9/3/2023 0 Comments Mega predators![]() ![]() Members of both genera were large, streamlined and speedy, though species of the Shonisaurus genus had barrel-shaped chests and long snouts compared with the slender, shorter-snouted Shastasaurus, according to University of Portsmouth paleontologist and paleoartist Mark Witton. sikanniensis belonged to: Shastasaurus or Shonisaurus. There is some debate about which ichthyosaur genus S. sikanniensis is regarded as the largest known marine reptile of all time," Kenshu Shimada, a professor of paleobiology at DePaul University in Chicago, told Live Science. ![]() In the late Triassic period, roughly 237 million years ago, an ichthyosaur known as Shonisaurus sikanniensis began swimming in the waters of what is now British Columbia, Canada. Ichthyosaurs were a group of predatory marine reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic era, the same time period as the dinosaurs. When it comes to ancient sea behemoths, a giant reptile takes the cake. Shonisaurus sikanniensis was 65 feet long - three longer than the largest great white shark. rex and his dinosaur cousins to step aside and let other mega-predators like the terror bird and the giant ripper lizard take the spotlight Travel back to. rex, but formidable in its own right, feeding on the carcasses of deer, pigs, cattle, sea lions and even whales, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. At 10 feet (3 m) from wing tip to wing tip, this bird is significantly smaller than its ancient meat-eating cousin T. The only dinosaurs alive today are birds, making the largest living dinosaur in North America the California condor ( Gymnogyps californianus). rex used all that bulk to its advantage: With its powerful jaw muscles, it could deliver up to 6 tons (5.4 metric tons) of pressure per bite - enough to tear through steel as if it were a piece of paper, according to a 2019 study in the journal The Anatomical Record. rex's 7.8 tons (7.1 metric tons), according to the American Museum of Natural History. rex's length but was lighter, weighing 6.8 tons (6.1 metric tons), compared with T. Acrocanthosaurus, a "shark-toothed" cousin of tyrannosaurs and member of a group known as carcharodontosaurs, nearly matched T. rex specimen known as Stan, the terrible tyrant rex towered over most of its carnivorous contemporaries. (Image credit: Shutterstock)īut at nearly 12 feet (3.5 m) tall at the hips and up to 40 feet (12.3 m) long, according to a nearly-complete, school bus-size T. Twelve feet tall at the hips and as long as a school bus, T. Modern polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) aren't too far off - the largest males stand around 5 feet (1.5 m) at the shoulder and weigh around 1,300 pounds (600 kg), according to Polar Bears International. However, paleontologists comfortably estimate that the short-faced bear probably weighed around 1,540 pounds (700 kilograms). It can be difficult for scientists to gauge the exact body weight of an extinct species, because they have to extrapolate those numbers using existing species as benchmarks, MacPhee told Live Science in an email. It stood around 5.5 feet (1.6 meters) tall at the shoulder and over 11 feet (3.4 m) on its lanky hind legs, according to the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History. Sometimes affectionately called the "bulldog bear," this now-extinct creature had a signature short, broad muzzle. Sidebars and extensive back matter material provide more detailed information and context.As for furry animals, North America's largest predatory mammal was probably the massive short-faced bear ( Arctodus simus), said Ross MacPhee, senior curator of mammals at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. ![]() Artist and former zoologist Howard Gray brings these predators (back) to life with dynamic, humorous, and scientifically accurate illustrations. With massive jaws and teeth like those of killer whales, Thalassotitan hunted other marine reptiles plesiosaurs, sea turtles, and other mosasaurs. Stewart’s cheeky, humorous voice-along with a comical version of the familiar “comparison man”-put these creatures in perspective. Paleontologists have discovered a huge new mosasaur from Morocco, named Thalassotitan atrox, which filled the apex predator niche. You’ll be amazed at the size and the fierceness of these lesser-known predators, many of them ancient ancestors of animals that we still see today. rex and his dinosaur cousins to step aside and let other mega-predators like the terror bird and the giant ripper lizard take the spotlight! Travel back to prehistoric times and meet some of the most impressive creatures to ever roam the Earth. Award-winning nonfiction author and science specialist Melissa Stewart offers young readers a mega-exploration of little-known prehistoric predators that rival even the mightiest of dinosaurs! ![]()
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