Hipporex's Guide to Interesting and Unique Prehistoric Fauna

[Mr. Zootycoon]

But there was also the 3 foot (9.1 meter) tall Flores "hobbit" (Homo floresiensis)

I always thought floresciensis was an example of island dwarfism instead of gigantism.

 

[Hipporex]

I'm really enjoying your series, but as an American I must say
1.8 m humans weighing 83 kg barely compute. haha

Yeah as an American as well I wish there was more size comparisons using feet and pounds but I suppose that's what happens when your country says "screw you" to the rest of the world "we're using our own measurement system"

I always thought floresciensis was an example of island dwarfism instead of gigantism.

Clearly you've been mislead

 

[Daktari JG]

It just seems odd to have a
5' 10.8" guy weighing 182.6 lbs instead of a 6' 200 lb guy

 

[Hipporex]

NUMBER NINETEEN: During the Cretaceous period, India was an island, and if there is one thing the people of this website should know, it's that weird things evolved on islands...like dinosaur-eating snakes for example

• Species: Sanajeh indicus
• Pronunciation: San-aj-eh in-de-kus
• Name Meaning: "Ancient gape from India"
• Named By: Jeffery Wilson et al. - 2010
• Classification: Life, Eukaryota, Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Gnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Sauropsida, Eureptilia, Sauria, Lepidosauromorpha, Lepidosauria, Squamata, Toxicofera, Ophidia, Serpentes, Madtsoiidae
• When: ~ 68,000,000 B.C.E. (Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous epoch)
• Where: Asia (India)
• Size: 11.48 feet (3.5 meters)
• Diet: Carnivore

The only known specimen of Sanajeh was found within a sauropod nest, where it was presumably feeding on the newborn hatchings. The scientists that discovered this species concluded the snake was not an egg-eater, but would wait for the babies to hatch and then...dinner is served! Early snakes like Sanajeh did not have there ability to open there jaws super wide like modern snakes. So even though this animal is a large serpent, sauropod babies were likely the largest prey it could swallow.

(Below: diagram of fossil)

Picture and Information Sources:

• My brain
• CBBC - Newsround - Dinosaur-eating snake discovered
  
• The snake that swallowed dinosaurs : Nature News
  
• Sam Pearson on Twitter
  
• Sanajeh - Wikipedia

 

[Hipporex]

The next three animal profile (today's, tomorrow's, and Saturday's) will all be about some over-sized avians.

• Today: the largest owl ever
• Tomorrow: the largest terror bird ever
• Saturday: the largest bird ever

 

[Hipporex]

NUMBER TWENTY: Were you expecting a creative intro? To bad

• Animal: Cuban giant owl (Ornimegalonyx oteroi‭)
• Pronunciation: Or-ni-meg-ah-lon-ix
• Name Meaning: Giant bird claw
• Named By: Oscar Arredondo - 1954
• Classification: Life, Eukaryota, Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Gnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Sauropsida, Eureptilia, Sauria, Archosauromorpha, Archosauriformes, Archosauria, Dinosauria,‭ ‬Saurischia,‭ ‬Theropoda,‭ Paraves, Avialae, Aves, Neognathae, Strigiformes, Strigidae
• When: ~ 126,000 to 11,700 years ago (Tarantian stage of the Pleistocene epoch)
• Where: North America (Cuba)
• Size: 3.6 feet (1.10 meters) tall and at least 19.8 pounds (8.98 kilograms)
• Diet: Carnivore

This bird is currently considered the largest owl ever. Due to its size and reduce wings it was either flightless or near flightless. It had very long legs for its size, but was bulky overall and probably short-tailed. The modern owl that most resembles the Cuban giant owl in proportions is probably the much smaller burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), the only surviving owl closely tied to the ground. Despite the behavior similarities, this species's closest living relative is the owls of the genus Strix. One of the largest living owls, the Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo), reaches 8.82 pounds (4 kilograms) in weight, yet it has been reported taking down prey that weigh 37.48 pounds (17 kilograms). This suggests that the Cuban giant owl could have killed prey of 77.16 pounds (35 kilograms) or more. The Cuban giant owl is thought to have used its long and powerful legs to chase after prey rather than flying.‭ It would have likely used its powerful feet and claws to strike out at its prey and cause fatal injuries ‬to the spine,‭ ‬neck, and face.‭ ‬These areas are often targeted for attack by owls that fly,‭ ‬the idea being to incapacitate their prey so that it cannot escape should the first attack not prove fatal. However, it may not have limited itself to just running after its prey,‭ ‬but may have also used what is termed a pouncing strategy.‭ ‬This hunting behavior would involve taking up a position above the forest floor and waiting for prey to approach beneath.‭ ‬It could just hop off its perch and drop down,‭ ‬perhaps holding out its wings to both slow down and steer its descent for a precision strike on its unsuspecting prey. This species is believed to have primarily preyed on rodents.

