Five Primeval Predators You Are Glad They Are Extinct
#5 Titanoboa
The name alone should be enough to send chills down your spine. As you might have guessed it,
Titanoboa was a snake and not just another type of snake you see on the discovery channel. Titanoboa
was the largest snake ever. It lived roughly 60 million years ago. It's weight was that of a small car, about
1.2 tonnes and it reached length up to 15 meters (49.2 ft).
The main reason for the enormous size of Titanoboa was the climate in the tropical environment in which
it lived. Scientists approximate the temperature around 30 °C (90 °F)
Titanoboa was discovered on an expedition by a team of international scientists. They couldn't believe
their eyes when they dug up the fossils. Prior to the discovery of these fossils it was considered mere
fantasy to even speculate in scientific terms the existence of snakes with the caliber of Titanoboa.
#4 Predator X
This monster is a giant extinct type of lizard that lived roughly 147 million years ago.
It's official genus is known as "Pliosaurus" which means "more lizard". It's weigh is estimated to be 45
tonnes and in length up to 15 meters (49 ft). It's teeth were 30 cm long (12 in). But forget about it's long
teeth (if you can). Models of it's jaw revealed that it had an opening of 2 meters. Which means it could
swallow a human adult whole.
Most species of the genus Pliosaurus are notably large but Predator X (discovered in Svalbard islands of
northern Europe) is thought to be the largest of it's genus. It's large triangular teeth in cross section
suggest it's diet would consist of large fish and even marine reptiles. Predator X cruised the ancient
waters using only two fore-flippers. It's back pair flippers were only used to gain speed before it
unleashed it's deadly jaws on it's prey.
#3 Spinosaurus
Meet the creature that resembles a fantasy dragon. Spinosaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur, that
lived in what is now, North Africa. The remains of this creature, were first discovered in 1912 in Egypt.
But paleontologists, have to work with replicas of this ancient dinosaur, because the original remains
were destroyed in World War II.
Spinosaurus was 18 meters long, and weighed about 9 tonnes. These primeval creatures lived about
106 million years ago. Nothing at this point can be sure about the diet, as it is unclear whether
Spinosaurus was primarily, a terrestrial predator or a piscivore, as indicated by its elongated jaws,
conical teeth and raised nostrils. But one thing remains for certain. When Spinosaurus was hungry, it's
prey didn't even know what hit them.
#2 Tyrannosaurus-Rex
This beast needs no introduction. It is the symbol of terror of every Hollywood movie about ancient
predators. It was truly the apex predator of his time with no competition until it's extinction 65 million
years ago.
The word Tyrannosaurus means Tyrant lizard and Rex means King. You put those fitting words together
and you get the icon of the movie "Jurassic Park". T-Rex was 13 meters (42.65 ft) long and weighed
about 8 tonnes. Tyrannosaurus was a bipedal carnivore with a massive skull balanced by a long, heavy
tail.
As is often said every hero has an Achilles heel, much debate and satire is made of the T-Rex forelimbs
as they are often described as "useless". It is suggested that the T-Rex used its short forelimbs to help it
rise from a resting pose, to help the T-Rex balance while running and chasing down prey etc.
Since it's discovery, Tyrannosaurus-Rex is the only dinosaur that is commonly known to the general
public by its full scientific name. It truly made a mark in culture especially in movies but hey, we are glad
it became extinct!
#1 Megalodon
Megalodon is the shark sent from hell. It was the most successful apex predator of all times. Megalodon
means "big tooth" and there couldn't be a more fitting name for this magnificent creature. It is regarded
as one of the largest and most powerful predators in vertebrate history. Imagine a great white shark but
it's size longer than a school bus, that is Megalodon. It reached 18 meters (59 ft) in length and weighed
a whopping 70 tonnes.
Lucky for us Megalodon went extinct nearly 25 to 1.5 million years ago. Despite controversial claims
made by Discovery Channel special shark week implying that Megalodon still lurks the deep ocean's
waters today. While it remains true that we know more about the surface of moon than the surface of the
ocean, we are all glad to know there is no evidence to suggest Megalodon, the killer machine is still alive
today.
