in burrows, alone, and sometimes hibernate for a short period of 5-10 days.
The echidna is also the oldest animal that has survived to this day and has hardly changed its appearance over the 110 million years of its existence. Modern echidnas live in Australia and on the islands of New Guinea and Tasmania.
This is a small animal, like a hedgehog, covered in needles. Hence the name “echinos” - translated from ancient Greek means “hedgehog”.
Echidna is a mammal from the order Monotremes. The animal's body length is about 30 cm. The back and sides are covered with large yellow-brown spines, the tail is small, only one centimeter long, also covered with a bunch of small spines. The echidna has short but rather strong limbs with large claws. The lips are beak-shaped, the mouth is small, there are no teeth, the tongue is long and sticky. Using its tongue, the echidna catches ants and termites, which it crushes in its mouth, pressing its tongue to the roof of the mouth. Echidnas live in burrows that they dig themselves, leading night image life, sleep during the day, swim well.
Once a year, females lay one egg the size of a large pea, with a soft shell, and move its pouch, which appears on her belly. The hatched, naked baby remains in the mother's pouch for up to 55 days, until the quills begin to grow, and feeds on milk, licking it from the surface of the mother's skin with its long tongue. The female then digs a hole for the cub, where she leaves him alone until he is seven months old, returning every 5 days to feed him with her milk.
We often hear that more and more more types animals are on the verge of extinction, and their extinction is only a matter of time. The inexorable expansion of areas of human activity, such as hunting, destruction natural environment habitats, climate change and other factors are contributing to species extinction rates that are 1,000 times greater than natural rates. Even though species extinction is a tragedy, sometimes it can be beneficial for a certain species... ours! From a 12-meter mega-snake to giraffe-sized flying creatures, today we tell you about twenty-five stunning extinct creatures that, thankfully, no longer exist.
25. Pelagornis sandersi
With a wingspan estimated to exceed 7 meters, Pelargonis Sandersi appears to be the largest flying bird ever discovered. It is possible that the bird could only fly by jumping off cliffs and spent most of its time above the ocean, where it relied on wind currents bouncing off the ocean to keep it aloft. Although it is considered the largest of the flying birds, compared to pterosaurs such as Quetzalcoatlus with a wingspan of almost 12 meters, it was quite modest in size.
24. Euphoberia (giant centipede)
Ephoberia, which is similar to modern centipedes in shape and behavior, had a striking difference - its length was almost a full meter. Scientists are not entirely sure what exactly it ate, but we do know that some modern centipedes feed on birds, snakes and bats. If a 25-centimeter centipede eats birds, imagine what a centipede almost 1 meter long could eat.
23. Gigantopithecus
Gigantopithecus lived in what is now Asia from 9 million to 100,000 years ago. They were the largest primates on Earth. Their height was 3 meters, and they weighed up to 550 kilograms. These creatures walked on four legs, like modern gorillas or chimpanzees, but there are also those scientists who are of the opinion that they walked on two legs, like humans. The features of their teeth and jaws suggest that these animals were adapted to chewing hard, fibrous foods, which they cut, crushed and chewed.
22. Andrewsarchus
Andrewsarchus was a giant carnivorous mammal that lived during the Eocene era 45 - 36 million years ago. Based on the skull and several bones found, paleontologists estimate the predator could have weighed up to 1,800 kilograms, possibly making it the largest land-based carnivorous mammal ever known. However, the behavioral habits of this creature are unclear and according to some theories, Andrewsarchus could have been an omnivore or a scavenger.
21. Pulmonoscorpius
IN literal translation Pulmonoscorpius means "breathing scorpion". This is an extinct giant species of scorpion that lived on Earth during the Visean era of the Carboniferous period (approximately 345 - 330 million years ago). Based on fossils found in Scotland, it is believed that the length of this species was approximately 70 centimeters. It was a terrestrial animal that most likely fed on small arthropods and tetrapods.
20. Megalania
Megalania, endemic to southern Australia, became extinct as recently as approximately 30,000 years ago, meaning that the first Aboriginal people to settle Australia may well have encountered it. Scientific estimates regarding the size of this lizard vary greatly, but its length may have reached approximately 7.5 meters, making it the largest large lizard from ever existing.
19. Helicoprion
Helicoprion, one of the longest-living prehistoric creatures (310 - 250 million years ago), is a shark-like fish from the phylum subclass that was distinguished by its spiral-shaped clusters of teeth called dental helices. The length of Helicoprion could reach up to 4 meters, but the body length of its closest living relative, the chimera, reaches only 1.5 meters.
18. Entelodon
Unlike its modern relatives, Entelodon was a pig-like mammal with a wild appetite for meat. Perhaps the most monstrous-looking of all mammals, Entelodon walked on four legs and was almost as tall as a man. Some scientists believe that entelodons were cannibals. And if they could even eat their relatives, then they would definitely eat you.
17. Anomalocaris
Anomalocaris (meaning "abnormal shrimp"), which lived in almost all seas of the Cambrian period, was a species of marine animal related to ancient arthropods. Scientific research suggest that it was a predator that fed on sea creatures with hard shells, as well as trilobites. They were particularly notable for their eyes, which were equipped with 30,000 lenses and were considered the most advanced eyes of any species of the period.
16. Meganeura
Meganeura is a genus of extinct insects from the Carboniferous period that resemble and are related to modern dragonflies. With a wingspan of up to 66 centimeters, it is one of the largest known flying insects that has ever lived on Earth. Meganeura was a predator and its diet consisted mainly of other insects and small amphibians.