Picture and Information Sources:

• My brain
• Cuban Giant Owl (Ornimegalonyx oteroi)
  
• Ornimegalonyx
  
• Ornimegalonyx - Wikipedia
  
• Pictures of Ornimegalonyx Fossil - kidskunst.info
  
• Ornimegalonyx: the largest owl in earth history. : Naturewasmetal

 

[Hipporex]

NUMBER TWENTY-ONE: "Terror" birds is a rather apt name for the members of Phorusrhacidae as they would of quite literally terrorized the creatures they lived alongside

• Animal: Kelenken guillermoi
• Pronunciation: "Guillermo's Kelenken" (The genus is named after Kélenken, a demon in the mythology of the Tehuelche people. The species name refers to Guillermo Aguirre Zabala, who discovered the holotype fossil in 1999.)
• Name Meaning: Kell-en-ken gey-air-mo-e
• Named By: Bertelli et al. - 2007
• Classification: Life, Eukaryota, Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Gnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Sauropsida, Eureptilia, Sauria, Archosauromorpha, Archosauriformes, Archosauria, Dinosauria,‭ ‬Saurischia,‭ ‬Theropoda,‭ Paraves, Avialae, Aves, Neognathae, Cariamiformes, Phorusrhacidae, Phorusrhacinae
• When: ~ 15,000,000 B.C.E. (Langhian stage of the Miocene epoch)
• Where: South America (Argentina)
• Size: 8.2 to 9.8 feet (2.5 to 3 meters) tall and perhaps up to 551.2 pounds (250 kilograms) in weight
• Diet: Carnivore

This animal was the largest terror bird ever and with a skull 28.2 inches (71.6 centimeters) long, it also possessed the largest head of any known bird. This bird was likely a voracious predator. But how did it hunt? As a large flightless carnivore, Kelenken likely chased down and killed its prey with several bone-shattering blows from its massive, hooked beak. Another possibility is that it may have picked up smaller prey item, then proceeded to shake it vigorously in order to break its back. Kelenken probably also scavenged carcasses when the opportunity presented itself, using its impressive size to drive away other predators, but the phorusrhacids in general seem to have been visually orientated animals with underdeveloped senses of smell.‭ ‬This leans more towards a trend of active predation rather than a reliance upon scavenging.‭ ‬The more gracile build of Kelenken also suggests a greater reliance of speed over power when tackling prey and it seems that phorusrhacinae phorusrhacids like Kelenken were capable of higher and prolonged speeds over their more heavily built cousins.

Picture and Information Sources:

• My picture
• Kelenken
  
• Kelenken guillermoi
  
• Kelenken guillermoi vs Quetzalcoatlus nothropi | The World of Animals
• KelenkenDR 3D Models Dinoraul
  
• Inktober #25: Kelenken guillermoi
  
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelenken

 

[Hipporex]

NUMBER TWENTY-TWO: Meet big bird's bigger cousin

• Animal: Vorombe titan
• Pronunciation: Vuh-rom-bay tie-tan
• Name Meaning: "Titanic big bird" (the genus name Vorombe is derived from the Malagasy word vorombe meaning "big bird" while titan is derived from Ancient Greek)
• Named By: Charles William Andrews - 1894
• Classification: Life, Eukaryota, Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Gnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Sauropsida, Eureptilia, Sauria, Archosauromorpha, Archosauriformes, Archosauria, Dinosauria,‭ ‬Saurischia,‭ ‬Theropoda,‭ Paraves, Avialae, Aves, Palaeognathae, Aepyornithiformes, Aepyornithidae
• When: Went extinct sometime in between the 1200s to 1600s
• Where: Africa (Madagascar)
• Size: *see below*
• Diet: Herbivore

For the longest time, scientists considered the species Aepyornis titan to be the largest species of bird ever. However, in 2018 two resarchers from the Zoological Society of Lonodon, James Hansford and Samuel Turvey, found the bones of A. titan were too distinct from other Aepyornis specimens to belong to the same genus. Thus they placed it in a new genus: Vorombe. This behemoth of a bird stood 10 feet (3.05 meters) tall and weighed 1,182 to 1,614 pounds (536 to 732 kilograms), meaning it was as large as some smaller sauropod dinosaurs. According to Hansford, "Elephant birds were the biggest of Madagascar's megafauna and arguably one of the most important in the islands evolutionary history—even more so than lemurs. This is because large-bodied animals have an enormous impact on the wider ecosystem they live in via controlling vegetation through eating plants, spreading biomass and dispersing seeds through defecation. Madagascar is still suffering the effects of the extinction of these birds today."