The name alone should be enough to send chills down your spine. As you might have guessed it,
Titanoboa was a snake and not just another type of snake you see on the discovery channel. Titanoboa
was the largest snake ever. It lived roughly 60 million years ago. It's weight was that of a small car, about
1.2 tonnes and it reached length up to 15 meters (49.2 ft).
The main reason for the enormous size of Titanoboa was the climate in the tropical environment in which
it lived. Scientists approximate the temperature around 30 °C (90 °F)
Titanoboa was discovered on an expedition by a team of international scientists. They couldn't believe
their eyes when they dug up the fossils. Prior to the discovery of these fossils it was considered mere
fantasy to even speculate in scientific terms the existence of snakes with the caliber of Titanoboa.
#4 Predator X
This monster is a giant extinct type of lizard that lived roughly 147 million years ago.
It's official genus is known as "Pliosaurus" which means "more lizard". It's weigh is estimated to be 45
tonnes and in length up to 15 meters (49 ft). It's teeth were 30 cm long (12 in). But forget about it's long
teeth (if you can). Models of it's jaw revealed that it had an opening of 2 meters. Which means it could
swallow a human adult whole.
Most species of the genus Pliosaurus are notably large but Predator X (discovered in Svalbard islands of
northern Europe) is thought to be the largest of it's genus. It's large triangular teeth in cross section
suggest it's diet would consist of large fish and even marine reptiles. Predator X cruised the ancient
waters using only two fore-flippers. It's back pair flippers were only used to gain speed before it
unleashed it's deadly jaws on it's prey.
#3 Spinosaurus
Meet the creature that resembles a fantasy dragon. Spinosaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur, that
lived in what is now, North Africa. The remains of this creature, were first discovered in 1912 in Egypt.
But paleontologists, have to work with replicas of this ancient dinosaur, because the original remains
were destroyed in World War II.
Spinosaurus was 18 meters long, and weighed about 9 tonnes. These primeval creatures lived about
106 million years ago. Nothing at this point can be sure about the diet, as it is unclear whether
Spinosaurus was primarily, a terrestrial predator or a piscivore, as indicated by its elongated jaws,
conical teeth and raised nostrils. But one thing remains for certain. When Spinosaurus was hungry, it's
prey didn't even know what hit them.
#2 Tyrannosaurus-Rex
This beast needs no introduction. It is the symbol of terror of every Hollywood movie about ancient
predators. It was truly the apex predator of his time with no competition until it's extinction 65 million
years ago.
The word Tyrannosaurus means Tyrant lizard and Rex means King. You put those fitting words together
and you get the icon of the movie "Jurassic Park". T-Rex was 13 meters (42.65 ft) long and weighed
about 8 tonnes. Tyrannosaurus was a bipedal carnivore with a massive skull balanced by a long, heavy
tail.
As is often said every hero has an Achilles heel, much debate and satire is made of the T-Rex forelimbs
as they are often described as "useless". It is suggested that the T-Rex used its short forelimbs to help it
rise from a resting pose, to help the T-Rex balance while running and chasing down prey etc.
Since it's discovery, Tyrannosaurus-Rex is the only dinosaur that is commonly known to the general
public by its full scientific name. It truly made a mark in culture especially in movies but hey, we are glad
it became extinct!
#1 Megalodon
Megalodon is the shark sent from hell. It was the most successful apex predator of all times. Megalodon
means "big tooth" and there couldn't be a more fitting name for this magnificent creature. It is regarded
as one of the largest and most powerful predators in vertebrate history. Imagine a great white shark but
it's size longer than a school bus, that is Megalodon. It reached 18 meters (59 ft) in length and weighed
a whopping 70 tonnes.
Lucky for us Megalodon went extinct nearly 25 to 1.5 million years ago. Despite controversial claims
made by Discovery Channel special shark week implying that Megalodon still lurks the deep ocean's
waters today. While it remains true that we know more about the surface of moon than the surface of the
ocean, we are all glad to know there is no evidence to suggest Megalodon, the killer machine is still alive
today.
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