Earth has been home to countless animal species throughout its history, and although many have become extinct, some of them still exist in our imagination today. These extinct animals once dominated the planet, terrorizing other creatures and dominating their respective ecosystems. From giant prehistoric predators to giant armored beasts, these animals have left a lasting legacy on our world.
In this article, we will take a look at the 10 most dangerous extinct animals that have ever existed on earth. From prehistoric sharks to giant dinosaurs, these animals are true forces to be reckoned with.
Let’s take a look at these dangerous beasts.
Top 10 most dangerous extinct animals
Below is a list of the 10 most dangerous extinct animals that ever dominated the earth:
1. Megalodon
Source: National Museum of History
Megalodon, or Meg, was a giant prehistoric shark that was the fiercest predator to ever live on Earth. At up to 60 feet long and weighing more than 50 tons, the Meg is one of the largest creatures to ever roam the oceans. During the Miocene and Pliocene, Megalodon was a devil of the sea, preying on a variety of other marine life including whales, dolphins and seals. The giant prehistoric shark Megalodon became extinct more than 3.6 million years ago.
2. Tyrannosaurus Rex
Source: Discovery Magazine
Tyrannosaurus Rex, or simply T-Rex, was one of the largest and most dangerous carnivorous dinosaurs that lived during the late Cretaceous period. It was a giant predator, estimated to weigh up to 6.8 tons and grow up to 12 meters long. Despite its enormous size, T. rex had very fast legs and its bite force was strong enough to break bones. This combination of size, speed and strength made T Rex the ultimate predator. Giant dinosaurs became extinct more than 65 million years ago.
3. Smilodon (smilodon)
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Smilodon, also known as the saber-toothed tiger, was a large predatory cat that lived in North and South America during the Pleistocene period. Smilodon was a large predatory cat that lived in North and South America during the Pleistocene period. It was characterized by a long canine tooth and powerful jaws used to take down large prey such as horses, bison and even mammoths. This is one of the most famous extinct mammals. Despite their similar appearance, Smilodon is not related to modern tigers and cats. Its large size and ferocious hunting style made Smilodon one of the most dangerous predators of its time. This monster became extinct about 10,000 years ago.
4. Teratornis
Source: Mark Witton’s blog
Teratornis is a giant bird of prey with a wingspan of up to 20 feet. Found in the Americas during the Pleistocene, this giant bird creature was an impressive sight and with its formidable wingspan, it could hunt large mammals. At the end of the Pleistocene period, about 10,000 years ago, giant birds became extinct.
5. Quetzalcoatlus
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
Quetzalcoatlus was a large pterosaur that lived during the late Cretaceous period. Advanced toothless lizards of the family Azhdarchidae, including Quetzalcoatlus, have unusually long and stiff necks. This lizard is believed to be one of the largest animals to have ever flown, with its wingspan estimated to be 10–11 meters wide. This allowed them to consume food in areas inaccessible to their contemporaries, and their large wings enabled them to move great distances without expending much energy. This beast became extinct about 65 million years ago.
6. Dunkleosteus
Source: DinoAnimals.com
Dunkleosteus is a giant armored fish that lived in the Devonian period. Believed to be the first true apex predator of its time, Dunkleosteus was over 8 meters long and had extremely strong jaws capable of crushing shells and bones. It was the largest vertebrate animal of its time. The armored apex predator went extinct more than 358 million years ago.
7. Titanoboa
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
Titanoboa is a giant snake that lived in South America during the Paleocene and is the largest snake ever discovered. The snake grows up to 50 feet long and weighs more than 2,500 pounds. The giant predator became extinct 60 million years ago.
8. Sarcosuchus
Source: Extinct animals. organization
Sarcosuchus was a giant prehistoric relative of the crocodile that lived about 112 million years ago. It is a giant reptile with an average length of 10 to 11 meters, weighs up to 8 tons and has razor-sharp teeth. Sarcosuchus was a formidable creature, not only because of its size and strength but also because of its remarkable adaptability. It is an enemy of many large animals. Giant reptiles became extinct 10 million years ago.
9. Helicopter
Source: National Geographic
Helicoprion was an ancient predator with deadly jaws that lived from the early Permian to the early Triassic period. Its name comes from the Greek words helios, meaning “spiral”, and prion, meaning “saw”. It is believed to have curved, spiral-shaped jaws consisting of hundreds of teeth that could be up to 3 meters long.
10. Deinonychus
Source: Wikipedia
Deinonychus was a large, fast-moving dinosaur with large, sharp claws on its feet. It is an impressive predator, about 3.4 meters long. Its claws can be used to catch and tear apart prey, while its size and speed allow it to hunt larger animals. Deinonychus had an unusually large brain, suggesting it was highly intelligent and adaptive. This combination of characteristics made Deinonychus an impressive and formidable predator, giving it an important role in the ecosystem of its time. This formidable predator became extinct about 115 million years ago.
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The 10 animals mentioned above were the greatest predators of their time. They are fierce hunters, able to take down the most capable of prey through their strength, speed, and agility. These animals play an important role in shaping the world’s ecosystem. Although their existence may now only be known through fossils and remains, their impact on the environment and the evolution of other species will always be remembered. It serves as a reminder of the fragility of life on this planet and the importance of preserving the diversity of species that still exists today.
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