(Below: Vorombe titan and Europasaurus holgeri)

Picture and Information Sources:

• My brain
• Vorombe - Wikipedia
  
• Vorombe, el ave más grande de la historia del Planeta
  
• Privacy settings
  
• Zoologie : le titan de Vorombe fut le plus grand oiseau
  
• Vorombe titan: Researchers Name World’s Largest Ever Bird | Paleontology | Sci-News.com

 

[Hipporex]

NUMBER TWENTY-THREE: Unicorn horses may not exist, but unicorn pigs did

• Animal: Unicorn pig (Kubanochoerus)
• Pronunciation: Ku-ban-oh-coe-rus.
• Named By: Gabunia - 1955
• Classification: Life, Eukaryota, Animalia, hordata, Vertebrata, Gnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Synapsida, Therapsida, Mammalia, Placentilia, Boreoeutheria, Ungulata, Artiodactyla, Suidae
• When: ~ 15,900,000 B.C.E. to 7,300,000 B.C.E. (Miocene epoch)
• Where: Africa, Asia, and Europe
• Size: The largest species, K. gigas, was up to 3.9 feet (1.2 meters) at the shoulder and 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms)
• Diet: Omnivore

Kubanochoerus gigas was one of the largest, if not the largest, pig(s) ever. The heads of this pigw was unmistakable, with small eyebrow horns, and a large horn emanating from the forehead of the males. It is speculated that the males used their forehead horns for jousting with each other. Other than the unique face, this suide probably lived very similarly to modern wild pigs.

Picture and Information Sources:

• My brain
• Kubanochoerus - Wikipedia
  
• Kubanochoerus
  
• Kubanochoerus
  
• Kubanochoerus
  
• Redirect Notice

 

[Hipporex]

NUMBER TWENTY-FOUR:
Customer: "I would like one baboon please."
Cashier: "Would you like me to supersize that?"
Customer: "Yes please."
Cashier: "Okay here you go."

• Animal: Giant baboon (Dinopithecus ingens)
• Pronunciation: Dy-noe-pif-e-cus in-gens
• Name Meaning: "Great terrible ape"
• Named By: Robert Broom‭ ‬-‭ ‬1936
• Classification: Life, Eukaryota, Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Gnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Synapsida, Therapsida, Mammalia, Placentilia, Boreoeutheria, ‬Primates,‭ Simiiformes, ‬Cercopithecidae
• When: ~ 3,600,000 B.C.E. to 5,300,000 B.C.E. (Zanclean stage of the Pliocene epoch)
• Where: African (Ethiopia)
• Size: *see below*
• Diet: Omnivore

Males stood 5 feet (1.52 meters) tall while females were slightly smaller at 4 feet (1.22 meters) tall. The giant baboon was one of the largest Old World monkeys (family ‬Cercopithecidae) ever. Due to its size this over-size Curious George was likely terrestrial, then again even gorillas climb tree so they could likely of still gone arboreal if they need to. Most modern baboons live in hierarchical troops of 5 to 250 members. The same was likely true for this goliath. Modern baboons are omnivorous and will prey upon insects, hares, birds, other monkeys, and small antelopes. This behemoth probably had a similar diet, but, given its size, could have taken down antelopes the size of wildebeest. The giant baboon was not technically a baboon as true baboons belong to the genus Papio.

Picture and Information Sources:

• My brain
• https://www.amazon.com/Dinopithecus-ingens-Pliocene-Africa-Poster/dp/B01IRPGXTQ
  
• Dinopithecus - Wikipedia
  
• Dinopithecus
  
• Dinopithecus, the giant prehistoric baboon : Naturewasmetal
  
• Dinopithecus - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia
  
• Dinopithecus

 

[ThylacineAlive]

Whenever I look at animals like this I always think "why was everything so much bigger in prehistoric times?" but then I remember the Blue Whale exists and I have to shut up.

