Weird and wonderful extinct animals

CONTENTS What is

4

extinction?

Platybelodon

37

Dodo

6

Arsinoitherium

38

Thylacine

8

Brontotherium

39

Megaloceros

10

Indricotherium

40

Smilodon

12

Elasmotherium

42

Homotherium

14

Gigantopithecus

44

Cave lion

15

Ceratogaulus

46

Cave bear

16

Leithia

47

Dwarf elephant

18

Titanis

48

Macrauchenia

20

Giant penguin

49

Woolly mammoth

22

Diprotodon

50

Woolly rhinoceros

24

Megalodon

52

Glyptodon

26

Argentavis

28

What about today?

54

Haast’s eagle

29

Megatherium

30

Golden toad

56

Megalonyx

31

Passenger pigeon

57

Hyaenodon

32

Chinese river dolphin

58

Elephant bird

34

Caribbean monk seal

60

Moa

35

Steller’s sea cow

61

Deinotherium

36

Javan tiger

62

warrah

63

CONTENTS What is

4

extinction?

Platybelodon

37

Dodo

6

Arsinoitherium

38

Thylacine

8

Brontotherium

39

Megaloceros

10

Indricotherium

40

Smilodon

12

Elasmotherium

42

Homotherium

14

Gigantopithecus

44

Cave lion

15

Ceratogaulus

46

Cave bear

16

Leithia

47

Dwarf elephant

18

Titanis

48

Macrauchenia

20

Giant penguin

49

Woolly mammoth

22

Diprotodon

50

Woolly rhinoceros

24

Megalodon

52

Glyptodon

26

Argentavis

28

What about today?

54

Haast’s eagle

29

Megatherium

30

Golden toad

56

Megalonyx

31

Passenger pigeon

57

Hyaenodon

32

Chinese river dolphin

58

Elephant bird

34

Caribbean monk seal

60

Moa

35

Steller’s sea cow

61

Deinotherium

36

Javan tiger

62

warrah

63

CAVE BEAR Over the years, a great number of fossilized bear bones have been discovered in many caves across Europe. These bears wandered the woods of mid-altitude mountains during the last glacial period. They were a lot bigger than today’s brown bears.

Studies of their fossilized teeth show that cave bears ate only plants—roots, leaves, berries and mushrooms—certainly all in great quantities if we consider how heavy they were!

ERE S! W AN EY TH ETARI VEG

SC IEN TIF IC NA ME :

caves during They probably lived in , when they the rigid winter season that lasted until fell into a deep sleep spring. they awakened in the d gather in A number of bears coul ales gave birth each cave, and the fem to their cubs there.

16

Ursus spelaeus PE RIO D: Quaternary DIE T: plants HE IGH T: over 6.5 feet (2 m) 0 years ago DISAP PE AR ED : about 24,00 CAUS ES : climate change

17

CAVE BEAR Over the years, a great number of fossilized bear bones have been discovered in many caves across Europe. These bears wandered the woods of mid-altitude mountains during the last glacial period. They were a lot bigger than today’s brown bears.

Studies of their fossilized teeth show that cave bears ate only plants—roots, leaves, berries and mushrooms—certainly all in great quantities if we consider how heavy they were!

ERE S! W AN EY TH ETARI VEG

SC IEN TIF IC NA ME :

caves during They probably lived in , when they the rigid winter season that lasted until fell into a deep sleep spring. they awakened in the d gather in A number of bears coul ales gave birth each cave, and the fem to their cubs there.

16

Ursus spelaeus PE RIO D: Quaternary DIE T: plants HE IGH T: over 6.5 feet (2 m) 0 years ago DISAP PE AR ED : about 24,00 CAUS ES : climate change

17

DWARF ELEPHANT

SCIENT

I F I C NA

Palaeolox o

ME:

don falco neri : Quate rnary D I E T: p lants and fruit L E N GT H : 5 fee t (1.5 m) HEIGHT : 3 feet (90 cm) D I SA P P EARED : 70,000 y ears ago C AU S E S : clim ate chang e PERIOD

This species of miniature elephant was widespread in the Mediterranean islands from Sicily to Malta and as far as Cyprus. Its lifestyle was much like that of its close relative, today’s Asian elephant.

Its blade-shaped molars, typical of all elephants, were useful for grinding leaves and grass. Females were smaller than males, and they had just a hint of tusks, if they had them at all.

RE A D IT WAS W IDESP RRANEAN IN THE MEDITE ISLANDS.

