12 Giant Prehistoric Critters
12 Giant Prehistoric Critters
From the abnormal huge shrimp creature, to the biggest elephant ever, these are 12 GIANT prehistoric critters.
Fossils of a monster sea scorpion’s claw were first discovered in a German quarry in 2007. Identified as J.rhenaniae, the creature was active some 390 million years ago, and thought to have gone extinct 250 million years ago.
The creature is thought to have measured 8 feet in length, and a single pincer was over 18 inches long. In effect, you had a sea scorpion that was the size of a crocodile. Those dimensions make it bigger than a group called eurypterids, a group of previously known sea scorpions, that are the relatives of today’s land spiders and scorpions.
The J.rhenaniae (ren-uh-nee-uh) fossil is the largest arthropod yet discovered. Today, lobsters and spider-crabs are the largest living arthropods. They likely wouldn’t have whetted the appetite of J.rhenaniae!
Enormous Centipede
Known as Arthropleura (ar-throw-ploo-ra), this was an ancestor to both millipedes and centipedes, living some 300 million years ago. Its fossils have been located across areas now identified as North America and Scotland.
It was similar to the modern centipede, except it was more than 8 feet long! Compare that to today’s centipede which measures about 10 inches long … something of a size difference.
Even so, the modern day centipede is known to feast on bats, snakes and birds. No, think about a centipede more than 3 feet long … what would a creature that big prey on? Interestingly, for its massive size, this giant bug was a complete herbivore, based on evidence of its fossilized stomach remnants.
Quetzalcoatlus (ket-zal-ko-ah-tal-us)
This huge, prehistoric bird lived between 70-65 million years ago, and was discovered in North America.
The first fossils were found by a geology grad student in 1971 at Big Bend National Park in Texas. That relic dated back some 68 million years
The creature weighed up to 300 pounds and had a wingspan of 30 feet. It was named after Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec god. Aren’t you glad these big birds are gone? If you thought pigeons were a problem ...
Elasmosaurus (el-az-moe-soar-us)
The creature was first described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1868, from a fossil discovered in Kansas. Other specimens of the creature have been found in North America, and lived over 80 million years ago.
Over 46 feet in length and weighing over 4400 pounds, Elasmosaurus was the largest of the plesiosaurs (pleh-see-o-soars). It was thought to be a slow swimmer and preyed on schools of fish.
Identified by its signature long neck, some people think this creature might still be alive and well, and residing in Scotland … Ever hear of the Loch Ness Monster?
Thought to have lived some 34 million years ago, this is considered the ancestor of today’s whales and porpoises. The first fossils of the creature were discovered in the United States, and during the early 19th century were so common they were often used as furniture in the South.
Basilosaurus had seal-like flippers and a long tail. A typical size was between 40 to 65 feet long, about the size of a small ship!
The name “Basilosaurus” means ‘king lizard’ in Latin. That’s because the creatures remains were were initially mistaken for those of a dinosaur. Because a complete skeleton has never been unearthed, the real appearance of this animal is unknown
Megalania Prisca
Megalania prisca means “ancient great roamer” and was coined by Sir Richard Owen in 1859. It’s also known as the Giant Ripper Lizard, and is thought to have disappeared some 50,000 years ago.
The Komodo Dragon is the world’s largest reptile … but its ancient ancestor, the Megalania would have dwarfed it. This was a large monitor lizard, and its exact proportions have been a source of debate. But recent research reveals the animal was around 23 feet long and weighed up to 1400 pounds. That would make it the largest terrestrial lizard that ever lived.
Because it had oral glands that could secrete a toxin,that would also make it the largest venomous vertebrate that ever existed. It’s thought that Australia’s early aboriginal settlers might have encountered them.
Short Faced Bear
Inhabiting North America, it was especially abundant in what is now California, up to 11,000 years ago. In 2011, a short-faced bear was found in South America that is thought to be the largest of its kind. The South American bear existed around 500,000 to 2 million years ago. That skeleton was discovered in Argentina in 1935.
This bear weighed up to 3500 pounds and measured at least 11 feet when standing. That would make it bigger than the average bear if not smarter!
