When you think of sloths, you think of small, furry mammals that move at a leisurely pace. Their ancestors were anything but small! Megalonyx, Greek for Large claw, is an extinct genus of ground sloths that lived on Earth for over 10 million years. They migrated from South America to North America and typically lived near areas with lakes, rivers, and forests.
Known as megaloceros, the giant deer was common throughout Eurasia. They lived during the Pleistocene era through the start of the Holocene period. Experts believe these giant deer are related to the modern fallow deer. Like many prehistoric mammals, megaloceros were herbivores and are only plants.
Palaeoloxodon antiquus, or the straight-tusked elephant, inhabited Western Asia and Europe during the Middle and Late Pleistocene era. They thrived in interglacial periods and warmer temperatures. Usually, they traveled in small herds of 5 to 15 individuals. Fossil evidence shows that early humans were predators against straight-tusk elephants.
Large prehistoric creatures were not limited to land. The jaekelopterus, or giant sea scorpion, is the largest arthropod ever discovered. These creepy creatures resembled giant lobsters and had claws the size of an adult’s head. They were known for being terrors under the water.
The spotted hyena dates back to the Upper Paleolithic period. Cave paintings at Chauvet and Lascaux Caves depict these giant mammals. Native to Sub-Saharan Africa, this species originated in Asia and traveled through Europe for roughly 1 million years until the Late Pleistocene era.
Miracinonyx inexpectatus, also known as the American cheetah, roamed around North America in the Pleistocene era. This mammal was initially thought to be closely related to the cougar, but research shows that they’re more like modern cheetahs.
Part of the extinct Panthera species is the Panthera spelaea or cave lion. Fossils prove that this large mammal originated in Europe less than 600,000 years ago. Although they share a name, DNA-wise, the cave lion and modern African lion are divergent. The shape of their skulls leads experts to conclude that cave lions are more related to tigers than lions.
Glyptodons were gigantic versions of the armadillo. In fact, they are known as being cousins of the armadillos we have now. They are also related to tree sloths, anteaters, and extinct ground sloths. Large glyptodons originally came from South America, with fossils being discovered in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
Bootherium bombifrons is the scientific term used to describe the regal woodland musk ox. During the Pleistocene era, this large mammal was one of the most prominent musk ox species in North America. Woodland musk ox fossils have been discovered all over the country, including in Alaska, Texas, California, New Jersey, and Oklahoma.
Most common in Central and South America, the short-faced bear, or Arctotherium angustidens, was present on Earth during the late Pliocene era. These animals are the most closely related to the spectacled bear, a native of South America. Contrary to its name, the short-faced bear did not, in fact, have a little face. Its limbs were so long they made its head look tiny in comparison.
Another member of the Pleistocene megafauna was the woolly rhinoceros. Scientifically known as Coelodonta antiquitatis, these animals most commonly lived in Europe and northern Asia. This animal is the last member of the rhinoceros lineage of the Pleistocene epoch.
Research shows that the wild horses living in North America were most likely wiped out by early humans. Toward the end of the Pleistocene era, the extinction of North American horses, mammoths and other large mammals coincided with the Ice Age. These horses, ancestors of modern donkeys, went extinct in North America, but somehow survived in Africa and Eurasia.
Mastodons are distant relatives of the woolly mammoth. They migrated to North America via the Bering Strait land bridge roughly 15 million years ago. These creatures were prominent in North and Central America until they went extinct 10,500 years ago due to overharvesting by Clovis hunters.
Known as Smilodon, the saber-toothed tiger most commonly lived in North, South and Central America during the Pleistocene epoch. These animals are notable for their large canine teeth that extend from their mouth. The teeth were used to capture and kill prey quickly and could be as long as 1 foot.
Related to modern dragonflies, the Meganeura is the biggest predatory flying insect ever discovered. Its wingspan reaches from 25 to 28 inches. This terrifying insect lived on Earth roughly 300 million years ago. Higher oxygen concentrations in prehistoric times made it possible for this bug to breathe enough to support its size. Luckily, we don’t have to worry about encountering these bugs that are one quarter the size of a human!
