Rats the size of cows and crocodiles as large as… dinosaurs are monsters that no one wants to encounter today.
Top Extinct Animals That Make Humanity Feel Grateful
Over hundreds of millions of years, many species on Earth have gone extinct for various reasons. However, many of these are “monsters” for which we must silently… thank nature for their extinction.
1. Giant Snake Over 15 Meters Long and Weighing 1 Ton
About 60 million years ago, after the extinction of the dinosaurs, the Titanoboa emerged as the largest and most ferocious predator on the planet.
These snakes had an average length of 15 meters and weighed over 1 ton, with a massive amount of muscle capable of crushing any prey. In comparison, today’s legendary anaconda has only been recorded at a length of 11 meters.
2. Dragonfly Half a Meter Long
Modern dragonflies are harmless and cute creatures. However, during the Carboniferous period about 300 million years ago, their ancestors – the Meganeura – were monstrous insects with a wingspan of half a meter.
Imagine needing a… tennis racket to fend off these “monsters” when they fly into your house.
3. Rats the Size of Cows
Rats are certainly a nightmare for many, and it would be even more terrifying if they were the size of… cows.
About 8 million years ago, there was a rat species called Phoberomys pattersoni. Fossil evidence shows that they were over 3 meters long, with a tail about 1.5 meters long.
As a giant rodent, can you imagine the terrifying bite of Phoberomys pattersoni? Given that modern rats have very sharp teeth, with a bite force of nearly 1 ton per cm².
4. Bears Twice the Height of Average Humans
Bears are already impressive creatures in size. However, a brown bear (the largest bear today) only reaches about 2.8 – 3 meters in body length.
But just 11,000 years ago, there was a bear species that stood up to 4 meters tall, more than twice the height of an average human. This species is known as the short-faced bear.
Scientists indicate that this was a ferocious carnivorous species, about 50% larger than the largest polar bears today. Each day, this bear needed to consume around 15 kg of fresh meat.
Piranha the Size of a Surfboard
Piranhas remain ruthless predators in the Amazon River (South America). Reports indicate that a school of piranhas can strip the flesh off a cow in just… 15 minutes.
However, modern piranhas are relatively small, measuring only about 15 – 26 cm in length. In contrast, around 10 million years ago, their ancestors – the Megapiranha – reached lengths of up to… 1 meter, comparable to a modern surfboard.
It’s hard to imagine how other creatures could coexist in the same waters with such monstrous fish, right?
6. Sharks that Make Today’s Great White Look Like a Goldfish
Indeed. The enormous great white shark, the largest shark today, only reaches a maximum size of 6 meters. Meanwhile, the Megalodon, which appeared 15 million years ago, could grow up to 18 meters, making the great white shark look pitiful by comparison.
The teeth of the great white shark are like… baby teeth compared to their ancestors.
Megalodon is also known as the most fearsome predator to have ever existed.
7. Crocodiles the Size of Tyrannosaurus Rex
The Deinosuchus genus of crocodiles lived about 80 million years ago. Their name means “terrifying crocodile.”
Deinosuchus measured about 10 meters, slightly smaller than a Tyrannosaurus Rex (12 meters). However, fossils of dangerous dinosaurs, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex, bear… bite marks from this crocodile species, indicating their ferocity was quite… overwhelming.
8. “Skull-Crushing” Birds the Size of Watermelons
This refers to the Phorusrhacidae – known as the terror birds, which appeared over 60 million years ago. True to their name, they were birds that spread terror.
These birds could reach heights of up to 3 meters and were fierce predators. They had extremely strong and sharp beaks, along with large bodies that allowed them to knock down enemies and… crush their skulls.
