Unseen prehistoric animals. Interesting details about prehistoric animals

Evolution is a serious thing. At each stage of the formation of our planet in a certain period of time, there were certain animals that, of course, were the elite of their era. Such for a long time were considered prehistoric predators. Let's talk about them.

They have inhabited the Earth for more than 500,000,000 years! For almost half of this period, our planet was dominated by prehistoric predators - dinosaurs! Just think about these numbers! No one else was able to hold out in the history of the formation of the Earth for as long as the ancient lizards did. They were real rulers!

Prehistoric predators- the crown of nature's creation!

At one time they were the pinnacle of development of all terrestrial organisms that inhabited our planet. Dinosaurs remained the rulers of the land for more than 100,000,000 years! These were numerous and varied monsters. No other creature could compare with them in strength and perfection! Today, prehistoric reptile predators never cease to excite scientists and ordinary minds: the process of their existence and the drama of extinction have been of interest to man since the moment he learned about the Great Age of Reptiles! Dinosaurs are studied very carefully; no other is as popular in scientific circles as ancient dinosaurs!

Prehistoric sea predators

Over time, the land became too crowded, and some reptiles began to master the water. Scientists have experimentally observed that reptiles, throughout the history of their development, returned to the water from time to time. This happened when more abundant food and security of existence awaited them there.

This was not difficult for them, since life in the seas and oceans does not require reptiles to undergo absolutely any fundamental changes in the body and physiology.

The very first prehistoric predators to master water were anapsids - mesosaurs of the Permian period. Following them, primitive diapsids - tangosaurs, thalattosaurs, claudiosaurs and hovasaurus - went into the water. The most recent group of aquatic reptiles were the well-known ichthyosaurs. These sea predators were simply superbly adapted to life in any waters of our planet. In their form, ichthyosaurs very much resembled the most ordinary fish or dolphins: a triangular head with long jaws extended forward, a body flattened on the sides, the caudal fin blade is vertical, and the legs are transformed into four ventral fins.

Lord of the seas and oceans

The largest reptile that ever lived in water was a certain Liopleurodon. All other marine prehistoric predators simply faded in front of him... The time of his existence fell on Jurassic period. There is still scientific debate about the size of this gigantic creature. Four huge flippers, a short and laterally compressed tail, as well as a very large and narrow head with huge teeth (about 30 cm in length) made it the undisputed ruler of all the seas and oceans of the ancient planet!

The modern world with its inhabitants is so familiar to humans that the events of a century ago are perceived as beautiful. fantastic story. However, the evidence found by scientists makes us believe that prehistoric predators really existed.

Terrible predator: short-faced bear

Millions of years ago, the current places with built houses, highways, amusement parks were deserted and not people walked around them, but huge prehistoric predators, one of which was a short-faced bear gigantic size. Its height when standing on two legs reached 4 meters, and its weight was about 500 kilograms. External resemblance existed with its modern brothers, but unlike them, the giant could easily reach the speed of a horse when running (about 50 km/h).

Like all prehistoric predators, the bear had incredible strength and could destroy almost any animal with one blow. Having powerful jaws, this monster was able to bite through even the strongest bones. When analyzing the found remains of the ancient giant, it was found that he ate everything that moved: horses, bison and even mammoths. The daily food requirement was approximately 16 kilograms of meat; this is 2-3 times more than a lion needs. The search for food in such quantities was facilitated by enlarged nasal cavities, which made it possible to hear the smell of prey within a radius of 9 kilometers. The last representatives of short-faced bears, according to scientists, became extinct about 20 thousand years ago, and, most likely, this happened due to their inability to adapt to strong environmental changes.

Prehistoric Predators: American Lion

The prehistoric American lion is one of the most bloodthirsty predators on the planet. Unlike their modern descendants it weighed almost half a ton. The body length of this animal was almost 4 meters. The habitat of the largest cat in history was North and South America.

Saber tooth tiger

Also, such prehistoric predators as saber-toothed tigers, powerful weapon which had gigantic 20-centimeter fangs that stuck out menacingly even with their mouths closed. They were similar to dagger-shaped blades and resembled sabers (hence the name of the predator). Combined with enormous strength and lightning-fast reactions, these animals, which lived about 20 million years ago in Eurasia, North America, and Africa, horrified their potential victims. A powerful body, short massive legs, terrifying fangs - an appearance that is best seen in pictures. The richest source of fossils of these animals is located in the heart of Los Angeles. It is here in prehistoric times there were tar lakes - deadly traps that killed thousands of animals. Covered on top with leaves that stuck to their surface, they deceived unwary herbivores and predators, absorbing them into a sticky quagmire.