15. Attercopus
Attercopus was a species of spider-like animal that possessed a tail like a scorpion. For a long period of time, Attercopus was considered the prehistoric ancestor of modern spiders, but scientists who discovered the fossils found more specimens recently and rethought their original conclusion. Scientists find it unlikely that Attercopus spun webs, but think it is quite possible that it used silk to wrap its eggs, construct threads for locomotion, or to line the walls of its burrows.
14. Deinosuchus
Deinosuchus is an extinct species related to modern crocodiles and alligators that lived on Earth between 80 and 73 million years ago. Even though it was much larger than any of the modern species, it generally looked the same. The body length of Deinosuchus was 12 meters. He had large sharp teeth that could kill and eat sea turtles, fish and even large dinosaurs.
13. Dunkleosteus
Dunkleosteus, which lived approximately 380–360 million years ago during the Late Devonian period, was a large carnivorous fish. Thanks to its terrifying size, reaching up to 10 meters and weighing almost 4 tons, it was the apex predator of its time. The fish had very thick and hard scales, which made it a rather slow but very powerful swimmer.
12. Spinosaurus
Spinosaurus, which was larger than a tyrannosaurus, is the largest carnivorous dinosaur to ever exist. The length of his body was 18 meters and he weighed up to 10 tons. Spinosaurus ate tons of fish, turtles, and even other dinosaurs. If this horror lived in modern world, then we probably wouldn’t be there.
11. Smilodon
Smilodon, endemic to the Americas, roamed the earth during the Pleistocene era (2.5 million to 10,000 years ago). He is the best known example of a saber-toothed tiger. It was a strongly built predator with particularly well-developed forelimbs and exceptionally long and sharp upper fangs. The largest species could weigh up to 408 kilograms.
10. Quetzalcoatlus 
With an incredible wingspan of 12 meters, this giant pterosaur was the largest creature to ever fly on Earth, including modern birds. However, calculating the size and mass of this creature is very problematic, since no living creature is similar in size or body structure, and as a result, published results vary greatly. One distinguishing characteristic that was observed in all specimens found was an unusually long, rigid neck.
9. Hallucigenia
The name hallucigenia comes from the idea that these creatures are extremely strange and have a fabulous appearance, as in a hallucination. The worm-like creature had a body length that varied from 0.5 to 3 centimeters and a head that lacked sensory organs such as eyes and nose. Instead, Hallucigenia had seven claw-tipped tentacles on each side of its body and three pairs of tentacles behind them. To say that this creature was strange is to say nothing.
8. Arthropleura
Arthropleura lived on Earth during the Late Carboniferous period (340 - 280 million years ago) and was endemic to what is now North America and Scotland. It was the largest known terrestrial invertebrate species. Despite its enormous length of up to 2.7 meters and previous conclusions, Arthropleura was not a predator, it was a herbivore that fed on rotting forest plants.
7. Short-faced bear
The short-faced bear is an extinct member of the bear family that lived in North America during the late Pleistocene until 11,000 years ago, making it one of the most recently extinct creatures on the list. However, in size it was truly prehistoric. Standing on its hind legs, it reached a height of 3.6 meters, and if it extended its front legs upward, it could reach 4.2 meters. According to scientists, the short-faced bear weighed more than 1,360 kilograms.
6. Megalodon
Megalodon, whose name translates to "big tooth", is an extinct species giant shark, which lived from 28 to 1.5 million years ago. With its incredible length of 18 meters, it is considered one of the largest and most powerful predators that has ever lived on Earth. Megalodon lived all over the world and looked like a much larger and more terrifying version of the modern white shark.
5. Titanoboa
Titanoboa, which lived approximately 60–58 million years ago during the Paleocene epoch, is the largest, longest, and heaviest snake ever discovered. Scientists believe that the largest individuals could reach a length of up to 13 meters and weigh approximately 1133 kilograms. Her diet typically consisted of giant crocodiles and turtles, which shared her territory in modern-day South America.
4. Phorusrhacid
These prehistoric creatures, informally known as "terror birds", are an extinct species of large carnivorous birds that were the largest species of apex predator in South America during the Cenozoic era, 62-2 million years ago. These are the largest flightless birds that have ever lived on Earth. The terrifying birds reached 3 meters in height, weighed half a ton and could supposedly run as fast as a cheetah.
3. Cameroceras
Cameroceras, which lived on our planet in the Ordovician period 470 - 440 million years ago, was a giant ancient ancestor of modern cephalopods and octopuses. The most distinctive part of this mollusk was its huge cone-shaped shell and tentacles, which it used to catch fish and other sea creatures. Estimates of the size of this shell vary greatly, from 6 to 12 meters.
2. Carbonemys
Carbonemis is an extinct species of giant tortoise that lived on Earth approximately 60 million years ago. This means they survived the mass extinction that killed off most dinosaurs. Fossil remains that were found in Colombia suggest that the length of the turtle's shell was almost 180 centimeters. The turtle was a carnivore with huge jaws that were strong enough to eat large animals such as crocodiles.
1. Jaekelopterus
At an estimated size of 2.5 meters, Jaekelopterus is one of the two largest arthropods ever found. Although it is sometimes called " sea scorpion", in fact, he was more of a giant lobster, living in freshwater lakes and rivers in what is today Western Europe. This terrifying creature lived on Earth approximately 390 million years ago, earlier than most dinosaurs.
Mammoth Columbus is one of the largest mammoths to ever exist on earth, a relative of the more common woolly mammoth. The remains of Colombian mammoths were found along the route from Canada to Mexico. The famous woolly mammoths left their traces in Northern Asia, Russia, and Canada. Their main difference is that the Columbian mammoths were practically not covered with hair, which makes them similar to modern elephants, and their tusks were much larger than those of woolly mammoths.
