They are much stronger and more dangerous than many modern predators.
Once at the zoo next to the lions and tigers, involuntarily start to panic out of fear, despite the fact that we are safely protected by a cage. These terrible creatures look really big, ferocious and wild, that shudder just the thought that someday we may find ourselves in their habitats and meet them face to face without preparation and therefore without a chance of survival!
Scary? Can you imagine how on Earth the predators, who took great pleasure ready to grab in our neck? Indeed, becoming a higher being and being the biggest predator on Earth, we are not able to survive among the predators in equal battle, without weapons and other special means.
However, all modern carnivores in comparison with the monsters pre-human times seem to be only rabbits. After all, millions of years ago, our planet was inhabited by such a powerful and ferocious beasts that modern predators at that time would become the prey.
We offer you 10 of the scariest monsters that lived on our planet.
1. Reconocio (eurypterida)
These giant arthropods were like a horrible hybrid of lobster and a Scorpion. In length, this “charm” can reach up to 2 meters. Merostomes existed during Paleozoic period. Early types of eurypterids lived in shallow marine, and then managed to adapt to fresh water. Scientists suggest that the merostomes were most likely scavengers and not a full-fledged predators, but this fact is not particularly comforting. If these little creatures managed to survive to the present days, it is unlikely that the rest of the sea and the fishing would be so popular.
2. Helicoprion
Ancestor of modern sharks lived in the Carboniferous and Permian era. These fish are unique in their dental spiral that reached a diameter of 90 centimeters. As a whole skeleton of helicoprion has not been found, scientists are still wondering exactly how this spiral was located. I assume that it was fitted with a lower jaw of the fish, which had the form of a circular saw. Or spiral was located in the area of the pharynx and the outside was invisible. In any case, helicoprion look intimidating, and on their background, eclipsed even the most terrible pictures of the underwater world.
3. Dunkleosteus
This fossil armored fish lived in the Devonian period and was the largest marine predator of its time. The size of her head was over a meter, and the length of the body according to scientists ‘ estimates ranged from 6 to 20 meters. Instead of teeth, the dunkleosteus had bone plates that can crush the shells of their prey. The pressure of the jaw of dunkleosteus is comparable to the bite of crocodiles present. He could also open the jaws for only 1/50 of a second, just sucking the prey in his mouth a stream of water.
4. Quetzalcoatl
The largest of the pterosaurs were named in honor of the eponymous deity of the Aztecs. Since a complete set of bones of Quetzalcoatl have not been discovered, estimates of its size and way of life differ. The length of this lizard was about 10 meters, the estimated wingspan ranges from 11 to 16 meters, and weight of body from 65 to 250 pounds. According to an earlier version, Quetzalcoatl was able to perfectly fly and fed on fish or small vertebrates and carrion. Maybe he could catch 30-pound dinosaur. Now inclined to believe that with such dimensions Quetzalcoatl could not rise into the air, and gathering food, moving about the earth.
5. Argentavis
Argentavis magnificens means “magnificent Argentine bird”. It is the biggest ever feathered. The size of argentavis is comparable to a small aircraft. Its wingspan reached 7 meters, which is twice more than that of the largest present-day birds. Scientists suggest that argentavis hunt big rodents, falling on top of them, stunning, and swallowing prey whole.
6. Phororacos (terrible bird)
These birds lived during the Miocene in South America and considered it the largest predators. Phororacos could not fly, but perfectly able to run like today’s ostriches. Terrible birds reached 2.5 meters in height and weighed about 300 pounds. Were armed with large powerful claws and a curved beak with which they could kill and devour prey the size of a sheep!
7. Andrzej
This is a giant predatory mammals lived in the age of middle and late Eocene. Now this may seem strange, but indrasari were primitive ungulates, close to the ancestors of modern whales and artiodactyls. The body length of these creatures was about 4 meters and weight can reach a ton. Assume that indrasari could be omnivorous, as the present bears, and ate not only the young brontotheres, but also on carrion or even plant food. However, many scientists believe andrzejow the large, predatory mammals.
8. Megistotherium
Another contender for the title of largest carnivorous mammal. Magisterii lived in the early and middle Miocene. These animals could reach 4 meters in length and 2 metres at the withers and weighed more than a ton. Latin name of the animal Megistotherium osteothlastes has occurred from the Greek words “the greatest beast” and “crush the bones”. These names speak for themselves.
9. The marsupial saber-toothed tiger (telecoil)
Telecosmic lived during the Miocene in South America. Its main feature was a huge ever-growing upper canines, as well as the protective blades on the upper jaw. Size comcastui saber-toothed tiger was similar to the current jaguars and hunted large herbivores.
10. Giant short faced bear
The largest ever bears. He lived in the era of icing and was considered one of the largest predatory mammals of the time. The body length of this bear was about 3.5 meters, and the weight could exceed a ton. Unlike modern bears, he had jaws that were more suited for eating flesh. It is believed that the giant short faced bear was a full-fledged carnivore and hunted horses, reindeer, bison, and camels.