IF IT HA

, SKS U T D

I

SA A TW

!

LE A M

Dwarfism seems to have been a form of adaptation to its environment. Often, food on an island is limited and life can be easier for smaller sized animals, which require smaller amounts of food.

FOOD SIZE

18

19

DWARF ELEPHANT

SCIENT

I F I C NA

Palaeolox o

ME:

don falco neri : Quate rnary D I E T: p lants and fruit L E N GT H : 5 fee t (1.5 m) HEIGHT : 3 feet (90 cm) D I SA P P EARED : 70,000 y ears ago C AU S E S : clim ate chang e PERIOD

This species of miniature elephant was widespread in the Mediterranean islands from Sicily to Malta and as far as Cyprus. Its lifestyle was much like that of its close relative, today’s Asian elephant.

Its blade-shaped molars, typical of all elephants, were useful for grinding leaves and grass. Females were smaller than males, and they had just a hint of tusks, if they had them at all.

RE A D IT WAS W IDESP RRANEAN IN THE MEDITE ISLANDS.

IF IT HA

, SKS U T D

I

SA A TW

!

LE A M

Dwarfism seems to have been a form of adaptation to its environment. Often, food on an island is limited and life can be easier for smaller sized animals, which require smaller amounts of food.

FOOD SIZE

18

19

WOOLLY MAMMOTH Woolly mammoths were about the size of an elephant.

They had a double layer of fur to protect themselves from the cold of the frozen steppes of Asia, Europe and North America, their natural habitats.

BE UP TO 15 COULD F EE S K T( US T 4.5 R I E H M) T LO N

As with elephants, the females probably gave birth to only one calf after a gestation period of a year. The calf stayed by the mother’s side for a long time, enjoying the protection of the entire herd.

SCIENTIF IC NAME:

Mammuthus primigenius PERIOD: Quaternary DIET: grass and leaves LENGTH: 13 feet (4 m) HEIGHT: 11.5 feet (3.5 m) at the shoulder DISAPPEA RED: 5,000 years ago CAUSES: climate change

G.

Compared to present-day elephants, their ears and tail were smaller, while the males’ curved tusks were truly impressive, reaching a length of more than 15 feet (4.5 m) in some cases.

A GROWN MAN LOOKS QUITE SMALL WHEN COMPARED TO A MAMMOTH!

22

ITS FUR COULD BE UP TO 3 FEET (90 CM) LONG!

WHEN MAINLAND MAMMOTHS WERE ALREADY EXTINCT, 300 SPECIMENS SURVIVED HERE, ON WRANGEL ISLAND.

23

WOOLLY MAMMOTH Woolly mammoths were about the size of an elephant.

They had a double layer of fur to protect themselves from the cold of the frozen steppes of Asia, Europe and North America, their natural habitats.

BE UP TO 15 COULD F EE S K T( US T 4.5 R I E H M) T LO N

As with elephants, the females probably gave birth to only one calf after a gestation period of a year. The calf stayed by the mother’s side for a long time, enjoying the protection of the entire herd.

SCIENTIF IC NAME:

Mammuthus primigenius PERIOD: Quaternary DIET: grass and leaves LENGTH: 13 feet (4 m) HEIGHT: 11.5 feet (3.5 m) at the shoulder DISAPPEA RED: 5,000 years ago CAUSES: climate change

G.

Compared to present-day elephants, their ears and tail were smaller, while the males’ curved tusks were truly impressive, reaching a length of more than 15 feet (4.5 m) in some cases.

A GROWN MAN LOOKS QUITE SMALL WHEN COMPARED TO A MAMMOTH!

22

ITS FUR COULD BE UP TO 3 FEET (90 CM) LONG!

WHEN MAINLAND MAMMOTHS WERE ALREADY EXTINCT, 300 SPECIMENS SURVIVED HERE, ON WRANGEL ISLAND.

23

HYAENODON The Hyaenodon was one of the biggest, fiercest predators of its time, and when it attacked, its prey had little hope of escaping.

It used its enormous mouth to seize its prey by the head and puncture its skull.

SCI ENT IFIC NAM E:

Hyaenodon gigas PER IOD : Quaternary DIE T: meat LEN GTH : 10 feet (3 m) HEI GH T: 5 feet (1.5 m) at the withers Disapp ear ed: 20 million

IT HAD 32 TEETH, INCLUDING POINTY CANINES AND SHARP MOLARS, IDEAL FOR BREAKING BONES AND SHREDDING MEAT.

years ago

CAU SES : competition

from other predators

32

Considering its massive size, we can probably assume that the Hyaenodon was not a very able runner. It probably preferred to use stealth for hunting, waiting for its prey (sometimes of considerable size) to come close, then jumping on its back, tackling it to the ground and killing it.