The height of Colombian mammoths was approximately 3-4 m, and their weight reached 5-10 tons. Columbian mammoths have the largest tusks among the elephant family. 3.5 in length, rounded, incredibly strong, they were used to fight all predators, including humans.
Giant sloths. Today, the sloth is one of the cutest creatures, photos of which receive millions of “likes” on social networks. Their ancient ancestors did not seem so charming.
Several species of giant sloths are known. Those who lived on the territory North America, were the size of rhinoceroses, and ancient man may have often dined on them. However, the largest of the giant sloths, Megatherium, lived in South Africa about 10 thousand years ago and were the size of less than an elephant. About 6 m from head to tail, weighing 4 tons, with sharp teeth and long nails, sloths seemed quite formidable animals. Moreover, there is an assumption that they were predators.
The last species of giant sloths lived on Caribbean Islands approximately 4.2 thousand years ago. 
Gigantopithecus- the largest primate to ever walk the earth. This relative of the orangutan deserved its name: the three-meter animal weighed 500 kg and was huge even for the prehistoric world. Interestingly, Gigantopithecus is very similar to images of the Yeti. True, Gigantopithecus died out 100 thousand years ago. In addition, if at that time the giant primates did not think of hiding from people, then it is unlikely that any of them are now hiding in the highlands, scaring tourists under the guise of Bigfoot.
Gigantopithecus lived on Earth for approximately 6-9 million years, eating fruits South-East Asia. But with climate change, tropical forests turned into arid savannas, and Gigantopithecus began to die out from lack of food. 
Cave hyena reached 1 m in height at the shoulders and weighed from 80 to 100 kg. According to calculations based on studies of fossilized remains, a cave hyena was capable of knocking down a 5-year-old mastodon that weighed a ton.
Cave hyenas lived in packs, sometimes consisting of 30 individuals. This made them stronger hunters: together they could attack a 9-year-old mastodon weighing all 9 tons. Needless to say, the man hardly dreamed of meeting a pack of hungry hyenas.
The population of cave hyenas began to decline 20 thousand years ago and finally disappeared 11-13 thousand years ago. As one of the reasons that influenced the extinction of cave hyenas, scientists suggest the struggle with humans for cave space during the last ice age. 
Smilodon- an extinct genus of saber-toothed cats, contrary to stereotypes, which has little in common with saber-toothed tigers.
Saber-toothed cats first appeared 42 million years ago. There were many species of them, most of which became extinct before the appearance of humans. However, at least two species of saber-toothed cats could have been encountered by primitive man in America. They were the size of modern African lion and weighed like an Amur tiger.
Smilodon was an incredibly strong animal - it could easily attack a mammoth. Smilodon used a special tactic: first it waited for prey, approached unnoticed and quickly attacked.
Despite its “saber-toothed” nature, Smilodon does not have the most powerful bite among cats. Thus, the bite of a modern lion is perhaps three times stronger. But the Smilodon’s mouth swung open 120 degrees, which is half the capabilities of the current lion. 
dire wolf- no, “terrible” is not an epithet here, but the name of a species of wolves that lived in North America. Dire wolves appeared about a quarter of a million years ago. They are similar to modern gray wolves, but much tougher. Their length reached 1.5 m, and their weight was about 90 kg.
The dire wolf's bite force was 29% stronger than the bite force gray wolf. Their main diet was horses. Like many other carnivores, dire wolf went extinct 10 thousand years ago during the last ice age. 
American Lion, despite the name "lion", he was closer to the modern panther than to the lion. American lions inhabited North America about 330 thousand years ago.
The American lion is the largest known wild cat in history. On average, the individual weighed about 350 kg, was incredibly strong and easily attacked the bison. So even the group primitive people I wouldn't be thrilled to meet one of the American lions. Like previous comrades, american lions went extinct during the last ice age. 
Megalania- the largest lizard known to science - lived in Australia and began to disappear approximately 50 thousand years ago, i.e. at the same time as humans began to populate the continent.
The size of megalania is a subject of scientific debate. According to some sources, its length reached 7 m, but there is an opinion that average length was about 3.5 m. But not only size is important: megalania was a poisonous lizard. If its victim did not die from loss of blood, then it certainly died from poisoning - in any case, hardly anyone managed to escape alive from the mouth of megalania. 
Short-faced bear- one of those types of bears that primitive man might have encountered. The ancient bear was about 1.5 meters at the shoulders, but as soon as he stood on his hind legs, he stretched up to 4 m. If this does not sound scary enough, then add this detail: thanks to his long limbs, the bear reached a speed of up to 64 km/ h. This means that Hussein Bolt, whose record is 45 km/h, would easily be his for dinner.
Giant short-faced bears were among the largest carnivores in North America. They appeared about 800 thousand years ago, and died out 11.6 thousand years ago. 
Quincans, land crocodiles appeared quite a long time ago - 1.6 million ago in Australia. The giant ancestors of crocodiles reached 7 m in length. Unlike crocodiles, quincans lived and hunted on land. In this they were helped by long powerful legs to catch up with prey over long distances, and sharp teeth. The fact is that crocodiles use their teeth mainly to grab the victim, drag it away with water and drown it. The teeth of the land quincana were intended for killing; they pierced and literally cut the victim. The Quincans became extinct approximately 50 thousand years ago, having lived for about 10 thousand years side by side with primitive man. 
We offer you a large overview of prehistoric animals that lived on Earth millions of years ago. Big and strong, mammoths and saber-toothed tigers, terrible birds and giant sloths. All of them disappeared from our planet forever.
