Many of the prehistoric animals that have lived on Earth for millions of years have been affected by climate change or… first people They disappeared from our planet never to appear again, for example to kill them.

In fact, we cannot say that they are all lost. Because, as you will soon see, some descendants still walks among us!

First, let’s take a look at how we got to prehistoric animals.

Thanks to archaeological excavations by scientists, animals from prehistoric times bones, teeth and, albeit rare, preserved bodies. possible to reach.

This one of body parts Based on this, conclusions can be drawn about the types, sizes, feed types, the mutual relationships and what they look like. The animals we’ll be exploring soon are quite interesting.

Largest Armored Mammal: Gliptodon

Griptodon, also known as the giant armadillo, is estimated to have lived about 10,000 years ago. dinosaur size but he is a funny looking animal with turtle-like legs.

The habitat of this cute but scary mammal due to its size is the swamps of South Africa. With the arrival of the first humans both flesh and skin It is believed to have become extinct by hunting it.

The largest flying creature: Hatzegopteryx

Since the differences with the animal called Quetzalcoatlus, which is very similar to this species, cannot be precisely identified, both are considered to be the largest living creature that ever lived. Hatzegopteryx, reminiscent of the creatures from Harry Potter wing length and between 10-11 meters!

While there is no information about its weight, an estimate based on its height is thought to be several hundred kilograms. Known to live in Romania, Transylvania and the Hatzeg Basin, Hatzegopteryx stood on a rock much like a stork. with fish and small animals on land hunts.

Largest carnivorous mammal: Andrewsarkus

Andrewsarkus, who lived about 45 million years ago in what is now Inner Mongolia, foot fossil and skull comes to light. The size of the skull is huge, with a width of 56 cm and a length of 83 cm! Its body length is 3.4 meters from nose to pelvis while its height from ground to back is 1.8 meters.

minimum 1000 kg New fossils of Andrewsarkus, the largest carnivorous mammal to ever exist, have been sought for nearly 100 years. Also, the skull is currently on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

The largest monkey species: Gigantopithecus

With the discovery of the remains of Gigantopithecus big foot legends began to be spoken again. Some researchers have even gone out of their way to link Gigantopithecus to the Bigfoot Yeti, but images of the body disprove this assumption.

Classified as the largest of the monkey species, Gigantopithecus is estimated to average 3 meters. Although they are similar in size to their modern-day descendants, gorillas, their jaws are closer to those of orangutans. Gigantopithecus is thought to have lived in China, India and Vietnam; herbivore among animals.

Terrible Mammal: Deinotherium

The word meaning of Deinotherium, you can guess that elephants have grandfathers when you look at it “terrible beast”. Deinotherium, which lived in Africa and Eurasia about 20 million years ago, is known as herbivore.

The features that distinguish these elephants, which are 5 meters long and weigh 4-5 tons, from today’s elephants are their curved tusks that curve down from their jaws. Of the many theories about how they use their teeth, the most widely accepted is that these animals sleep on the banks of the river. put their teeth on the ground.

Largest Insect: Meganeura

Meganeura, who lived on our planet about 300 million years ago, dragonflies family member Don’t be fooled by what we call dragonflies, Meganeura insect wing lengths are between 65-75 cm!

Although this insect, discovered in 1880, is believed to have fed on other insects such as today’s dragonflies, sizes Given this, it is estimated that there are other varieties on their menu.

The most ferocious predator in the Age of Pisces: Dunkleosteus

Dunkleosteus was born from a shallow sea that covered Ohio 358 million years ago. was the ruler. This arthropod fish, which measures 6 meters in length and weighs more than 1 ton, has self-sharpening tooth-like projections next to its massive skull made up of thick, bony plates.

The wildest and most ferocious Dunkleosteus, one of the animals, has characteristics that can capture even prehistoric sharks. His bones are currently on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Ohio.

• Resources: ToughtCo, Prehistoric Wildlife, Prehistoric Fauna, Geology Page, Cleveland Museum of Natural History