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[Who]

More! Post more!!
This thread is fascinating.

I want a time machine

Spoiler

and you know superpowers so as not to be eaten or stomped within my first 5 minutes

 

[Cow Mengde]

More! Post more!!
This thread is fascinating.

I want a time machine

Spoiler

and you know superpowers so as not to be eaten or stomped within my first 5 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U18sOypRW8s

Watch that trailer. Has a few of the animals in this thread plus a sick burn at Jurassic Park and Jurassic World.

 

[Lindbergh]

Sarcosuchus Imperator, a dinosaur-eating crocodile

 

[Septimus Prime]

Dunkleosteus

I came to post Dunkleosteos. That thing is, by far, the scariest.

Second place, though? Haast's eagle, one of the largest flying predatory birds known.

 

[cdyhybrid]

T. Rex
Spinosaurus even though we now know/have evidence that would suggest that a Rex would fuck its shit up
Giant pterosaurs
Giant anything really

Sad that all these crazy ass giant animals went extinct before I got to see them

 

[Nether!]

Real bigfoot
Gigantopithecus blacki

 

[divusrex]

Saurophaganax maximus

 

[CrazyDude]

Real bigfoot
Gigantopithecus blacki

 

[El_Chino]

Would it be so crazy to think at one of them is still out there?

 

[Jaeger]

T. Rex
Spinosaurus even though we now know/have evidence that would suggest that a Rex would fuck its shit up
Giant pterosaurs
Giant anything really

Sad that all these crazy ass giant animals went extinct before I got to see them

I mean, he is still much larger than the Rex. I wouldn't give ol tiny arms the battle, yet. And don't let him fall into any body of water.

 

[thesuperfunk]

Megalodon were awesome beasts ... I will own a fine tooth specimen one day!

Here's one compared to a Great White's ...

 

[Cow Mengde]

I mean, he is still much larger than the Rex. I wouldn't give ol tiny arms the battle, yet. And don't let him fall into any body of water.

A few feet longer is hardly much larger when T.rex is up to a ton heavier and a few feet heavier. You guys also need to stop falling for the hype about being the first semi-aquatic dinosaur, since most dinosaurs can swim.

 

[unholyrevenger72]

 

[unholyrevenger72]

I mean, he is still much larger than the Rex. I wouldn't give ol tiny arms the battle, yet. And don't let him fall into any body of water.

Some one post that skull comparison picture.

 

[Jaeger]

A few feet longer is hardly much larger when T.rex is up to a ton heavier and a few feet heavier. You guys also need to stop falling for the hype about being the first semi-aquatic dinosaur, since most dinosaurs can swim.

There's a difference between skirting the top for short distances, and being semi-aquatic. One would have a distinct advantage over the other. Stubby arms wouldn't out swim a semi aquatic creature.

And you will have to explain yourself on the t.rex being a "few feet heavier".

 

[Tesseract]

megalodon was a chum chump

 

[Curler]

(for listing non dinosaurs...) Smilodon has always been a favorite (keeps on smilin!) but also this loveable guy:

Megaloceros is another favorite with those huuuuuuge antlers, and there's this guy with that giant horn...

Oh, and one last favorite...

 

[Molemitts]

This is a really great thread. The kinds of creatures that used to exist on this planet is incredible. It gets my imagination running, too.

How about this lovable dumbass?

Are they real? Holy crap, that's the funniest creature I've ever seen.

Dunkleosteus

Looks like Gyorg, from Majora's Mask.

Quetzalcoatlus Northropi is sort of my favorite because they were like the size of a giraffe, but carnivorous, and could fly. They were basically actual dragons.

The size of this one actually blows my mind!

 

[jiggle]

 

[Jaeger]

Megalodon were awesome beasts ... I will own a fine tooth specimen one day!

Here's one compared to a Great White's ...

How much do they usually go for? I want one myself.