Lived about 15 million years ago
The remains of Platybelodon (lat. Platybelodon) were found for the first time only in 1920 in the Miocene deposits of Asia. This animal descended from Archaeobelodon (genus Archaeobelodon) from the early and middle Miocene of Africa and Eurasia and was in many ways similar to the elephant, except that it did not have a trunk, which was replaced by huge jaws. Platybelodon became extinct towards the end of the Miocene, approximately 6 million years ago, and today there is no animal with such unusual shape mouth Platybelodon had a dense build and reached 3 meters at the withers. It probably weighed about 3.5-4.5 tons. There were two pairs of tusks in the mouth. The upper tusks were round in cross-section, like those of modern elephants, while the lower tusks were flattened and spade-shaped. With its spade-shaped lower tusks, Platybelodon rummaged in the ground in search of roots or stripped bark from trees.
Pakicetus
Lived about 48 million years ago
Pakicetus (lat. Pakicetus) is an extinct predatory mammal belonging to the archaeocetes. The most ancient of the currently known predecessors of the modern whale, adapted to searching for food in the water. Lived on the territory modern Pakistan. This primitive “whale” still remained an amphibian, like the modern otter. The ear had already begun to adapt to hear underwater, but could not yet withstand the great pressure. He had powerful jaws that marked him as a predator, close-set eyes and a muscular tail. The sharp teeth were adapted to grab slippery fish. He probably had webbing between his fingers. The cranial bones are very similar to those of whales.
Bighorn deer (Megaloceros)
Lived 300 thousand years ago
Megaloceros (lat. Megaloceros giganteus) or big-horned deer, appeared about 300 thousand years ago and died out at the end ice age. Inhabited Eurasia, from British Isles before China, preferred open landscapes with sparse woody vegetation. The big-horned deer was the size of a modern elk. The male's head was decorated with colossal horns, greatly expanded at the top in the shape of a spade with several branches, with a span of 200 to 400 cm, and weighing up to 40 kg. Scientists do not have a consensus on what led to the emergence of such huge and, apparently, inconvenient jewelry for the owner. It is likely that the luxurious horns of males, intended for tournament fights and attracting females, greatly interfered with Everyday life. Perhaps, when forests replaced the tundra-steppe and forest-steppe, it was the colossal horns that caused the extinction of the species. He could not live in the forests, because with such a “decoration” on his head it was impossible to walk through the forest.
Arsinotherium
Lived 36-30 million years ago
Arsinotherium (lat. Arsinoitherium) is an ungulate that lived approximately 36-30 million years ago. It reached a length of 3.5 meters and was 1.75 m in height at the withers. Outwardly it resembled a modern rhinoceros, but retained all five toes on its front and hind legs. Its “special feature” were huge, massive horns, consisting not of keratin, but of a bone-like substance, and a pair of small outgrowths of the frontal bone. Remains of Arsinotherium are known from Lower Oligocene deposits of northern Africa (Egypt).
Astrapoteria
Lived from 60 to 10 million years
Astrapoteria (lat. Astrapotherium magnum) - a genus of large ungulates from the late Oligocene - middle Miocene South America. They are the most well-studied representatives of the order Astrapotheria. They were quite large animals - their body length reached 290 cm, height was 140 cm, and weight, apparently, reached 700 - 800 kg.
Titanoides
Lived about 60 million years ago
Titanoides (lat. Titanoides) lived on the American continent and were the first truly large mammals. The area where the Titanoides lived was subtropical with swampy forest, similar to modern southern Florida. They probably ate roots, leaves, and tree bark; they also did not disdain small animals and carrion. They were distinguished by the presence of terrifying fangs - sabers, on a huge, almost half-meter skull. Overall, they were powerful beasts, weighing about 200 kg. and body length up to 2 meters.
Stilinodon
Lived about 45 million years ago
Stylinodon (lat. Stylinodon) is the most famous and last species of taeniodont, living during the Middle Eocene in North America. Teniodonts were among the most rapidly evolving mammals after the extinction of dinosaurs. They are probably related to ancient primitive insectivorous animals, from which they apparently originated. The largest representatives, such as Stylinodon, reached the size of a pig or medium-sized bear and weighed up to 110 kg. The teeth had no roots and had constant growth. Teniodonts were strong, muscular animals. Their five-fingered limbs developed powerful claws adapted for digging. All this suggests that taeniodonts ate solid plant food (tubers, rhizomes, etc.), which they dug out of the ground with their claws. It is believed that they were the same active diggers and led a similar burrowing lifestyle.
Pantolambda
Lived about 60 million years ago
Pantolambda (lat. Pantolambda) is a relatively large North American pantodont, the size of a sheep, who lived in the mid-Paleocene. The oldest representative of the order. Pantodonts are related to early ungulates. Pantolambda's diet was probably varied and not very specialized. The menu included shoots and leaves, mushrooms and fruits, which could be supplemented with insects, worms, or carrion.
Kvabebigiraksy
Lived 3 million years ago
Kvabebihyrax kachethicus (lat. Kvabebihyrax kachethicus) is a genus of very large fossil hyraxes of the pliohyracid family. They lived only in Transcaucasia (in Eastern Georgia) in the late Pliocene. They were distinguished by their large size, the length of their massive body reached 1,500 cm. The protrusion of the quabebigirax's eye sockets above the surface of the forehead, like a hippopotamus, indicates its ability to hide in water. Perhaps it was in the aquatic environment that Quabebigirax sought protection in times of danger.