~Thylo

 

[Hipporex]

Whenever I look at animals like this I always think "why was everything so much bigger in prehistoric times?" but then I remember the Blue Whale exists and I have to shut up.

~Thylo

Or so we think... Giant ichthyosaur one of largest animals ever | EarthSky.org

 

[ZooBinh]

Or so we think... Giant ichthyosaur one of largest animals ever | EarthSky.org

Haven''t blue whales been recorded up to 33 meters?

 

[Hipporex]

Haven''t blue whales been recorded up to 33 meters?

Yes but my point is for the longest time we thought that the blue whale was the largest living animal ever and nothing approached it in size. This find however shows that some prehistoric marine animals had the potential to equal or even surpass the modern blue behemoth in size

 

[Hipporex]

NUMBER TWENTY-FIVE: Here be another island freak

• Animal: Deinogalerix
• Pronunciation: Die-no-ga-le-rix
• Name Meaning: "Terrible shrew"
• Named By: Freudenthal‭ ‬-‭ ‬1972
• Classification: Life, Eukaryota, Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Gnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Synapsida, Therapsida, Mammalia, Placentilia, Boreoeutheria, ‬Eulipotyphla, Erinaceidae, Galericinae
• When: ~ 10,000,000 B.C.E. to 5,000,000 B.C.E. (Miocene epoch)
• Where: Europe (Italy)
• Size: The largest species, Deinogalerix koenigswaldi, was up to 2 feet long (0.61 meters) long
• Diet: Carnivore

This little critter was a species of moonrat (subfamily Galericinae). Moonrats aren't actually rats, or even rodents, they are closely related to hedgehogs (subfamily Erinaceinae). Moonrats however do not have to classic hedgehog quills. Deinogalerix had a long, thin, conical face, small pointed ears, a lengthy, tapering tail and long hairs. During the Miocene epoch, what is now Italy was a series of islands. This genus was endemic to the island of Gargano (due to sea level change, in modern times Gargano is now a peninsula). It occupied the same ecological niche that modern dogs and cats do today, except that it had more predators itself - such as the giant barn owl (Tyto gigantea). It is believed that the species of Deinogalerix were insectivores, mostly feeding off invertebrates like beetles, dragonflies and crickets, and possibly even snails. But the larger species may also have also hunted small mammals, reptiles, and birds.

(Below: Deinogalerix koenigswaldi next to a living European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus).)

Picture and Information Sources:

• My brain
• Deinogalerix - Wikipedia
  
• Deinogalerix
  
• Deinogalerix - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia

 

[Hipporex]

NUMBER TWENTY-SIX: I like big rodents and I can not lie

• Animal: Josephoartigasia monesi
• Pronunciation: Ho-say-foe-ar-tig-a-se-ah mon-ay-see
• Named By: Andres Rinderknecht and Ernesto Blanco
• Classification: Life, Eukaryota, Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Gnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Synapsida, Therapsida, Mammalia, Placentilia, Boreoeutheria, ‬Rodentia, Dinomydiae
• When: ~ 4,000,000 B.C.E. to 2,000,000 B.C.E. (Zanclean stage of the Pliocene epoch to the Gelasian stage of the Pleistocene epoch)
• Where: South America (Uruguay)
• Size: 10 feet (3 meters) long and 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall
• Diet: Herbivore

As far as current science is aware, J. monesi is the largest rodent ever. At up to 2,200 pounds (997.9 kilograms), this pacarna-relative was as big as a buffalo. This rodent lived in an esturaine environment with forests and may have eaten soft vegetation. It has been stated that J. monesi probably fed on aquatic plants and fruits, because its molars are small and not good for grass or other abrasive vegetation. Larger mammals also have the advantage of access to low-quality food resources, such as wood, that smaller species are unable to digest. Larger mammals also have the advantage of access to low-quality food resources, such as wood, that smaller species are unable to digest. A study on this creature's bite force concluded that the bite of J. monesi possibly generated up to 4,165 newtons of force, three times as powerful as predicted for modern day tiger. It is believe J. monesi behaved similarly to elephants, utilizing its incisors like tusks for digging or defense. The rodent's fearsome front teeth and large size may have been used to fight over females for breeding rights and may also have helped defend against predators, such as giant short-faced bears, carnivorous marsupials, and terror birds (and we all already know how much a pain in the aft that last one was).