HYAENODON The Hyaenodon was one of the biggest, fiercest predators of its time, and when it attacked, its prey had little hope of escaping.

It used its enormous mouth to seize its prey by the head and puncture its skull.

SCI ENT IFIC NAM E:

Hyaenodon gigas PER IOD : Quaternary DIE T: meat LEN GTH : 10 feet (3 m) HEI GH T: 5 feet (1.5 m) at the withers Disapp ear ed: 20 million

IT HAD 32 TEETH, INCLUDING POINTY CANINES AND SHARP MOLARS, IDEAL FOR BREAKING BONES AND SHREDDING MEAT.

years ago

CAU SES : competition

from other predators

32

Considering its massive size, we can probably assume that the Hyaenodon was not a very able runner. It probably preferred to use stealth for hunting, waiting for its prey (sometimes of considerable size) to come close, then jumping on its back, tackling it to the ground and killing it.

Elephants have ancient relatives that had some strange and unusual looking tusks. They used their tusks to obtain food, digging in the dirt, snapping branches and stripping bark from trees. These tusks may have also been used to attract females during the courting ritual.

PLATYBELODON Tusks were also a distinguishing feature for the Platybelodon. The upper tusks were small and sharp, and the lower ones were broad and flat, like shovels.

DEINOTHERIUM The Deinotherium looked like a very big elephant. Its distinguishing feature was its two large tusks, which, unlike those of other animals with trunks that we know, grew out of its lower jaw and pointed downwards. In older individuals, the tusks could reach a length of 3.3 feet (1 m).

SCI ENT IFIC NAM E:

Platybelodon grangeri PER IOD : Cenozoic DIE T: plants LEN GTH : 23 feet (7 m) HEI GH T: 8 feet (2.5 m) DISAPP EAR ED:

4 million years ago CAU SES : climate change

SCI ENT IFIC NAM E:

Deinotherium giganteum PER IOD : Middle Miocene to Pleistocene DIE T: plants LEN GTH : 23 feet (7 m) HEI GH T: up to 15 feet (4.5 m) DISAPP EAR ED:

1 million years ago CAU SES : climate change

36

THE DEINOTHERIUM LOOKED LIKE AN ELEPHANT BUT IT WAS CONSIDERABLY LARGER!

IT PROBABLY USED ITS LOWER TUSKS TO KNOCK DOWN THE SMALL TREES THAT IT ATE OR TO OBTAIN LARGE AMOUNTS OF AQUATIC PLANTS.

37

Elephants have ancient relatives that had some strange and unusual looking tusks. They used their tusks to obtain food, digging in the dirt, snapping branches and stripping bark from trees. These tusks may have also been used to attract females during the courting ritual.

PLATYBELODON Tusks were also a distinguishing feature for the Platybelodon. The upper tusks were small and sharp, and the lower ones were broad and flat, like shovels.

DEINOTHERIUM The Deinotherium looked like a very big elephant. Its distinguishing feature was its two large tusks, which, unlike those of other animals with trunks that we know, grew out of its lower jaw and pointed downwards. In older individuals, the tusks could reach a length of 3.3 feet (1 m).

SCI ENT IFIC NAM E:

Platybelodon grangeri PER IOD : Cenozoic DIE T: plants LEN GTH : 23 feet (7 m) HEI GH T: 8 feet (2.5 m) DISAPP EAR ED:

4 million years ago CAU SES : climate change

SCI ENT IFIC NAM E:

Deinotherium giganteum PER IOD : Middle Miocene to Pleistocene DIE T: plants LEN GTH : 23 feet (7 m) HEI GH T: up to 15 feet (4.5 m) DISAPP EAR ED:

1 million years ago CAU SES : climate change

36

THE DEINOTHERIUM LOOKED LIKE AN ELEPHANT BUT IT WAS CONSIDERABLY LARGER!

IT PROBABLY USED ITS LOWER TUSKS TO KNOCK DOWN THE SMALL TREES THAT IT ATE OR TO OBTAIN LARGE AMOUNTS OF AQUATIC PLANTS.

37

TITANIS The Titanis was taller than a human. It was unable to fly, but with its powerful back legs, it could run through the American prairies at a speed of around 40 miles per hour (65 km/h).