Coryphodons
Lived 55 million years ago
Coryphodon (lat. Coryphodon) were widespread in the lower Eocene, at the end of which they became extinct. The genus Coryphodon appeared in Asia in the early Eocene era, and then migrated to the territory of modern North America. The height of the corfodon was about a meter and its weight was approximately 500 kg. Probably, these animals preferred to settle in forests or near bodies of water. The basis of their diet was leaves, young shoots, flowers and all kinds of marsh vegetation. These animals, which had a very small brain and were characterized by a very imperfect structure of teeth and limbs, could not coexist for long with the new, more progressive ungulates that took their place.
Celodonts
Lived from 3 million to 70 thousand years ago
Coelodonta (lat. Coelodonta antiquitatis) are fossil woolly rhinoceroses that adapted to life in the arid and cool conditions of the open landscapes of Eurasia. They existed from the late Pliocene to the early Holocene. They were large, relatively short-legged animals with a high nape and an elongated skull bearing two horns. The length of their massive body reached 3.2 - 4.3 m, height at the withers - 1.4 - 2 meters. A characteristic feature of these animals was a well-developed woolly coat, which protected them from low temperatures and cold winds. The low-set head with square lips made it possible to collect the main food - the vegetation of the steppe and tundra-steppe. From archaeological finds it follows that the woolly rhinoceros was hunted by Neanderthals about 70 thousand years ago.
Embolotherium
Lived from 36 to 23 million years ago
Embolotherium (lat. Embolotherium ergilense) are representatives of the order of odd-toed animals. These are large land mammals, larger than rhinoceroses. The group was widely represented in savannah landscapes Central Asia and North America mainly in the Oligocene. The height of a large African elephant, about 4 meters at the withers, the animal weighed about 7 tons.
Palorchestes
Lived from 15 million to 40 thousand years ago
Palorchestes (lat. Palorchestes azael) is a genus of marsupials that lived in Australia in the Miocene and became extinct in the Pleistocene about 40 thousand years ago, after humans arrived in Australia. Reached 1 meter at the withers. The animal's muzzle ended with a small proboscis, for which Palorchests are called marsupial tapirs, to which they are somewhat similar. In fact, palorchests are quite close relatives of koalas.
Synthetoceras
Lived from 10 to 5 million years ago
Synthetoceras (lat. Synthetoceras tricornatus) lived in the Miocene in North America. The most characteristic difference these animals have bony “horns”. It is unknown whether they were covered with a cornea, like modern cattle, but it is clear that the antlers did not change annually, like deer. Synthetoceras belonged to the extinct North American family Protoceratidae, and is believed to be related to camels.
Meritherium
Lived from 35 to 23 million years ago
Meriteria (lat. Moeritherium) is the oldest known representative of proboscis. It was the size of a tapir and probably resembled this animal in appearance, having a rudimentary trunk. Reached 2 meters in length and 70 cm in height. Weighed about 225 kg. The second pairs of incisors in the upper and lower jaws were greatly enlarged; their further hypertrophy in later proboscideans led to the formation of tusks. Lived in the late Eocene and Oligocene in North Africa(from Egypt to Senegal). It ate plants and algae. According to the latest data, modern elephants had distant ancestors who lived mainly in water.
Deinotherium
Lived from 20 to 2 million years ago
Deinotherium (lat. Deinotherium giganteum) are the largest terrestrial animals of the late Miocene - middle Pliocene. Body length of representatives various types fluctuated between 3.5-7 meters, height at the withers reached 3-5 meters, and weight could reach 8-10 tons. Outwardly, they resembled modern elephants, but differed from them in proportions.
Stegotetrabelodon
Lived from 20 to 5 million years ago
Stegotetrabelodon (lat. Stegotetrabelodon) is a representative of the elephantid family, which means that elephants themselves used to have 4 well-developed tusks. The lower jaw was longer than the upper, but its tusks were shorter. At the end of the Miocene (5 million years ago), proboscideans began to lose their lower tusks.
Andrewsarch
Lived from 45 to 36 million years ago
Andrewsarchus (lat. Andrewsarchus) is perhaps the largest extinct terrestrial predatory mammal that lived in the Middle - Late Eocene era in Central Asia. Andrewsarchus is represented as a long-bodied, short-legged beast with a huge head. The length of the skull is 83 cm, the width of the zygomatic arches is 56 cm, but the dimensions can be much larger. According to modern reconstructions, assuming relatively big sizes head and shorter leg length, then the body length could reach up to 3.5 meters (without the 1.5 meter tail), the height at the shoulders - up to 1.6 meters. Weight could reach 1 ton. Andrewsarchus is a primitive ungulate, close to the ancestors of whales and artiodactyls.
Amphicyonids
Lived from 16.9 to 9 million years ago
Amphicyonids (lat. Amphicyon major) or dog-bears are widespread in Europe and western Turkey. The proportions of the Amphicyonidae were a mixture of bear and cat features. His remains were found in Spain, France, Germany, Greece and Turkey. The average weight of male Amphicyonids was 210 kg, and females - 120 kg (almost the same as modern lions). The amphicyonid was an active predator, and its teeth were well adapted for crunching bones.
Giant sloths
Lived from 35 million to 10 thousand years ago
Giant sloths are a group of several different species of sloths that are particularly large in size. They arose in the Oligocene about 35 million years ago and lived on the American continents, reaching a weight of several tons and a height of 6 m. Unlike modern sloths, they lived not in trees, but on the ground. They were clumsy, slow-moving animals with low, narrow skulls and very little brain matter. Despite its great weight, the animal stood on its hind legs and, leaning its forelimbs on the tree trunk, reached for succulent leaves. Leaves were not the only food of these animals. They also ate cereals, and perhaps did not disdain carrion. People settled the American continent between 30 and 10 thousand years ago, and the last giant sloths disappeared from the continent about 10 thousand years ago. This suggests that these animals were hunted. They were probably easy prey because, like their modern relatives, they moved very slowly.
