We humans - Homo Sapiens occupy only a short period of time, compared to a "wink" in the great history of the Earth. It is believed that the Earth was formed 4,600,000,000 years ago and the first human species developed about 200,000 years ago on the African continent. During such a long period of time, our ancestors had to go through countless hardships and harsh tests of nature to firmly survive and become the world hegemon as it is today. Primitive humans struggled daily against natural enemies whose form and strength far surpassed them. Today, let's join Toplist.vn to discover the story of 10 scariest animals living with human ancestors in prehistoric times.
1. Crocodile Quinkana
According to research results from fossils, the first Quinkana crocodile evolved 1,600,000 years ago and lived on the continent of Australia today. This ancient crocodile is a giant member of the crocodile family, measuring 23 feet (about 7 m) long. A major difference in the characteristics of the Quinkana and other crocodiles is that they do not like to be immersed in the swamp like their relatives, adapted to life as a terrestrial reptile.
Since evolving towards terrestrial inhabitants, the Quinkana species have developed two important adaptations. First, they possess four long and strong limbs, which can chase prey on the ground for long distances with fairly fast speed. Second, Quinkana's teeth are exceptionally sharp, which they use to bite and drag their prey into the water. The Quinkana went extinct 50,000 years ago and about 10,000 years after the first humans began migrating to Australia.
A giant member of the alligator family with a length of 23 feet (7 m)
2. Short Face Bear
Bears appeared 40,000,000 years ago, and some of their subgenus began to develop more diversely later. One of the prehistoric representatives of bears living with humans is the Short-Faced Bear. This bear is about 5 feet (1.5 m) tall when sitting, but when standing upright it can reach 12 feet (3.6 m) tall and up to 14 feet (4.2 m) when counting. the length of its big strong arms.
This giant bear can run steadily on two legs at a speed of 40 mph, faster than grizzly bears. Therefore, they are dangerous enemies and claimed many lives of our ancient ancestors. The Short-Faced Bear was dubbed one of the most fearsome carnivorous "killers" in the North American jungle 800,000 years ago.
Can run steadily on two legs at 40 mph
One of the most feared carnivorous "assassin" in the North American jungle 800,000 years ago.
3. Giant Lizard
With the scientific name Megalania, these Giant Lizards were the dangerous rulers of Australia 50,000 years ago, around the same time as humans migrated here. The size of this lizard has always been a matter of debate among scientists. Some are of the opinion that their true length reaches 23 feet (6.9 m), while some evidence suggests that the length is only about 11 feet (3.3 m).
The ancestor of the modern Komodo Dragon, the Giant Lizard of any size is an extremely dangerous predator with the advantage of their quick speed and deadly venom. Simply with a bite, even if the prey does not die from blood loss, it is not comfortable from dying because of their fatal venomous bite. Therefore, the Giant Lizard has always been a terrifying natural enemy for humans living in Australia at that time.
Giant Lizards were dangerous rulers in Australia 50,000 years ago, around the same time as humans lived here.
4. American Lion
Like the other animals on this list, this primitive American lion was also a predator that terrifies humans because of its huge size and sharp teeth. In addition, they are the ancestors of today's lions and began to appear on Earth 330,000 years ago. As mentioned above, the most remarkable aspect about this American Lion is its sheer size.
In fact, these giant wild cats were among the largest feline species in history at 350 kg in weight (more than 25% of today's African lions). They can easily take down a bison, so this "monstrous" lion is a formidable threat to small groups of primitive people when hunting in the forest. 11,000 years ago, the American Lion officially ended life on our planet.
Belongs to the largest feline in history with 350 kg in weight.
6. Giant Wolf
If you are a fan of "Game of Thrones" then you will surely recognize this Giant Wolf. Unlike the virtual animals in the game, the Colossus actually existed with humans in prehistoric times. They first appeared about 1,000,000 years ago and were similar in appearance to today's gray wolves but much larger in size.
While the Gray Wolf is known as the largest wolf species today with a length of 4 - 6.6 feet (1.2 - 1.8 m) and a weight of 40 - 170 pounds (20 - 68 kg), the The Giant Wolf is 5 feet (1.5 m) long and weighs 100 kg. This wolf is found in the lands of North and South America and its main prey is the zebra. About 10,000 years ago, they became extinct like many other carnivores.
They first appeared around 1,000,000 ago.
