Buzz
The realm of extinct animals hosts a distinct group—creatures with fearsome appearances. Whether it’s for hunting or escaping danger, both predators and prey evolved fascinating physical traits to enhance survival.
From whales with sharp fangs to plant-eaters that developed a taste for meat, and carnivores unlike anything we know today, ancient animals were true masters of survival. New fossil discoveries have also revealed terrifying predators that once roamed the prehistoric world, along with the chilling mystery of a unique, if gruesome, shark.
10. Whales That Feasted on Other Whales
Egypt's Wadi Al-Hitan ('Valley of the Whales') is filled with the remains of long-extinct whales. In 2010, researchers discovered a skeleton protruding from the sand, later identified as Basilosaurus isis. This species grew to 15–18 meters (50–60 ft) in length and lived between 34 and 38 million years ago.
Although it was a whale, B. isis didn’t feed on krill or plankton like its modern counterparts. Instead, this creature was a fierce predator that hunted other whales. This particular specimen offered the first definitive evidence of this hunting behavior.
Inside the whale’s stomach, researchers found the remains of a calf, which belonged to a smaller whale species called Dorudon atrox, growing up to 5 meters (16 ft) long. Bite marks on the calf’s skull, matching the teeth of B. isis, confirmed it was a kill and not a carcass scavenged by the larger animal.
Once again, the teeth of this ancient whale were vastly different from any modern species. B. isis had sharp fangs similar to a wolf's and teeth at the back of its mouth designed for gripping and tearing.
9. The Largest Predator of the Early Jurassic
In 1996, near the Italian village of Saltrio, a quarry unearthed a remarkable dinosaur. Despite years of dynamite blasts damaging the fossil, 130 pieces were recovered. It took almost two decades to reconstruct and identify the creature as a new species, Saltriovenator zanellai.
Weighing about a ton, it was the largest predator of the Early Jurassic period. Although not the biggest carnivorous dinosaur to ever exist, Saltriovenator was still an impressive hunter. It walked on two legs, equipped with serrated teeth and deadly claws.
This dinosaur lived around 198 million years ago, a time significant because it predated the rise of larger meat-eating dinosaurs by 25 million years. The beast grew up to 7.6 meters (25 ft) in length, but tragically, it died at a juvenile age.
At 24 years old, this hunter somehow ended up on the seabed. The fossil's uniqueness is further emphasized by scars left by scavengers. It’s the first dinosaur remains found to have been nibbled by at least three distinct marine creatures—ancient sharks, urchins, and sea worms.
8. Meat-Eating Herbivores
Pachycephalosaurus is a common feature in children's dinosaur books. Illustrations often depict these dome-headed creatures battling each other or grazing on plants. Though classified as herbivores, only partial jaws have been found—always the back portion. Despite this, they displayed the characteristic teeth of plant-eaters. Pachycephalosaurus most likely fed on fruits and tough plants.
In 2018, researchers in Albuquerque were baffled when they discovered the most complete skull ever found of this species. For the first time, it revealed a fully intact front jaw, which featured teeth unlike any seen before. Sharp, serrated blades resembling those of a carnivore, particularly T. rex, were discovered. Notably, Pachycephalosaurus lived during the same period, around 66 to 68 million years ago.
Further studies may lead to a reclassification of Pachycephalosaurus as an opportunistic predator and omnivore, solving a long-standing mystery. Fossils from this era often yield teeth from small carnivores, but the source of these remains has been elusive. Pachycephalosaurus might hold the key.
7. The Oldest Tyrannosaur
In 2012, an expedition uncovered bone fragments in New Mexico. Found in the Menefee Formation, the skeleton was severely weathered, resulting in a lengthy restoration process. Once completed, it revealed an 80-million-year-old tyrannosaur species.
This discovery was extraordinary. The newly identified dinosaur predated the other 25 known tyrannosaur species by millions of years. Dynamoterror dynastes was unusually large for its time. It soon became clear that this 9-meter-long (30 ft) carnivore was part of the same group as large predators like T. rex, which appeared 15 million years later.
Dynamoterror is also notable for another reason. During this period, North America's dinosaur evolution took an unusual turn. A sea split the continent, causing dinosaur species to evolve differently in the north and south. The unique features of this tyrannosaur may provide insights into these evolutionary paths.
6. Madagascar’s Super Crocodile
When a species' early history remains a mystery, paleontologists refer to it as a "ghost" lineage. The notosuchians are one such group. In 2017, a discovery not only suggested their origins from southern Gondwana (the original supercontinent) but also introduced a new member of this group.
Found in Madagascar, Razanandrongobe sakalavae had a striking resemblance to a crocodile. Its head alone measured 1 meter (3.3 ft) long and bore a menacing grin. Each tooth was 15 centimeters (6 in) long, resembling those of T. rex, which made this creature the apex predator of its time.