Arctotherium
Lived from 2 million to 500 thousand years ago
Arctotherium (lat. Arctotherium angustidens) is the largest short-faced bear known in the world. given time. Representatives of this species reached 3.5 meters in length and weighed about 1,600 kg. The height at the withers reached 180 cm. Arctotherium lived in the Pleistocene, on the Argentine plains. At one time (2 million - 500 thousand years ago) it was the largest predator on the planet.
Uintatherium
Lived from 52 to 37 million years ago
Uintatherium (lat. Uintatherium) is a mammal from the order Dinocerata. Most characteristic- three pairs of horn-like outgrowths on the roof of the skull (parietal and maxillary bones), more developed in males. The growths were covered with skin. Reached the size of a large rhinoceros. It fed on soft vegetation (leaves), lived in tropical forests along the shores of lakes, possibly semi-aquatic.
Toxodon
Lived from 3.6 million to 13 thousand years ago
Toxodon (lat. Toxodon) is the largest representative of the toxodont family (Toxodontidae), lived only in South America. The genus Toxodon formed at the end of the Pliocene and survived until the very end of the Pleistocene. With its massive build and large size, Toxodon resembled a hippopotamus or rhinoceros. The height at the shoulders was approximately 1.5 meters, and the length was about 2.7 meters (excluding the short tail).
The marsupial saber-toothed tiger or Thylacosmilus (lat. Thylacosmilus atrox) is a predatory marsupial animal of the order Sparassodonta that lived in the Miocene (10 million years ago). Reached the size of a jaguar. The upper canines are clearly visible on the skull, constantly growing, with huge roots continuing into the frontal region and long protective “blades” on the lower jaw. The upper incisors are missing.
He probably hunted large herbivores. Thylacosmila is often called a marsupial tiger, by analogy with another formidable predator - the marsupial lion (Thylacoleo carnifex). It died out at the end of the Pliocene, unable to withstand competition with the first saber-toothed cats that settled the continent.
Sarcastodon
Lived about 35 million years ago
Sarkastodon (lat. Sarkastodon mongoliensis) is one of the largest mammalian land predators of all time. This huge oxyenid lived in Central Asia. The Sarcastodon skull discovered in Mongolia is about 53 cm long, and the width at the zygomatic arches is approximately 38 cm. The body length, excluding the tail, apparently was 2.65 meters.
Sarcastodon looked like a cross between a cat and a bear, only weighing a ton. Perhaps he led a lifestyle similar to that of a bear, but was much more carnivorous, and did not disdain carrion, driving away weaker predators.
Fororakos
Lived 23 million years ago
Terrible birds (as fororakos are sometimes called), who lived 23 million years ago. They differed from their counterparts in their massive skull and beak. Their height reached 3 meters, weighed up to 300 kg and were formidable predators.
Scientists created a three-dimensional model of the bird's skull and found that the bones of the head were strong and rigid in the vertical and longitudinal-transverse directions, but in the transverse direction the skull was quite fragile. This means that the fororacos would not be able to grapple with struggling prey. The only option is to beat the victim to death with vertical blows of the beak, as if with an ax. The only competitor to the terrible bird was most likely the marsupial saber-toothed tiger (Thylacosmilus). Scientists believe that these two predators were once the top the food chain. Thylacosmil was a stronger animal, but Paraphornis surpassed it in speed and agility.
Giant Minorcan hare
Lived from 7 to 5 million years ago
The hare family (Leporidae) also had its own giants. In 2005, a giant rabbit was described from the island of Menorca (Balearics, Spain), which received the name Giant Menorcan hare (lat. Nuralagus rex). The size of a dog, it could reach a weight of 14 kg. According to scientists, such a large size of the rabbit is due to the so-called island rule. According to this principle, large species, once on the islands, decrease over time, while small ones, on the contrary, increase.
Nuralagus had relatively small eyes and ears, which did not allow him to see and hear well - he did not have to fear an attack, because there were no large predators on the island. In addition, scientists believe that due to reduced paws and rigidity of the spine, the “king of rabbits” lost the ability to jump and moved on land exclusively in small steps.
Megistotherium
Lived from 20 to 15 million years ago
Megistotherium (lat. Megistotherium osteothlastes) is a giant hyaenodontid that lived in the early and middle Miocene. It is considered one of the largest land mammal predators to ever exist. Its fossilized remains were found in Eastern, Northern East Africa and in South Asia.
The length of the body with the head was about 4 m + the length of the tail was presumably 1.6 m, the height at the withers was up to 2 meters. The weight of Megistotherium is estimated at 880-1400 kg.
Woolly Mammoth
Lived from 300 thousand to 3.7 thousand years ago
The woolly mammoth (lat. Mammuthus primigenius) appeared 300 thousand years ago in Siberia, from where it spread to North America and Europe. The mammoth was covered with coarse wool, up to 90 cm long. A layer of fat almost 10 cm thick served as additional thermal insulation. The summer coat was significantly shorter and less dense. They were most likely painted dark brown or black. With small ears and a short trunk compared to modern elephants, the woolly mammoth was well adapted to cold climates. Woolly mammoths were not as huge as is often assumed. Adult males reached a height of 2.8 to 4 m, which is not much larger than modern elephants. However, they were significantly more massive than elephants, reaching a weight of up to 8 tons. A noticeable difference from living species of proboscis was the strongly curved tusks, a special growth on the top of the skull, a high hump and a steeply sloping rear part of the back. The tusks found to this day reached a maximum length of 4.2 m and a weight of 84 kg.