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From the abnormal huge shrimp creature, to the biggest elephant ever, these are 12 GIANT prehistoric critters.
Fossils of a monster sea scorpion’s claw were first discovered in a German quarry in 2007. Identified as J.rhenaniae, the creature was active some 390 million years ago, and thought to have gone extinct 250 million years ago.
The creature is thought to have measured 8 feet in length, and a single pincer was over 18 inches long. In effect, you had a sea scorpion that was the size of a crocodile. Those dimensions make it bigger than a group called eurypterids, a group of previously known sea scorpions, that are the relatives of today’s land spiders and scorpions.
The J.rhenaniae (ren-uh-nee-uh) fossil is the largest arthropod yet discovered. Today, lobsters and spider-crabs are the largest living arthropods. They likely wouldn’t have whetted the appetite of J.rhenaniae!
Enormous Centipede
Known as Arthropleura (ar-throw-ploo-ra), this was an ancestor to both millipedes and centipedes, living some 300 million years ago. Its fossils have been located across areas now identified as North America and Scotland.
It was similar to the modern centipede, except it was more than 8 feet long! Compare that to today’s centipede which measures about 10 inches long … something of a size difference.
Even so, the modern day centipede is known to feast on bats, snakes and birds. No, think about a centipede more than 3 feet long … what would a creature that big prey on? Interestingly, for its massive size, this giant bug was a complete herbivore, based on evidence of its fossilized stomach remnants.
Quetzalcoatlus (ket-zal-ko-ah-tal-us)
This huge, prehistoric bird lived between 70-65 million years ago, and was discovered in North America.
The first fossils were found by a geology grad student in 1971 at Big Bend National Park in Texas. That relic dated back some 68 million years
The creature weighed up to 300 pounds and had a wingspan of 30 feet. It was named after Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec god. Aren’t you glad these big birds are gone? If you thought pigeons were a problem ...
Elasmosaurus (el-az-moe-soar-us)
The creature was first described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1868, from a fossil discovered in Kansas. Other specimens of the creature have been found in North America, and lived over 80 million years ago.
Over 46 feet in length and weighing over 4400 pounds, Elasmosaurus was the largest of the plesiosaurs (pleh-see-o-soars). It was thought to be a slow swimmer and preyed on schools of fish.
Identified by its signature long neck, some people think this creature might still be alive and well, and residing in Scotland … Ever hear of the Loch Ness Monster?
Thought to have lived some 34 million years ago, this is considered the ancestor of today’s whales and porpoises. The first fossils of the creature were discovered in the United States, and during the early 19th century were so common they were often used as furniture in the South.
Basilosaurus had seal-like flippers and a long tail. A typical size was between 40 to 65 feet long, about the size of a small ship!
The name “Basilosaurus” means ‘king lizard’ in Latin. That’s because the creatures remains were were initially mistaken for those of a dinosaur. Because a complete skeleton has never been unearthed, the real appearance of this animal is unknown
Megalania Prisca
Megalania prisca means “ancient great roamer” and was coined by Sir Richard Owen in 1859. It’s also known as the Giant Ripper Lizard, and is thought to have disappeared some 50,000 years ago.
The Komodo Dragon is the world’s largest reptile … but its ancient ancestor, the Megalania would have dwarfed it. This was a large monitor lizard, and its exact proportions have been a source of debate. But recent research reveals the animal was around 23 feet long and weighed up to 1400 pounds. That would make it the largest terrestrial lizard that ever lived.
Because it had oral glands that could secrete a toxin,that would also make it the largest venomous vertebrate that ever existed. It’s thought that Australia’s early aboriginal settlers might have encountered them.
Short Faced Bear
Inhabiting North America, it was especially abundant in what is now California, up to 11,000 years ago. In 2011, a short-faced bear was found in South America that is thought to be the largest of its kind. The South American bear existed around 500,000 to 2 million years ago. That skeleton was discovered in Argentina in 1935.
This bear weighed up to 3500 pounds and measured at least 11 feet when standing. That would make it bigger than the average bear if not smarter!
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