GIANT PENGUIN SCIENTIF IC NAME:

Titanis walleri PERIOD: Cenozoic DIET: meat HEIGHT: 8 feet (2.5 m) DISAPPEA RED:

1.8 million years ago CAUSES: climate change

SC IE NT IF IC NA ME :

Kumimanu biceae PE RI OD : Cenozoic DI ET: fish HE IG HT: 6 feet (1.8 m) DI SA PP EA RE D:

56 million years ago CAUS ES : competition with marine mammals

CLAW

It should be no surprise that it was known as a “terror bird.”

It was a voracious carnivore ready to use its hatchet-shaped beak to tear any animal that crossed its path to shreds.

It seized its prey and killed it by slamming it repeatedly to the ground, and then it swallowed it whole or tore it to pieces if it was too big.

DIVING DEPTHS

Giant penguins were similar to today’s penguins except that they were bigger and had a considerably longer beak.

They swam in the seas of the Southern Hemisphere, eating great quantities of fish.

Since they were bigger than today’s penguins, they could dive deeper, but like them, giant penguins built their nests on the coast and took care of their young until they were fully grown.

COMMON PENGUIN

48

GIANT PENGUIN

49

TITANIS The Titanis was taller than a human. It was unable to fly, but with its powerful back legs, it could run through the American prairies at a speed of around 40 miles per hour (65 km/h).

GIANT PENGUIN SCIENTIF IC NAME:

Titanis walleri PERIOD: Cenozoic DIET: meat HEIGHT: 8 feet (2.5 m) DISAPPEA RED:

1.8 million years ago CAUSES: climate change

SC IE NT IF IC NA ME :

Kumimanu biceae PE RI OD : Cenozoic DI ET: fish HE IG HT: 6 feet (1.8 m) DI SA PP EA RE D:

56 million years ago CAUS ES : competition with marine mammals

CLAW

It should be no surprise that it was known as a “terror bird.”

It was a voracious carnivore ready to use its hatchet-shaped beak to tear any animal that crossed its path to shreds.

It seized its prey and killed it by slamming it repeatedly to the ground, and then it swallowed it whole or tore it to pieces if it was too big.

DIVING DEPTHS

Giant penguins were similar to today’s penguins except that they were bigger and had a considerably longer beak.

They swam in the seas of the Southern Hemisphere, eating great quantities of fish.

Since they were bigger than today’s penguins, they could dive deeper, but like them, giant penguins built their nests on the coast and took care of their young until they were fully grown.

COMMON PENGUIN

48

GIANT PENGUIN

49

MEGALODON

Its mouth had a number of rows of big, sharp teeth that were about 9 inches (23 cm) long.

When it was open, its mouth was about 10 feet (3 m) wide. With its powerful bite, it could devour whales and other large marine animals after ambushing them from the depths of the sea.

SCIENTIF IC NAME:

Carcharodon megalodon PERIOD: Cenozoic DIET: meat and fish LENGTH: 65.6 feet (20 m) DISAPPEA RED:

52 million years ago Its enormous size makes it the biggest fish that ever existed.

It looked like a great white shark but it was over three times as long. Apparently, however, the two are not related.

It inhabited seas all over the world but it favored warmer waters. Young individuals wandered the waters near the coast, while adults preferred the deeper waters of the open sea.

52

CAUSES:

climate change

MEGALODON

Its mouth had a number of rows of big, sharp teeth that were about 9 inches (23 cm) long.

When it was open, its mouth was about 10 feet (3 m) wide. With its powerful bite, it could devour whales and other large marine animals after ambushing them from the depths of the sea.

SCIENTIF IC NAME:

Carcharodon megalodon PERIOD: Cenozoic DIET: meat and fish LENGTH: 65.6 feet (20 m) DISAPPEA RED:

52 million years ago Its enormous size makes it the biggest fish that ever existed.

It looked like a great white shark but it was over three times as long. Apparently, however, the two are not related.

It inhabited seas all over the world but it favored warmer waters. Young individuals wandered the waters near the coast, while adults preferred the deeper waters of the open sea.

52

CAUSES:

climate change

HE CH SM A I NE AR KW SE R A E RO IVER DOLPHIN’S B OL WE D RA ND L MON M O C ONGER THAN THAT OF A

T

Lipotes vexillifer PERIOD: Quaternary DIET: fish LENGTH: 8 feet (2.5 m) DISAPPEARED: declared extinct in 2006 CAUSES: destruction of its habitat

N

THE YANGTZE RIVER

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

PH IN .