Columbian mammoth
Lived from 100 thousand to 10 thousand years ago
In addition to the woolly northern mammoths, there were also southern ones without wool. In particular, the Columbian mammoth (lat. Mammuthus columbi), which was one of the largest representatives of the elephant family that ever existed. The height at the withers of adult males reached 4.5 m, and their weight was about 10 tons. Was closely related to woolly mammoth(Mammuthus primigenius) and was in contact with it at the northern border of its range. Lived in the vast expanses of North America. The northernmost finds are located in southern Canada, the southernmost in Mexico. It ate mainly grasses and lived like today's elephant species in matriarchal groups of two to twenty animals led by a mature female. Adult males approached the herds only during the mating season. Mothers protected mammoth cubs from large predators, which was not always successful, as evidenced by the finds of hundreds of baby mammoths in caves. The extinction of the Columbian mammoth occurred at the end of the Pleistocene about 10 thousand years ago.
Cubanochoerus
Lived about 10 million years ago
Cubanochoerus (lat. Kubanochoerus robustus) is a large representative of the pig family of the order Artiodactyl. Skull length 680 mm. The facial part is highly elongated and 2 times longer than the brain section. Distinctive feature of this animal is the presence of horn-like outgrowths on the skull. One of them, a large one, was located in front of the eye sockets on the forehead, behind it were a pair of small protrusions on the sides of the skull. It is possible that fossil pigs used these weapons during ritual fights between males, just as African wild boars do today. The upper fangs are large, rounded, curved upward, the lower ones are triangular. In size, Cubanochoerus exceeded the modern wild boar and weighed more than 500 kg. One genus and one species are known from the Middle Miocene Belomechetskaya locality in the North Caucasus.
Gigantopithecus
Lived from 9 to 1 million years ago
Gigantopithecus (lat. Gigantopithecus) - extinct genus great apes, lived in the territory of modern India, China and Vietnam. According to experts, Gigantopithecus had a height of up to 3 meters and weighed from 300 to 550 kg, that is, they were the largest monkeys of all time. At the end of the Pleistocene, Gigantopithecus may have coexisted with Homo erectus, who began to penetrate Asia from Africa. Fossil remains indicate that Gigantopithecus was the most large primates of all times. They were probably herbivores and walked on all fours, feeding mainly on bamboo, sometimes adding seasonal fruits to their food. However, there are theories that prove the omnivorous nature of these animals. Two species of this genus are known: Gigantopithecus bilaspurensis, which lived between 9 and 6 million years ago in China, and Gigantopithecus blacki, which lived in northern India at least 1 million years ago. Sometimes a third species, Gigantopithecus giganteus, is isolated.
Although it is not completely known what exactly caused their extinction, most researchers believe that among the main reasons were climate change and competition for food sources from other, more adaptable species - pandas and people. The closest relative of the existing species is the orangutan, although some experts consider Gigantopithecus to be closer to gorillas.
Marsupial hippopotamus
Lived from 1.6 million to 40 thousand years ago
Diprotodon (lat. Diprotodon) or “marsupial hippopotamus” is the largest known marsupial that ever lived on Earth. Diprotodon belongs to the Australian megafauna - group unusual species who lived in Australia. Diprotodon bones, including complete skulls and skeletons, as well as hair and footprints, have been found in many places in Australia. Sometimes the skeletons of females are discovered along with the skeletons of the cubs that were once in the pouch. The largest specimens were approximately the size of a hippopotamus: about 3 meters in length and about 3 meters at the withers. The closest living relatives of diprotodons are wombats and koalas. Therefore, diprotodons are sometimes called giant wombats. It cannot be ruled out that the appearance of humans on the mainland was one of the reasons for the disappearance of marsupial hippopotamuses.
Deodon
Lived about 20 million years ago
Deodon (lat. Daeodon) is an Asian entelodont that migrated to North America around the end of the Oligocene era. "Giant pigs" or "pigwolves" were four-legged land omnivores with massive jaws and teeth that allowed them to crush and eat large animals, including bones. With a height of more than 2 meters at the withers, it took food from smaller predators.
Chalicotherium
Lived from 40 to 3.5 million years ago
Chalicotherium. Chalicotheriums are a family of the equid order. They lived from the Eocene to the Pliocene (40-3.5 million years ago). They reached the size of a large horse, which they probably resembled somewhat in appearance. They had a long neck and long front legs, four-toed or three-toed. The fingers ended in large split claw phalanges, on which were not hooves, but thick claws.
Barylambda
Lived 60 million years ago
Barylambda faberi is a primitive pantodont. It lived in America and was one of the largest mammals of the Paleocene. With a length of 2.5 meters and a weight of 650 kg, Barylambda slowly moved on short powerful legs ending in five fingers with hoof-like claws. She ate bushes and leaves. There is an assumption that Barylambda occupied an ecological niche similar to ground sloths, with the tail serving as a third point of support.
Smilodon (saber-toothed tiger)
Lived from 2.5 million to 10 thousand years BC. e. Smilodon (meaning “dagger tooth”) reached a height at the withers of 125 cm, a length of 250 cm, including a 30-centimeter tail, and weighed from 225 to 400 kg. Given the size of a lion, its weight exceeded that of an Amur tiger due to its stocky build, which is atypical for modern felines. The famous fangs reached 29 centimeters in length (including the root), and, despite their fragility, were powerful weapons.
A mammal of the genus Smilodon, which is incorrectly called saber-toothed tiger. The largest saber-toothed cat of all time and the third largest representative of the family, second in size only to the cave lion and American lion.