Prehistoric Predators: Dog-Bear

Dogbears (aka amphicyonids) are active predators that were widespread in Turkey and Europe from 17 to 9 million years ago. These prehistoric predators got their name from the mixed features of a bear and a dog. appearance, so scientists hesitated for a long time which group to classify strange animals into. As a result, they were singled out completely separate family. Dog-bears were stocky animals with short legs, a long body (about 3.5 meters), a huge head (the length of the skull was 83 cm), a one and a half meter tail and a weight of about 1 ton. Their approximate height was approximately 1.8 meters.

There is an opinion that the dog-bear led semi-aquatic image life and could live on sea coasts. The predator’s skull was vaguely similar to that of a crocodile, and its powerful jaws could bite through the bones and shell of a turtle. Its diet was varied: from small animals to large animals. The bear-dog, of course, was a hunter, but most often he was content with the role of a scavenger. He could calmly dine on a wounded but still living victim.

Deinosuchus - the largest crocodile on the planet

About 60 million years ago, the planet was inhabited by Deinosuchus (from Greek - “terrible crocodile”), which was about 12 meters long, 1.5 meters high, and weighed about 10 tons. The streamlined body shape provided him with high speed movement in water and excellent maneuverability. On land, Deinosuchus became clumsy and earth's surface moved jerkily on thick curved legs.

Having a huge head (about 1.5 meters), massive wide jaws, large teeth designed for crushing, a back covered with armored bone plates and a thick tail, it fed on fish and large dinosaurs.

Haast's eagle - winged monster

Prehistoric birds of prey were also characterized by their impressive size. For example, the Haast eagle, which lived in New Zealand, weighed 16 kg and its wingspan was 3 meters. This predator was capable of speeds of 60-80 km/h, which allowed it to successfully hunt flightless moa birds, which weighed 10 times more and were unable to defend themselves from a sudden powerful impact force.

The predator was able to grab and hold prey in flight, and the latter could be an order of magnitude larger than it. According to the legends of New Zealanders, these monsters with a red crest on their heads even kidnapped small children and killed people. Nests of winged prehistoric predators have been found 2 kilometers above the ground. The extinction of eagles has caused destruction natural environment habitats and disappearance of moa birds, which became the subject of hunting by settlers of New Zealand.

Terrestrial prehistoric bird fororacos

Of the flightless winged birds of the prehistoric period, scientists are interested in the so-called terrorist bird (fororacos), which was the largest predator in South America and lived more than 23 million years ago. Its height varied from 1 to 3 meters, and its favorite food was small mammals, as well as horses. The predator killed prey in two ways: by lifting it into the air and hitting it on the ground, or by delivering precise blows with its massive beak to important and vulnerable parts of the body.

The beak and massive skull of a three-meter giant weighing about 300 kilograms made it stand out from other winged creatures. Its powerful legs allowed it to develop significant speed while running, and its curved 46-centimeter beak was ideal for tearing apart the meat it had caught. In an instant, the predator swallowed the caught victim.

Megalodon - a huge shark

Millions of years ago in water element There were also huge prehistoric predators. Megalodon (“big tooth”) is a giant shark that had 5 rows of huge 20-centimeter teeth in the amount of about 300 pieces. The total length of this monster was about 20 meters, and its weight was supposedly 45 tons. What can we say about modern sharks feeding on seals if Megalodon hunted whales?

Over the years, the teeth of this giant shark were mistaken for the remains of dragons. According to scientists, this animal became extinct due to oceanic hypothermia, falling sea levels and depletion of food sources.

One of the largest predators centuries ago was the mosasaurus. Its length was more than 15 meters, and its head was similar to a crocodile. Hundreds of razor-sharp teeth killed even the most protected opponents.

Unseen prehistoric animals
Prehistoric creatures. Ancient animals. Animals of the past.
Animals of the prehistoric period. Animals of the distant past.

Prehistoric animals that lived on different continents thousands and millions of years ago.

Remains of Platybelodon ( Platybelodon) were found for the first time only in 1920 in Miocene deposits (about 20 million years ago) of Asia. Descended from the 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, the place of which was taken by huge jaws.