Picture and Information Sources:

• My brain
• Josephoartigasia monesi
  
• Josephoartigasia monesi - Wikipedia
  
• Josephoartigasia monesi
  
• The biggest known rodent of all time, Josephoartigasia monesi from the Pliocene and early Pleistocene of Uruguay, South America … | Prehistoric animals | Pinterest | Prehistoric animals, Prehistoric and Extinct animals
  
• The giant Pacarana, Josephoartigasia (2007):
  
• Thylacosmilus takes down young Josephoartigasia

 

[Hipporex]

NUMBER TWENTY-SEVEN: It's unfortunate we only have two living representatives of Giraffidae as it was once a really diverse family

• Animal: Sivatherium
• Pronunciation: See-vah-fee-ree-um
• Name Meaning: "Siva's beast;" Shiva (or Siva) is one of the most important gods in the Hindu pantheon and, along with Brahma and Vishnu, is considered a member of the holy trinity (trimurti) of Hinduism; therium is Greek for "beast"
• Named By: Hugh Falconer‭ & ‬Proby Thomas Cautley‭ ‬-‭ ‬1836
• Classification: Life, Eukaryota, Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Gnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Synapsida, Therapsida, Mammalia, Placentilia, Boreoeutheria, ‬Ungulata, Artiodactyla, Giraffidae, Sivatheriinae
• When: ~ 5,000,000 B.C.E. to to 8,000 B.C.E.
• Where: African continent and Indian subcontinent
• Size: *See below*
• Diet: Herbivore

Sivatherium somewhat resembled the modern okapi, but was far larger, and more heavily built, being about 9.8 feet (2.99 meters) in height with a weight up to 3306.93 pounds (1,500 kilograms). This would make Sivatherium the largest ruminant in history. Sivatherium had a wide, antler-like pair of ossicones on its head, and a second pair of ossicones above its eyes. Its shoulders were very powerful to support the neck muscles required to lift the heavy skull. It was once thought it had a specialized soft tissue development around the mouth like a trunk or extended movable lip that would help it to reach and scoop up food from the ground.‭ It it now known this wasn't true.

(Below: outdated reconstruction )

Picture and Information Sources:

• My brain
• Sivatherium - Wikipedia
  
• Sivatherium
  
• Sivatherium

 

[Hipporex]

NUMBER TWENTY-EIGHT: Although I was only able to find a little bit of information about this next genus, I figured it was too interesting not to mention

• Animal: Titanohyrax
• Pronunciation: Tie-tan-oh-hi-racks
• Name Meaning: "Titanic shrewmouse" - titan refers to the mythological Titans of Ancient Greece; hyrax is Greek for "shrewmouse"
• Named By: Matsumoto, 1922
• Species: T. andrewsi, T. angustidens, T. mongereaui, T. tantalus, and T. ultimus
• Classification: Life, Eukaryota, Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Gnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Synapsida, Therapsida, Mammalia, Placentilia, Afrotheria, Paenungulata, Hyracoidea, Pliohyracidae
• Where: Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia)
• Size: the largest species, T. ultimus, weighted 2,866.01 pounds (1300.00 kilograms), making it as heavy as a black rhino
• Diet: Herbivore

Believe it or not this rhino-sized mammal was a hyrax, the largest hyrax ever to be precise. Fossilized teeth suggest this genus was a folivore (a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves). Alhough not ruminants, hyraxes have complex, multi-chambered stomachs that allow symbiotic bacteria to break down tough plant materials, but their overall ability to digest fibre is lower than that of the ungulates The social structure of this animal may have been similar to that of modern hyraxes. Hyraxes live in small family groups, with a single male that aggressively defends the territory from rivals. Where living space is abundant, the male may have sole access to multiple groups of females, each with their own range. The remaining males live solitary lives, often on the periphery of areas controlled by larger males, and mate only with younger females.

(Below: scientifically inaccurate depiction of Titanohyrax)

Picture and Information Sources:

• My brain
• https://www.researchgate.net/public...ris_France_with_a_reassessment_of_the_species
  
• Titanohyrax (@Titanohyrax) | Twitter
  
• Titanohyrax - Wikipedia

 

[TeaLovingDave]

It's unfortunate we only have two living representatives of Giraffidae as it was once a really diverse family

I make it five

 

[CGSwans]

Whenever I look at animals like this I always think "why was everything so much bigger in prehistoric times?" but then I remember the Blue Whale exists and I have to shut up.

~Thylo

I can think of one good reason.