Researchers pieced together the species using this new specimen and pieces rediscovered in museums. The combined evidence revealed that R. sakalavae was likely the largest and oldest of the notosuchians. This predator chased dinosaurs around 163 million years ago, beating the previous oldest notosuchian by an astonishing 42 million years.
5. Destroyer Of Shins
When a dinosaur met its end 76 million years ago, it earned a name inspired by a monster from the 1984 movie Ghostbusters. The fictional Zuul was a terrifying hellhound with a gargoyle-like face.
In 2014, the fossil resurfaced in Montana. It turned out to be a previously unknown ankylosaurid—a dinosaur resembling a tank with an armor-covered body and a tail that functioned like a heavy club. The exceptional preservation of the fossil led to the movie-inspired name Zuul crurivastator.
When it died, Zuul was entombed in river sand. This preserved not only its armor but also the soft tissue around it, revealing injuries that suggested conflicts with its own kind—an encounter far from humorous.
Though herbivores, this species was equipped with a tail capable of crushing the legs of T. rex. Its tail, 2 meters (7 ft) long, featured a bony ball and spikes, making it a formidable weapon. The creature's name, crurivastator, meaning 'destroyer of shins,' came from this fearsome appendage, while the face inspired the 'Zuul' part.
4. Dinosaurs With Mohawks
Among the most iconic of dinosaurs, sauropods were massive herbivores known for their long necks and whiplike tails. However, not all sauropods relied on sheer size for protection.
In 2013, a smaller species was discovered in Argentina. This new find, named Bajadasaurus pronuspinax, was a mere 9–10 meters (30–33 ft) long, much smaller compared to other sauropods.
When paleontologists came across a bony spine, their analysis suggested it was part of a series extending along the dinosaur's neck and back, resembling a Mohawk. These spikes were likely long, sharp, and thin, possibly covered with a layer of keratin, giving them a horn-like appearance.
Since this strange feature disappeared with the species 140 million years ago, determining its exact purpose is challenging. One plausible theory proposes that the sauropods grew Mohawks to appear larger and more threatening than they actually were.
3. The Scissor Shark
Approximately 330 million years ago, well before dinosaurs appeared, there existed a shark unlike any other. Edestus was first identified in the 19th century after fossils were discovered in both England and the United States.
Experts have long debated the eating habits of Edestus, specifically the reason behind its unusual teeth. Modern sharks have teeth that grow in upper and lower crescents. However, Edestus had two rows of teeth that resembled pinking shears. This unique feature has never been observed in any other species, before or after.
With little to guide them, scientists' theories and debates proliferated until a recent CT scan revealed new insights. The scan led to the creation of a three-dimensional model of the shark's head, showing how its terrifying bite functioned. Astonishingly, the shark’s jaw operated like a double-jointed system, with the saw-like teeth of the upper and lower jaws snapping together, while the lower jaw moved backward to cut off chunks of prey.
2. T. rex Made Deadly Turns
When most people imagine Tyrannosaurus rex hunting, they envision a massive, thundering predator. The idea of this colossal beast executing sharp, precise turns might seem impossible. After all, these creatures weighed about 400 kilograms (880 lb). Yet, T. rex was capable of intercepting prey with astonishing agility, executing turns similar to those of a figure skater.
A 2018 study discovered that T. rex had hip bones and leg muscles uniquely adapted to make them the deadly dancers of the prehistoric world. Interestingly, younger T. rex were even faster, able to spin quicker than the adults, a trait that likely helped them survive to maturity.
These dinosaurs thrived during the Cretaceous period (145 million to 65 million years ago). To test whether pivoting was common among other predators of the time, researchers employed advanced technology to analyze other terrifying creatures of the era. When all these creatures were digitally made to turn on one foot, T. rex was able to spin up to three times faster than the rest.
1. The Meat Hook Hunter
A formidable nightmare once roamed South America, the size of a truck. This carnivorous beast hunted using claws that resembled 40-centimeter (16-inch) meat hooks. Its discovery in 2006 was a groundbreaking event for scientists. The Megaraptoridae family, to which it belongs, remains one of the most enigmatic.
This specimen was not only one of the largest of its kind but also the final one. Tragically, it existed during the Late Cretaceous, just before the extinction of the dinosaurs. Discovered in Argentina, Tratayenia rosalesi provided valuable insights into its species.
The carnivorous creature stretched 9 meters (30 feet) in length and featured bones with air-filled pockets—a characteristic found in modern birds. Living between 95 million and 85 million years ago, T. rosalesi may have shared a closer relation to T. rex. This could explain its serrated, dagger-like teeth and why T. rosalesi was one of the largest and most dangerous predators of its era.