(for listing non dinosaurs...) Smilodon has always been a favorite (keeps on smilin!) but also this loveable guy:

Megaloceros is another favorite with those huuuuuuge antlers, and there's this guy with that giant horn...

Oh, and one last favorite...

The one with the horn is awesome!

 

[Cow Mengde]

There's a difference between skirting the top for short distances, and being semi-aquatic. One would have a distinct advantage over the other. Stubby arms wouldn't out swim a semi aquatic creature.

And you will have to explain yourself on the t.rex being a "few feet heavier".

Sorry, I meant a few feet taller.

The current reconstruction of Spinosaurus, if correct, is a very unwieldy animal that can barely run. Spinosaurus also don't have very strong skulls to attack big animals.

 

[Zoon]

Spinosaurus
Pteranodon
Kronosaurus

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Some one post that skull comparison picture.

Andrea Cau, (his blog is a must-read, for all things theropodacious, even if you have to do so through Google Translate), truly is a crusader, fighting the good fight against this mythological super-Spinosaurus:

Comparison between mid-dorsal ribs:

Comparison between the posterior dorsal vertebra and ribs:

Note that in the above comparisons, Cau has included a Spinosaurus generously scaled to 20% larger than the (now destroyed) holotype. Given, however, that there are few, (if any), fragments that overlap between the type specimen and those of allegedly much larger individuals, we cannot yet know for certain if that was the case. It's possible that the infamous snout from Morocco belongs to an animal less than 10% larger than the holotype:

In short:

This isn't to say that fans of other theropods aren't equally guilty of extrapolating ridiculous sizes from equally fragmentary remains, (as in other aspects of life, everyone wants theirs to be the biggest).

I think the take-home message ought to be that all of the larger tyrannosaurs, carcharodontosaurs and spinosaurs are known from only a handful of specimens, (or much less), so all we're really doing is comparing the sizes of individuals, (often fragmentary ones at that), and not the entire species. Get a statistically significant, (i.e. a whole hell of lot more), number of specimens together, and then we might be able to draw some definitive conclusions on maximum body size among these animals.

Until then, these arguments are little more than arm-waving.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

Quetzalcoatlus Northropi is sort of my favorite because they were like the size of a giraffe, but carnivorous, and could fly. They were basically actual dragons.

Fuck That

 

[ScraftyDevil]

I'd have to go with the Kronosaurus. Aside from having a super awesome name, it was also terrifyingly fast ate some of the creatures people are posting here for breakfast. Even compared to sea monsters, it was a sea monster.

 

[Clydefrog]

 

[Mike M]

Why are there seagulls?

Let's just talk to the insects. Specifically THE insect:

Arthropleura could reach more than 8 feet long and 2-4 feet wide.


Let that sink in

Not an insect : P

 

[Dai101]

How much do they usually go for? I want one myself.

http://www.megateeth.com/

Knock yourself out.

 

[jchap]

Wooly Mammoth... Do hope they clone one.

 

[Septimus Prime]

Let's just talk to the insects. Specifically THE insect:

Arthropleura could reach more than 8 feet long and 2-4 feet wide.


Let that sink in

And here's Jaekelopterus, the water version:

 

[Cow Mengde]

This isn't to say that fans of other theropods aren't equally guilty of extrapolating ridiculous sizes from equally fragmentary remains, (as in other aspects of life, everyone wants theirs to be the biggest).

To play devils advocate, giants do exist. There exists a gigantic Daspletosaurus specimen. It's around 70% complete. It is the size of an average T.rex. It's in the 12 meter range. Hasn't been published yet, but it's called Pete III, and they're blogging about it. Even has the leg next to a typical Daspletosaurus skull for scale. Crazy big.

I also know of an Apatosaurus specimen bigger than even Supersaurus. It's also in the 70% range of completeness. Only found this summer I think.

 

[GAMEPROFF]

Tyrannosaurus Rex, with or without feathers I will always like this guy.

The strongest there is.


