Extinct Animals from Ancient History

Summary

This video script explores the fascinating world of extinct animals, comparing modern creatures to their ancient counterparts. It delves into the Smilodon, a massive predator with formidable teeth and claws; the mysterious Andrusovis, a carnivorous beast with a skull 33 inches long; the colossal Arium Angus Deans, a giant short-faced bear that dwarfed modern bears; the Titanoboa, a 50-foot snake weighing over a ton; the Woolly Mammoth, which could potentially be brought back to life through genetic engineering; and the terrifying Kenin Gorilla Moy, a prehistoric terror bird with a sharp beak and lethal hunting techniques.

Takeaways

• 🐅 The Smilodon, often called the saber-tooth tiger, was much larger than modern lions, weighing up to 750 pounds and reaching 11 feet in length.
• 🦏 The andr sarcus, an ancient carnivorous relative of the hippopotamus, had a skull measuring 82.4 cm and is believed to have been over 6 feet tall at the shoulder and 16 feet long.
• 🐻 The Arium Angus Deans, or South American giant short-face bear, was a colossal omnivorous scavenger that stood at least 11 feet tall and weighed between 3500 to 3855 pounds.
• 🐍 Titan ABA, a massive snake weighing up to 1.25 tons and reaching nearly 50 feet in length, was the largest predator on Earth after the dinosaurs.
• 🐘 The Woolly Mammoth, with a thick fur coat, stood between 10 to 12 feet and weighed up to 16,000 pounds. It is one of the few extinct species with preserved specimens and DNA available.
• 🔬 Colossal Biosciences aims to bring the Woolly Mammoth back by 2028 through genetic engineering, which could also benefit modern elephants by combating diseases.
• 🐦 Kenin gorilla Moy, a terror bird from 15 million years ago, was about 10 feet tall, weighed up to 550 pounds, and had a variety of lethal hunting techniques.
• 🦅 The Kenin gorilla Moy had no close living relatives that match its size and was a formidable predator, unlike the modern ostrich which is considered dangerous but not a top predator.
• 🌿 The Woolly Mammoth's diet consisted of grass, sage, willow, and various flowers, providing insights into the vegetation of the mammoth steppe.
• 🌎 The possibility of de-extincting species like the Woolly Mammoth and dodo raises ethical and bureaucratic questions about genetic engineering and species reintroduction.

Q & A

What is the Smilodon and how does its size compare to modern big cats?

The Smilodon, often referred to as the saber-tooth tiger, is an extinct animal more closely related to modern lions but much larger. It could weigh up to 750 pounds (340 kilos) and reach lengths of 11 feet (3.5 meters), making it significantly larger than today's big cats like lions.

What are the unique features of the Smilodon's teeth and claws?

The Smilodon had exceptionally long teeth, up to 8 inches (20 cm), which earned it the 'saber-tooth' nickname. Its claws were also formidable, with some experts suggesting they could rip through steel.

How recently did the Smilodon exist, and what impact might it have had on early humans?

The Smilodon is believed to have existed as recently as 10,000 years ago. It likely interacted with and possibly preyed upon early human populations.

What is the Androsphinx and what do we know about its appearance?

The Androsphinx is an extinct carnivorous animal, thought to be a relative of the hippopotamus. Based on a single skull found in Mongolia, it's believed to have stood over 6 feet tall at the shoulder and reached lengths of approximately 16 feet.

What was the Androsphinx's diet, and how do we know?

The Androsphinx likely had a diet of hard-shell mollusks and turtles, inferred from the type of teeth it had and the fact that its fossil was found near a shoreline.

How does the size of the South American giant short-faced bear compare to modern bears?

The South American giant short-faced bear, or Arctodus, was significantly larger than modern bears. It stood at least 11 feet (3.3 meters) tall on its hind legs and weighed between 3500 and 3855 pounds (1600 to 1750 kilos), compared to the largest polar bear weighing up to 2200 pounds (1000 kilos).

What was the Titanoboa's size and how did it affect its habitat preference?

The Titanoboa was an enormous snake weighing around 1135 kilograms (1.25 tons) and reaching lengths of nearly 50 feet (15.2 meters). Its extreme size likely meant it spent most of its time in the water, despite being capable of moving on land.

What is the Woolly Mammoth, and how does its size compare to modern elephants?

The Woolly Mammoth was an elephant species with a thick fur coat, standing between 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3.7 meters) and weighing up to 16,000 pounds (7300 kilos). This makes it larger than most modern elephants, though not as large as the largest recorded elephants.

What is the current status of Woolly Mammoth 'de-extinction' efforts?

Colossal Biosciences aims to bring the Woolly Mammoth back by 2028. They have achieved a breakthrough by reprogramming elephant stem cells to recreate the woolly mammoth's attributes, with the first calf expected to be born from an elephant mother.

What is the Terror Bird Kenin Gorilla Moy, and how does it compare to modern birds?

The Kenin Gorilla Moy was a large, extinct terror bird from 15 million years ago. It was about 10 feet (3 meters) tall and weighed up to 550 pounds (250 kilos), much larger and more aggressive than modern birds like the ostrich.

What are some of the killing techniques attributed to the Kenin Gorilla Moy?

The Kenin Gorilla Moy is believed to have used its large, sharp beak to inflict penetrating strikes, violently shake small prey, and throw it against the ground to kill it and break its bones before swallowing.