A freshwater dolphin used to live in the Yangtze River in China.

UC H

CHINESE RIVER dolphin

It was grey on its dorsal side and white on its ventral side. It had tiny eyes and a long, narrow upturned beak.

ITS EXTINCTION WAS CAUSED BY THE INTENSE USE OF THE RIVER FOR TRANSPORTATION AND FISHING, THE RADICAL TRANSFORMATION OF ITS HABITAT DUE TO POLLUTION AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS AND HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS.

58

59

HE CH SM A I NE AR KW SE R A E RO IVER DOLPHIN’S B OL WE D RA ND L MON M O C ONGER THAN THAT OF A

T

Lipotes vexillifer PERIOD: Quaternary DIET: fish LENGTH: 8 feet (2.5 m) DISAPPEARED: declared extinct in 2006 CAUSES: destruction of its habitat

N

THE YANGTZE RIVER

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

PH IN .

A freshwater dolphin used to live in the Yangtze River in China.

UC H

CHINESE RIVER dolphin

It was grey on its dorsal side and white on its ventral side. It had tiny eyes and a long, narrow upturned beak.

ITS EXTINCTION WAS CAUSED BY THE INTENSE USE OF THE RIVER FOR TRANSPORTATION AND FISHING, THE RADICAL TRANSFORMATION OF ITS HABITAT DUE TO POLLUTION AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS AND HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS.

58

59

JAVAN TIGER The Javan tiger was a subspecies of tiger that lived only on the Indonesian island that gave it its name—Java.

It was hunted and killed by an everincreasing local population, and its habitat was destroyed to make way for rice fields, teak trees and coffee plantations.

Warrah S C IE N T IF IC N A

The warrah, also known as the Falkland Islands wolf, was a small wolf and the only predator in the Falkland Islands in the southern Atlantic. It was the size of a fox and had a bushy brown tail with a white tip.

M E:

Panthera tigris sond

aica P ER IO D : Quate rnary D IE T: meat LE N GT H : 8 feet (2.5 m)

D ISA P P EA R ED

: declared extinc

t in 1979 C AU S ES : huntin g and the destructio n of its habitat

HUMANS DEPRIVED IT OF ITS FAVORITE PREY, DEER AND WILD BOAR, AND EVENTUALLY IT LACKED SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO SURVIVE.

WHEN HUMANS ARRIVED ON THE ISLANDS, THEY BROUGHT THEIR FLOCKS, AND IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEM, THEY GOT RID OF THESE POTENTIAL PREDATORS, POISONING THEM AND EXTERMINATING ALL OF THEIR PACKS.

SCIE NTIF IC NAM E:

Dusicyon australis PERI OD: Quaternary DIET: meat, insects and mollusks LENGTH: 3.3 feet (1 m) HEIG HT: 15 inches (38 cm) DISA PPEA RED: 1876 CAUS ES: hunting

THE ISLAND OF JAVA

THE FALKLAND ISLANDS

63

JAVAN TIGER The Javan tiger was a subspecies of tiger that lived only on the Indonesian island that gave it its name—Java.

It was hunted and killed by an everincreasing local population, and its habitat was destroyed to make way for rice fields, teak trees and coffee plantations.

Warrah S C IE N T IF IC N A

The warrah, also known as the Falkland Islands wolf, was a small wolf and the only predator in the Falkland Islands in the southern Atlantic. It was the size of a fox and had a bushy brown tail with a white tip.

M E:

Panthera tigris sond

aica P ER IO D : Quate rnary D IE T: meat LE N GT H : 8 feet (2.5 m)

D ISA P P EA R ED

: declared extinc

t in 1979 C AU S ES : huntin g and the destructio n of its habitat

HUMANS DEPRIVED IT OF ITS FAVORITE PREY, DEER AND WILD BOAR, AND EVENTUALLY IT LACKED SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO SURVIVE.

WHEN HUMANS ARRIVED ON THE ISLANDS, THEY BROUGHT THEIR FLOCKS, AND IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEM, THEY GOT RID OF THESE POTENTIAL PREDATORS, POISONING THEM AND EXTERMINATING ALL OF THEIR PACKS.

SCIE NTIF IC NAM E:

Dusicyon australis PERI OD: Quaternary DIET: meat, insects and mollusks LENGTH: 3.3 feet (1 m) HEIG HT: 15 inches (38 cm) DISA PPEA RED: 1876 CAUS ES: hunting

THE ISLAND OF JAVA

THE FALKLAND ISLANDS

63