6. Sword Teeth Cat
With its large shape, many people mistakenly believe that the Sword-toothed Cat is a Sword-toothed Tiger, but that is a mistake because between them they are just distant relatives, not closely related to each other. They appeared 42,000,000 years ago, having coexisted with humans in the Americas in primitive times. This saber-toothed cat varies in size, the largest being about the same size as the African lion - the largest wild lion alive today.
With great strength and two long, sharp incisors, Sword-toothed Cats often hunt in packs and can take down animals larger than their size, such as elephants. This prehistoric cat possesses a flexible jaw muscle that can expand 120 degrees, they will hide to wait for prey and attack together. In addition, this cat is also endowed with strong front limbs to pounce and hold onto prey, then they will continuously stab the prey to death with their two fearsome fangs. Therefore, it is terrible when people fall into the hunting trap of this Sword-toothed Cat.
They appeared 42,000,000 years ago and co-existed with humans in the Americas.
7. Cave hyena
Also known as the Spotted Wolf, the cave hyena species twice the size of their descendants still exist today. Researchers have determined the size of the Cave hyena through the fossil remains. According to calculations, this hyena weighs up to 285 pounds (114 kg), is 3 feet (0.9 m) tall and 5 feet (1.5 m) long. In addition, the bite of the Hanging hyena is very strong, able to knock down a 5-year-old Mammoth with a weight of 1 ton.
They usually live in groups of 30 members and hunt together. With their herd dominance, these hyenas can kill a mammoth weighing up to 9 tons. However, their population began to decline 20,000 years ago and became completely extinct between 11,000 and 13,000 years ago. This is partly because humans have been fighting over the hyena's territory - the rock caves to hide during the last ice age.
These hyenas can kill a mammoth weighing up to 9 tons.
8. Great Ape
With the scientific name Gigantopithecus, this giant prehistoric primate is a close relative of orangutans. They are about 10 feet (3 m) tall and weigh up to 1,100 pounds (340 kg). It is possible that it was this giant ape that inspired Hollywood filmmakers to create the famous "King Kong" character around the world.
After existing on Earth for about 6,000,000 - 9,000,000 years, this apes began to decline in number due to natural elimination and went extinct 100,000 years ago. Their homeland is the tropical monsoon forests of Southeast Asia, but after climate change, the forests suddenly turned into arid Sa - Van. This means that there is not enough food - fruit for the Great Apes to maintain their large bodies.
The height is about 3m and the weight is up to 340 kg.
9. Lazy Prehistoric Land
The Prehistoric Earth Sloth was one of the largest mammals ever to have existed on Earth. There are many different subgenus of this sloth, a subspecies of Prehistoric Ground Sloths that once lived with humans in North America about the size of a rhinoceros and possibly human ancestors who caused their extinction. here according to some current theories.
According to fossils, the largest Prehistoric Sloth ever appeared in South America about 10,000 years ago with the size of an elephant, 20 feet (6 m) long and weighing up to 4 tons. In addition, they have sharp teeth and long, sharp claws for hunting. It was this sloth that was a dangerous enemy in the competition for survival with our ancestors at that time. However, this prehistoric sloth officially became extinct 4200 years ago in the Caribbean island when humans migrated here.
The size is as big as an elephant, 6 m long and weighs up to 4 tons.
10. Elephant Collectus
The Columbus elephant is one of the largest mammals on the planet, and they are also a close relative of the famous prehistoric mammoth. The Collectus elephant is found in Canada and Mexico, while the Mammoth is commonly found in northern Asia and Russia. One difference of the Columbus elephants is that they have less hair, so they look quite similar to today's elephants.
This elephant is about 12-14 feet (3.6-4.2 m) tall and weighs 5.5-11 tons. They also possess the longest and strongest pair of tusks in the ancient elephant family at 12 feet (3.6 m) long, twisted in shape, and very strong. This is a weapon for elephants to fight against enemies in the wild, even our ancestors - primitive humans are also natural enemies of this giant elephant.
One of the largest mammals on the planet, a close relative of the Mammoth.
The battle for survival in nature is always the most cruel one. Throughout the tectonic history of the blue planet, nature has constantly created and destroyed many species of plants and animals in the life-and-death race of the natural world. When we look at these animals, we are fortunate to be the temporary winners in this fierce and uncompromising process of natural selection.