Platybelodon died out towards the end of the Miocene, about 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 approximately 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 apparently rummaged in the ground in search of roots or stripped bark from trees. Platybelodon belongs to the order of proboscis - Proboscidea, to the superfamily Elephantoidea, which in Russian can be formulated as elephant-shaped.

Pakicetus (Pakicetus) is an extinct predatory mammal belonging to the archaeocetes. The oldest known ancestor of the modern whale, it lived approximately 48 million years ago and adapted to foraging in water. Lived in the territory of 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 high 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 main feature is that its ankle bones are most similar to those of pigs, sheep and hippos. The cranial bones are very similar to those of whales.

Arsinotherium (Arsinoitherium) - an ungulate that lived approximately 36-30 million years ago. Reached 3.5 m in length and 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).

Megaloceros (Megaloceros giganteus) or Bighorn deer, appeared about 300 thousand years ago and died out at the end ice age. Inhabited Eurasia, from the British Isles to China, preferring open landscapes with sparse tree 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.

Astrapoteria (Astrapotherium magnum) - a genus of large ungulates from the late Oligocene - middle Miocene of South America. They are the most well-studied representatives of the order Astrapotheria. They were quite large animals - their body length reached 288 cm, height was 137 cm, and weight, apparently, reached 600 - 800 kg.

Titanoides (Titanoides) lived 60 million years ago on the American continent and were the first truly large mammals. The area where Titanoides lived is subtropical with swampy forest, similar to modern south 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 (Stylinodon) is the most famous and last species of taeniodont, living about 45 million years ago during the Middle Eocene of 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 powerful claws. It is believed that they were the same active diggers and led a similar burrowing lifestyle.

Pantolambda (Pantolambda) is a relatively large North American pantodont, about the size of a sheep, that lived in the mid-Paleocene. The oldest representative squad. Panthodonts evolved from Cimolestes and are related to early ungulates. It is likely that Pantolambda's diet was varied and not very specialized. The menu included shoots and leaves, mushrooms and fruits, which could be supplemented with insects, worms, or carrion.

Coryphodons (Coryphodon) were widespread in the lower Eocene 55 million years ago, 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, where it probably replaced the native pantodont Barylambda. 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. Amblypods, as animals that 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.

Kvabebigiraksy (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, 3 million years ago. They were distinguished by their large size, the length of their massive body reached 1.5 m. The protrusion of the quabebigirax's eye sockets above the surface of the forehead, like a hippopotamus, indicates the ability of quabebigirax to hide in water. Perhaps it was in the aquatic environment that the Kwabeb hyrax sought protection in times of danger.

Celodonts (Coelodonta antiquitatis) - fossil woolly rhinoceroses, 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, the height at the withers was 1.4–2 m.

A characteristic feature of these animals was a well-developed woolly cover, 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 (Embolotherium ergilense) - representatives of the family Brontotheriidae of the order Unpaired. 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 skull size of 125 cm of condylobasal length suggests the growth of ergilensis from a large African elephant under 4m at the withers and weight about 7 tons.

Palorchestes (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 wombats and koalas.

Synthetoceras (Synthetoceras tricornatus) lived in the Miocene, 5-10 million years ago, in North America. The most characteristic difference between these animals is their 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. Protoceratids looked completely different, although the structure of the lower parts of their limbs was similar to that of camels, which made it possible to place such different animals in one group.

Meritherium (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 m in length and 70 cm in height. Weighed approximately 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 (Deinotherium giganteum) - the largest land animals of the late Miocene - middle Pliocene. Body length of representatives various types fluctuated between 3.5-7 m, height at the withers reached 3-5 m (on average - 3.5-4 m), and weight could reach 8-10 tons. Outwardly they resembled modern elephants, but differed from them proportions.

Stegotetrabelodon (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. When the jaws closed, the lower tusks entered the gap between the upper ones. At the end of the Miocene (5 million years ago), proboscideans began to lose their lower tusks.

Andrewsarch (Andrewsarchus), perhaps the largest terrestrial carnivorous mammal. Andrewsarchus is represented as a long-bodied and short-legged beast with a huge head. The length of the skull is 834 mm, the width of the zygomatic arches is 560 mm, but the dimensions can be much larger. According to modern reconstructions, if we assume relatively large head sizes and shorter leg lengths, then the body length could reach up to 3.5 meters (without the 1.5 meter tail), the height at the shoulders could be up to 1.6 meters. The weight could reach one ton. Andrewsarchus is a primitive ungulate, close to the ancestors of whales and artiodactyls.

