10 WEIRDEST Aquatic Prehistoric Creatures
10 WEIRDEST Aquatic Prehistoric Creatures
SPOILER ALERT!!! A condensed list is below:
➢10. Dunkleosteus
This genus included some of the largest armoured-jaw fishes that ever existed, with a bite force many time stronger than the T-rex ! They were one of the fiercest predators in the ocean and you wouldn't have thought it from the pictures, but they are thought to measure up to 10 meters long and 1000 kilos in weight. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/dunkleosteus10
➢9. Anomalocaris
Despite its rather laughable appearance, this creature is thought to have been a top predator during its time. Its name appropriately means 'Abnormal shrimp' and it is claimed to have reached up to 2 meters in length which was a gigantic size during the time when it existed. Its whisker like limbs were also covered with razor sharp teeth to grab prey. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/anomalocaris09
➢8. Hallucigenia
Named after its 'bizarre and dream-like qualities', this creature still perplexes scientists and is believed to have lived around 505 million years ago. It had 7-8 pairs of legs equipped with claws and it also had spikes on its back for unknown reasons. In case you're wondering whether you're looking at its head or backside, well... sorry, nobody can help you there, even zoologists are unsure. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/hallucigenia08
➢7. Aegirocassis
This genus lived 480 million years ago and is known by a single species called Aegirocassis benmoulai which was only found last year in Morocco. At just over seven feet in length it's pretty long and has helped to provide key evidence about the early evolution of arthropods. Its as amazing as it is weird, with modified legs, gills on its back, and it is considered the oceans first filter-feeding giant. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/aegirocassis
➢6. Helicoprion
This shark-like fish had a strange lower jaw which has puzzled scientists for centuries. It was thought that its teeth formed a sort of 'tooth-whorl', spinning around a spiral-like jaw. However, recent studies have provided evidence to suggest that they form more of a circular saw inside the mouth, rotating as the jaw closes to slice through its prey. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/helicoprion07
➢5. Tanystropheus
I know what you're thinking - what the neck is that? It's basically the Giraffe of the middle triassic period, dating back to 232 million years ago. For the shrewd of you that noticed, that means that like a lot of creatures in this video it actually lived BEFORE the dinosaurs. It wasn't a fast swimmer so often walked along the seabed and used its long neck to get within range of prey without being noticed. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/tanystropheus06
➢4. Leedsichthys
Perhaps the largest bony fish that ever lived, this creature was even bigger than the megalodon! Whats especially weird is that despite its fearsome size, it was a harmless filter feeder rather than a hunter, much like the basking shark. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/leedsichthys
➢3. Stethacanthus
This ancient genus of sharks lived around 360 million years ago and was relatively small. Still, its best known for that strange ironing board on its back. That dorsal fin is thought to frighten predators... but it probably just made them laugh. The uneven textures on its head and fin may also be a predator deterrent but it has also been suggested that these horny beasts could've used them in mating rituals... ouch? Credit: http://fur.ly/0/stethacanthus05
➢2. Jaekelopterus
This extinct species of sea scorpions was identified after a 390-million-year-old specimen was found in a Germany. They're believed to have had an estimated length of 2.5 meters, being one of the largest arthropods found on earth. Although dubbed a “sea scorpion,” they're actually are thought to have lived in freshwater rivers and lakes. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/jaekelopterus
➢1. Opabinia
If an alien species has ever roamed the earth, this must have been it. It had surreal features such as a lobster-like tentacle equipped with a claw as well as five eyes and 30 flippers. The weird appendage is thought to have been used to feed the mouth under its head like aliens do in the movies. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/opabinia ...
SPOILER ALERT!!! A condensed list is below:
➢10. Dunkleosteus
This genus included some of the largest armoured-jaw fishes that ever existed, with a bite force many time stronger than the T-rex ! They were one of the fiercest predators in the ocean and you wouldn't have thought it from the pictures, but they are thought to measure up to 10 meters long and 1000 kilos in weight. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/dunkleosteus10
➢9. Anomalocaris
Despite its rather laughable appearance, this creature is thought to have been a top predator during its time. Its name appropriately means 'Abnormal shrimp' and it is claimed to have reached up to 2 meters in length which was a gigantic size during the time when it existed. Its whisker like limbs were also covered with razor sharp teeth to grab prey. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/anomalocaris09
➢8. Hallucigenia
Named after its 'bizarre and dream-like qualities', this creature still perplexes scientists and is believed to have lived around 505 million years ago. It had 7-8 pairs of legs equipped with claws and it also had spikes on its back for unknown reasons. In case you're wondering whether you're looking at its head or backside, well... sorry, nobody can help you there, even zoologists are unsure. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/hallucigenia08
➢7. Aegirocassis
This genus lived 480 million years ago and is known by a single species called Aegirocassis benmoulai which was only found last year in Morocco. At just over seven feet in length it's pretty long and has helped to provide key evidence about the early evolution of arthropods. Its as amazing as it is weird, with modified legs, gills on its back, and it is considered the oceans first filter-feeding giant. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/aegirocassis
➢6. Helicoprion
This shark-like fish had a strange lower jaw which has puzzled scientists for centuries. It was thought that its teeth formed a sort of 'tooth-whorl', spinning around a spiral-like jaw. However, recent studies have provided evidence to suggest that they form more of a circular saw inside the mouth, rotating as the jaw closes to slice through its prey. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/helicoprion07
➢5. Tanystropheus
I know what you're thinking - what the neck is that? It's basically the Giraffe of the middle triassic period, dating back to 232 million years ago. For the shrewd of you that noticed, that means that like a lot of creatures in this video it actually lived BEFORE the dinosaurs. It wasn't a fast swimmer so often walked along the seabed and used its long neck to get within range of prey without being noticed. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/tanystropheus06
➢4. Leedsichthys
Perhaps the largest bony fish that ever lived, this creature was even bigger than the megalodon! Whats especially weird is that despite its fearsome size, it was a harmless filter feeder rather than a hunter, much like the basking shark. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/leedsichthys
➢3. Stethacanthus
This ancient genus of sharks lived around 360 million years ago and was relatively small. Still, its best known for that strange ironing board on its back. That dorsal fin is thought to frighten predators... but it probably just made them laugh. The uneven textures on its head and fin may also be a predator deterrent but it has also been suggested that these horny beasts could've used them in mating rituals... ouch? Credit: http://fur.ly/0/stethacanthus05
➢2. Jaekelopterus
This extinct species of sea scorpions was identified after a 390-million-year-old specimen was found in a Germany. They're believed to have had an estimated length of 2.5 meters, being one of the largest arthropods found on earth. Although dubbed a “sea scorpion,” they're actually are thought to have lived in freshwater rivers and lakes. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/jaekelopterus
➢1. Opabinia
If an alien species has ever roamed the earth, this must have been it. It had surreal features such as a lobster-like tentacle equipped with a claw as well as five eyes and 30 flippers. The weird appendage is thought to have been used to feed the mouth under its head like aliens do in the movies. Credit: http://fur.ly/0/opabinia ...
0 comments for "10 WEIRDEST Aquatic Prehistoric Creatures "