Oh my god this Quetzalcoatlus Northropi is scary

 

[thesoapster]

http://abload.de/img/larry_king9ea0h.jpg

goddamn

 

[Jaeger]

http://www.megateeth.com/

Knock yourself out.

Awesome. Thank ya!

I'd have to go with the Kronosaurus. Aside from having a super awesome name, it was also terrifyingly fast ate some of the creatures people are posting here for breakfast. Even compared to sea monsters, it was a sea monster.

One of my absolute favs, right here.

Spinosaurus
Pteranodon
Kronosaurus

Part of my top 10, right here. We are definitely on the same page.

 

[Jaeger]

Resurrecting an older thread. I've always had a huge interest in Pterosaurs. I was reading about a few of the newly discovered types. All of them look so badass. I can definitely see myself trying to ride these ala Panzer Dragoon if given the opportunity.

Guidraco venator (Chinese Latin for "ghost dragon hunter", or malicious ghost) found in northeast China.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guidraco
http://english.ivpp.cas.cn/rs/ma/201203/t20120323_82668.html

Quetzalcoatlus northropi Mentioned in this thread earlier. Just want to further illustrate how large this animal is.

Zhenyuanopterus longirostris Another teethy possible fish-eating Pterosaur. Also found in China.

Pterosaur Myths Busted (V2.0!)

Pterosaurs are a staple of movies featuring prehistoric animals, yet most media depictions of the poor beasts remain woefully stuck in the 19th century. In reality, there was much more to these astonishing animals than many of us could have gleaned from the sluggish flimsy-winged gliders of our childhoods. Here we take a look at how some common misconceptions about pterosaurs stack up against the facts.

Misconception: “Pterodactyl” and “pterosaur” mean the same thing.

Fact: “Pterosaur” applies to the entire group, but “pterodactyl” is only correct when used in reference to the subgroup Pterodactyloidea.

M: Pterosaurs were dinosaurs.

F: Dinosaurs fall under the orders Ornithischia and Saurischia. Pterosaurs do not belong to either group, though current evidence places them as close relatives of the dinosaurs within Ornithodira.

M: Pterosaurs were the ancestors of birds.

F: Birds are a lineage of theropod dinosaurs which first appeared in the Jurassic. Unlike dinosaurs, pterosaurs left no living descendants.

M: Pterosaurs were scaly.

F: Though the pads of their feet had scales, most of a pterosaur’s body was covered in hairlike filaments called pycnofibers. Pterosaurs of the primitive family Anurognathidae, such as the one shown below, seem to have been fluffed up from snout to tail with pycnofibers.

M: Pterosaurs were cold-blooded.

F: Nope. With no body heat to insulate there wouldn’t be much point to pycnofibers.

M: Pterosaurs could pick things up with their feet.

F: Their feet were largely inflexible and much better suited to walking than grasping. Like humans, they employed plantigrade locomotion—in other words, the entire sole of the foot contacted the ground as they walked.

M: Grounded pterosaurs walked on their hind legs/could only crawl around on their bellies.

F: They were quadrupeds, and most were quite adept at ground locomotion to boot. Some, such as the dsungaripteroids, may even have been capable of galloping. The three in the illustration below are shown badgering an azhdarchid for its kill.

M: All pterosaurs had teeth/were toothless.

F: Pterosaurs had all kinds of dental arrangements, from completely toothless to jaws positively bristling with the things—just look at Pterodaustro. (Pteranodon was toothless, by the way, hence the genus name meaning “toothless wing”.)

M: All pterosaurs had long tails.

F: Long tails were apparently restricted to the earlier, non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs.

M: Females of crested species had large head crests like the males.

F: Head crests were probably sexually dimorphic, with males usually having much larger, more elaborate cranial decoration, as demonstrated by these two Darwinopterus.

M: The wing membranes were leathery, flimsy and prone to tearing.

F: Pterosaur wings were complex, multilayered structures, supple and reinforced with closely-packed fibers called aktinofibrils.

M: Each wing was supported by several fingers like a bat’s.