Amphicyonids (Amphicyon major) or dog-bears became widespread in Europe from the late Oligocene (2 million years ago). The proportions of Amphicyon major were a mixture of bear and cat features. Like bears, his remains were found in Spain, France, Germany, Greece and Turkey. The average weight of males of Amphicyon major is 212 kg, and females - 122 kg (almost the same as modern lions). Amphicyon major was an active predator, and its teeth were well adapted for crunching bones.

Giant sloths- a group of several different species of sloths, notable for their particularly large sizes. 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 his heavy weight, the animal stood on its hind legs and, leaning its forelimbs on the tree trunk, took out 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 (Arctotherium angustidens) is the largest short-faced bear known in given time. Representatives of this species reached 3.5 m in length and weighed about 1600 kg. The height at the withers reached 180 cm. Arctotherium angustidens 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 (Uintatherium) is a mammal from the order Dinocerata. Most characteristic feature- three pairs of horn-like outgrowths on the roof of the skull (parietal and maxillary bones), more developed in males. The outgrowths were covered with skin, like the ossicones of giraffes.

Toxodon (Toxodon) - the largest representative of the toxodont family (Toxodontidae) and the order Notoungulata, was endemic to 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).

Tilakosmil (Thylacosmilus atrox) is a predatory marsupial of the order Sparassodonta, which 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 (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, apparently, was 2.65 meters, excluding the tail. 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.

Mongoloterium (Prodinoceras Mongolotherium) is a species of mammal of the extinct order Dinocerata, family Uintatheridae. It is considered one of the most primitive representatives of the order.

Terrible Birds(sometimes called fororakosov), who lived 23 million years ago, differed from their fellows in their massive skull and beak. Their height reached three meters, and they 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, while 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 food chain. Thylacosmil was a stronger animal, but Paraphornis surpassed it in speed and agility.

In the hare family ( Leporidae), also had their giants. In 2005, a giant rabbit was described from the island of Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) and given the name Nurogalus (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.

Nurogalus 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 (Megistotherium osteothlastes) - a giant hyaenodontid that lived in the early and middle Miocene (20-15 million years ago). It is considered one of the largest land mammal predators to ever exist. Its fossilized remains have been found in Eastern and Northern East Africa and in South Asia. The length of the body with the head was about 4 m + the length of the tail is supposedly 1.6 m, the height at the withers is up to 2 m. The weight of Megistotherium is estimated at 880-1400 kg.

Woolly Mammoth (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, weighing 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 maximum length 4.2 m and weight 84 kg. On average, however, they were 2.5 m long and weighed 45 kg.

In addition to the woolly northern mammoths, there were also southern ones without wool. In particular, the Columbian mammoth (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. He was closely related to the six-foot mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and came into contact with it northern border range. Lived in the vast expanses of North America.

The most northern places 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 mating season. Mothers protected mammoth calves from large predators, which was not always successful, as evidenced by the finds of hundreds of baby mammoths in caves near Homotherium. The extinction of the Columbian mammoth occurred at the end of the Pleistocene about 10 thousand years ago.

Cubanochoerus (Kubanochoerus robustus) is a large representative of the pig family of the order Artiodactylae. Skull length 680 mm. The facial part is highly elongated and twice as long as 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 Belomechetskaya locality of the Middle Miocene in the North Caucasus.

Gigantopithecus (Gigantopithecus) is an extinct genus of great apes that 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 this Pleistocene, Gigantopithecus may have coexisted with Homo erectus, who began to enter Asia from Africa.

Fossil remains indicate that Gigantopithecus was the largest primate of all time. 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 climate change and competition for food sources from other, more adaptable species - pandas and humans - were among the main reasons. Closest relative from now existing species is an orangutan, although some experts consider Gigantopithecus to be closer to gorillas.

Diprotodon (Diprotodon) or " marsupial hippopotamus" is the largest known marsupial to ever live on earth. Diprotodon belongs to the Australian megafauna - group unusual species, who lived in Australia from approximately 1.6 million to 40 thousand years ago. 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 three meters in length and about two 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 last diprotodons became extinct already in historical time, and also that the appearance of humans on the mainland was one of the reasons for their disappearance.