American lion
Lived from 300 thousand to 10 thousand years ago
The American lion (lat. Panthera leo spelaea) is an extinct subspecies of lion that lived on the American continent in the Upper Pleistocene. It reached a body length of about 3.7 meters with a tail and weighed 400 kg. This is the largest cat in history, only Smilodon had the same weight, although it was smaller in linear dimensions
Argentavis
Lived from 8 to 5 million years ago
Argentavis magnificens is the largest flying bird in the history of the Earth, which lived in Argentina. He belonged to the now completely extinct family of teratorns, birds that are fairly closely related to American vultures. Argentavis weighed about 60–80 kg, and its wingspan reached 8 meters. (For comparison, the wandering albatross has the largest wingspan among existing birds - 3.25 m.) Obviously, the basis of its diet was carrion. He could not play the role of a giant eagle. The fact is that when diving from a height at high speed, a bird of this size has a high probability of crashing. In addition, the paws of Argentavis are poorly adapted to grasping prey, and are similar to the paws of American vultures, and not to falcons, whose paws are perfectly adapted for this purpose. In addition, Argentavis probably sometimes attacked small animals, as modern vultures do.
Thalassoknus
Lived from 10 to 5 million years ago
Thalassocnus (lat. Thalassocnus) is an extinct genus of sloths that led an aquatic or semi-aquatic lifestyle in South America. Apparently these animals ate seaweed and coastal grass, using their powerful claws to cling to the seabed while feeding - much like marine iguanas do now.
Some of the largest creatures that have ever inhabited this world lived millions of years ago. Below are ten of the biggest, scariest sea monsters, who once prowled the oceans:
10. Shastasaurus
Ichthyosaurs were marine predators that looked like modern dolphins and could reach enormous sizes and lived during the Triassic period about 200 million years ago.
Shastasaurus, the largest species of marine reptile ever found, was an ichthyosaur that could grow to more than 20 meters. It was much longer than most other predators. But one of the largest creatures to ever swim the sea was not exactly a fearsome predator; Shastasaurus fed by suction, and ate mainly fish.
9. Dakosaurus
Dacosaurus was first discovered in Germany, and with its strangely reptilian and fish-like body, it was one of the main predators in the sea during Jurassic period.
His fossil remains were found over a very wide area - they were found everywhere, from England to Russia to Argentina. Although it is usually compared to modern crocodiles, Dakosaurus could reach 5 meters in length. Its unique teeth led scientists to believe that it was a top predator during its terrible reign.
8. Thalassomedon
Thalassomedon belonged to the Pliosaur group, and its name is translated from Greek as “Lord of the Sea” - and for good reason. Thalassomedons were huge predators, reaching up to 12 meters in length.
It had almost 2 meter long flippers, allowing it to swim in the depths with deadly efficiency. Its reign as a predator lasted until the late Cretaceous period, until it finally came to an end when new, larger predators such as Mosasaurs appeared in the sea.
7. Nothosaurus
Nothosaurs, reaching a length of only 4 meters, were aggressive predators. They were armed mouth full sharp, outwardly oriented teeth, indicating that their diet consisted of squid and fish. It is believed that Nothosaurus were primarily ambush predators. They used their sleek, reptilian physique to sneak up on their prey and surprise it when attacking.
It is believed that Nothosaurus were relatives of pliosaurs, another type of deep-sea sea predators. Evidence obtained from fossil remains suggests that they lived during the Triassic period about 200 million years ago.
6. Tylosaurus
Tylosaurus belonged to the Mosasaurus species. It was huge in size, reaching more than 15 meters in length.
Tylosaurus was a meat eater with a very varied diet. Traces of fish, sharks, smaller mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, and even some flightless birds have been found in their stomachs. They lived at the end of the Cretaceous period in a sea that spanned what is now North America, where they sat tightly at the top of the marine food chain for several million years.
5. Thalattoarchon Saurophagis
Only recently discovered, Thalattoarchon was the size of a school bus, reaching almost 9 meters in length. This is an early species of ichthyosaur that lived during the Triassic period, 244 million years ago. Due to the fact that they appeared shortly after Permian extinction(the largest mass extinction on Earth, in which scientists believe 95% of marine life was destroyed), its discovery gives scientists a new look at fast recovery ecosystems.
4. Tanystropheus
Although Tanystropheus was not strictly a marine animal, its diet consisted mainly of fish, and scientists believe that it spent most of its time in the water. Tanystropheus was a reptile that could reach 6 meters in length and is believed to have lived during the Triassic period about 215 million years ago.
3. Liopleurodon
Liopleurodon was a marine reptile that reached more than 6 meters in length. It primarily lived in the seas that covered Europe during the Jurassic period, and was one of the top predators of its time. Its jaws alone are believed to have reached more than 3 meters - this is approximately the distance from floor to ceiling.
With such huge teeth, it is not difficult to understand why Liopleurodon dominated the food chain.
2. Mosasaurus
If Liopleurodon was huge, then Mosasaurus was colossal.
Evidence obtained from fossil remains suggests that Mosasaurus could reach up to 15 meters in length, making it one of the largest marine predators of the Cretaceous period. The Mosasaurus's head was similar to that of a crocodile, and was armed with hundreds of razor-sharp teeth that could kill even the most heavily armored opponents.
1. Megalodon
One of the largest predators in maritime history and one of largest sharks Ever recorded, Megalodons were incredibly fearsome creatures.
Megalodons prowled the depths of the oceans during the Cenozoic era, 28 to 1.5 million years ago, and were a much larger version of the great white shark, the most feared and powerful predator in the oceans today. But while the maximum length that modern great white sharks can reach is 6 meters, Megalodons could grow up to 20 meters in length, which means they were larger than a school bus!