F: Only the hugely elongated fourth finger supported the wing; the other three fingers were much smaller. See here.

M: Pterosaurs had sharply-pointed wingtips.

F: Such a wing shape would have made flight difficult. The wingtips were rounded.

M: Some pterosaurs were too big/heavy to fly.

F: Even the largest pterosaurs were probably capable of powered flight.

M: Pterosaurs could only take off by falling off a cliff/tree/[insert high starting point here].

F: They could take off under their own power using all four limbs. See this video.

M: All pterosaurs were ocean-going fish hunters.

F: They occupied a variety of niches, and many lived inland.

M: Pterosaurs cared for their hatchlings in much the same way as modern birds.

F: Other than protecting them during the hatching process, pterosaur parents might not have had much to do with their offspring (called “flaplings”) since they were independent almost immediately after birth.

M: Pterosaurs went extinct because they were outcompeted by birds.

F: The evidence for this idea is weak at best.

M: Live pterosaur sightings indicate that the group never really went extinct.

F: This assertion relies on scant evidence as well.

Source

And also, some busted myths that are continually perpetuated in various media (like Jurassic Farce).

 

[bengraven]

Ever since reading an Animorphs book as a kid, this has been my favorite: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinonychus

I'm pretty sure the 'Velociraptors' from Jurassic Park are actually Deinonychuses.

My first Deinonychuses were from:

They were so badass that both good and bad guys had them.

 

[Lamel]

If you guys love this stuff, then watch the BBC documentary Walking with Monsters and Walking with Beasts.

The first one is animals BEFORE dinosaurs. The second one is prehistoric animals. SO awesome.

 

[Jaeger]

I've seen some of that. Wonderful project. Btw, I want to say this is a far more accurate depiction of how our "malicious ghost dragon" may have looked.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

Damn bumps!
I came in here to post a picture of a Platybelodon, only to find some asshole had beat me to it!
And that asshole was me!

 

[Gravidee]

Can't believe no one has posted anomalocaris yet, considered the earliest super predator on earth.

 

[EBE]

why couldnt these cool ass monsters have survived till modern days damn

 

[PhantomHound]

Actually.... serious post...

The mother fuckin' T-rex!

 

[Dai101]

why couldnt these cool ass monsters have survived till modern days damn

Natural selection.


Oh, and a big ass meteor.

 

[Zetta]

why couldnt these cool ass monsters have survived till modern days damn

Some of us here are afraid of spiders, imagine if some of the prehistoric bugs survived. We wouldn't be burning the area they are in but burning ourselves.

 

[FStop7]

Dire wolf... because of the name. I mean, how cool is it?

 

[Kitsunebaby]

Irish Elk

I don't even know how those antlers are practical, but they sure are badass.

 

[CrazyDude]

why couldnt these cool ass monsters have survived till modern days damn

Cause we probably wouldn't have evolved with them around.

 

[Mike Double U]

Not my personal favorite but it's funny you made this thread when I just happened to somehow started reading about this thing this past weekend.

Zygophyseter varolai is an extinct cetacean, similar to the sperm whale. The common name of "killer sperm whale" refers both to its relation to modern day sperm whales, and to its similarity in size to and its "probable similar feeding adaptation to the extant delphinid killer whale (Orcinus orca)".

Look at that thing. It ate fucking Great White Sharks.

 

[Jaeger]

Irish Elk

I don't even know how those antlers are practical, but they sure are badass.

Holy shit. Must have had a strong body to keep that weight up.

Not my personal favorite but it's funny you made this thread when I just happened to somehow started reading about this thing this past weekend.


Look at that thing. It ate fucking Great White Sharks.

That must have been a fierce predator. I wonder if it was as intelligent as it's modern cohorts.

Here is some more nightmare fuel for some. Meganeura. A giant prehistoric Dragonfly.

Yea. I don't like the normal sized ones buzzing around my space. Imagine this.

 

[sc0la]

How about this lovable dumbass?

nooo :c

Ah yes, the Derpephant