Deodon (Daeodon) is an Asian entelodont that migrated to North America around the end of the Oligocene era (20 million years ago). "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 m at the withers, it took food from smaller predators.

Chalicotherium (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. Possessed long neck and long front legs, four-toed or three-toed. The toes ended in large split claw phalanges, on which were not hooves, but thick claws.

Barylambda (Barylambda faberi) - a primitive pantodont, lived 60 million years ago in America, was one of largest mammals Paleocene. With a length of 2.5 m and a weight of 650 kg, Barylambda slowly moved on short powerful legs ending in five fingers with hoof-shaped 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.

Argentavis (Argentavis magnificens) - the largest known to science flying bird in the entire history of the Earth, which lived 5-8 million years ago in Argentina. It belonged to the now completely extinct family of teratorns, birds that are quite closely related to American vultures, with which it was part of the order of storks (Ciconiiformes).

Argentavis weighed about 60-80 kg, and its wingspan reached 8 m. (For comparison, the wandering albatross has the largest wingspan among existing birds - 3.25 m.) The Argentavis skull was 45 cm long, and the humerus was as long as more than half a meter. Apparently the basis of his diet was carrion.

He could not play the role of a giant eagle. The fact is that when diving from a height to 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. Like American vultures, Argentavis's claws were likely relatively weak, but its beak was very powerful, allowing it to feed on dead animals of any size.

In addition, Argentavis probably sometimes attacked small animals, as modern vultures do.

Thalassocnus– incompletely edentate from the Miocene and Pliocene (10-5 million years ago) of South America. Probably led a semi-aquatic lifestyle.

The modern world with its inhabitants is so familiar to humans that the events of a century ago are perceived as a beautiful fantastic story. However, the evidence found by scientists makes us believe that prehistoric predators really existed.

Terrible predator: short-faced bear

Millions of years ago, the current places with built houses, highways, amusement parks were deserted and not people walked around them, but huge prehistoric predators, one of which was a short-faced bear of gigantic size. Its height when standing on two legs reached 4 meters, and its weight was about 500 kilograms. There was an external resemblance to its modern brothers, but unlike them, the giant could easily reach the speed of a horse when running (about 50 km/h).

Prehistoric Predators: American Lion

The prehistoric American lion is one of the most bloodthirsty predators on the planet. Unlike its modern descendants, it weighed almost half a ton. The body length of this animal was almost 4 meters. The habitat of the largest cat in history was North and South America.

Saber tooth tiger

Also, such prehistoric predators as saber-toothed tigers, whose powerful weapons were giant 20-centimeter fangs that stuck out menacingly even with their mouths closed, did not survive to this day. They were similar to dagger-shaped blades and resembled sabers (hence the name of the predator). Combined with enormous strength and lightning-fast reactions, these animals, which lived about 20 million years ago in Eurasia, North America, and Africa, horrified their potential victims. A powerful body, short massive legs, terrifying fangs - an appearance that is best seen in pictures. The richest source of fossils of these animals is located in the heart of Los Angeles. It was here that in prehistoric times tar lakes were located - deadly traps that killed thousands of animals. Covered on top with leaves that stuck to their surface, they deceived unwary herbivores and predators, absorbing them into a sticky quagmire.

Prehistoric Predators: Dog-Bear

Dogbears (aka amphicyonids) are active predators that were widespread in Turkey and Europe from 17 to 9 million years ago. These prehistoric predators got their name for the mixed features of a bear and a dog in their appearance, so scientists hesitated for a long time which group to classify the strange animals into. As a result, they were separated into a completely separate family. Dog-bears were stocky animals with short legs, a long body (about 3.5 meters), a huge head (the length of the skull was 83 cm), a one and a half meter tail and a weight of about 1 ton. Their approximate height was approximately 1.8 meters.

There is an opinion that the dog-bear led a semi-aquatic lifestyle and could live on sea coasts. The predator’s skull was vaguely similar to that of a crocodile, and its powerful jaws could bite through the bones and shell of a turtle. Its diet was varied: from small animals to large animals. The bear-dog, of course, was a hunter, but most often he was content with the role of a scavenger. He could calmly dine on a wounded but still living victim.

Deinosuchus - the largest crocodile on the planet

About 60 million years ago, the planet was inhabited by Deinosuchus (from Greek - “terrible crocodile”), which was about 12 meters long, 1.5 meters high, and weighed about 10 tons. The streamlined shape of the body provided it with high speed of movement in water and excellent maneuverability. On land, Deinosuchus became clumsy and moved jerkily along the earth's surface on curved thick legs.

Having a huge head (about 1.5 meters), massive wide jaws, large teeth designed for crushing, a back covered with armored bone plates and a thick tail, it fed on fish and large dinosaurs.

Haast's eagle - winged monster

The predator was able to grab and hold prey in flight, and the latter could be an order of magnitude larger than it. According to the legends of New Zealanders, these monsters with a red crest on their heads even kidnapped small children and killed people. Nests of winged prehistoric predators have been found 2 kilometers above the ground. The extinction of eagles caused the destruction of natural habitats and the disappearance of moa birds, which were hunted by settlers in New Zealand.

Terrestrial prehistoric bird fororacos

Megalodon - a huge shark

Millions of years ago, huge prehistoric predators also existed in the water element. Megalodon (“big tooth”) is a giant shark that had 5 rows of huge 20-centimeter teeth in the amount of about 300 pieces. The total length of this monster was about 20 meters, and its weight was supposedly 45 tons. What can we say about modern sharks feeding on seals if Megalodon hunted whales?

For many years, the teeth of this giant shark, found in rock formations, were mistaken for the remains of dragons. According to scientists, this animal became extinct due to oceanic hypothermia, falling sea levels and depletion of food sources.

Fororakos, aka "terrible bird" first appeared in South America 62 million years ago and existed for as long as 60 million years. It was a frighteningly effective predator - a huge flightless bird up to 3 m in height with a powerful beak and sharp claws, running at a speed of about 70 km/h.

The marsupial lion has no connections to modern lions other than the name. It lived in Australia and became extinct quite recently - some 30 thousand years ago. A relatively small predator - about 1.5 meters long and weighing 110 kg, it nevertheless skillfully dealt with prey thanks to its razor-sharp fangs and claws.

Amphicyon is a predator the size of a bear, but hunts like canids. This is where his English nickname comes from - “bear dog”. There were many species of amphicyons, the largest of which reached a height of 2.5 meters and a weight of 600 kg. Their jaws easily cut through even the strongest bones.

Archaeotherium, also known as the “hell pig,” lived 30 million years ago and really resembled modern pigs - only adjusted for a height of 1.2 meters, a length of 2 meters and a weight of up to 300 kg. According to genes, however, Archaeotherium is classified as the ancestor of hippopotamuses. Powerful jaws allowed him to both tear up the ground in search of roots and hunt small creatures.

The short-faced bear was one of the largest predators of the Ice Age, existing from 44 thousand to 12 thousand years ago. Reaching a size of 3.5 meters and weighing up to a ton, it could put even the most massive polar bears to flight. It was a formidable opponent for the first people, although, fortunately, it was mainly interested in larger prey.

Megalania is an Australian monitor lizard that went extinct about 40 thousand years ago. Measuring up to 9 meters and weighing two tons, it looked much more like real dragon than modern Komodos.

Basilosaurus, which translates as “royal lizard,” was in fact a mammal - a giant predatory whale up to 20 meters in length. At the beginning of the 19th century, its bones were found so often that they were sometimes used as furniture. But about 40 million years ago, the Basilosaurus terrified the seas and oceans of the planet, devouring any creatures smaller than itself in size.

Smilodon, also known as the “saber-toothed tiger,” is one of the iconic prehistoric predators. To use its huge 30-centimeter teeth, Smilodon could open its mouth 120 degrees. He hunted any representatives of megafauna - and died out along with them about 10 thousand years ago.

Andrewsarchus - presumably largest predator among terrestrial mammals, who lived in Asia about 40 million years ago. Of all the remains, only a skull was found - a huge size, 83 cm. Scientists argue whether Andrewsarchus was a tall and long animal or low and short, but with a hefty head. Most likely he hunted like crocodiles - jumping on prey from an ambush, perhaps even from the water.

Megalodon is a monstrous shark 16 meters long and weighing about 50 tons with 20 centimeter teeth. Existed 25 million years, died out 1.5 million years ago. Megalodon was one of the most massive and successful predators the Earth has ever known, eating any prey it could come across.

Prehistoric beasts of prey, birds, reptiles and sharks have entered into legends along with dinosaurs. Some even hunted our ancestors, who hunted them. Before you are ten of the most scary predators era of mammals.