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Spinosaurus

Spinosaurus was the largest known carnivorous dinosaur, outsizing even T. Rex at a maximum length of 59 feet. Spinosaurus has been through many reimaginings by the scientific community over the years, and has been considered at times to be either an aquatic or a terrestrial predator.

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Therizinosaurus

Therizinosaurus was a strange dinosaur that lived roughly 120 million years ago and weighed about 6 tons. Its most distinctive feature was its three-foot-long claws. These claws were probably used for collecting vegetation to eat, but were also used for self-defense and could do some serious damage. Therizinosaurus isn’t known as ‘the reaping lizard’ for nothing.

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Titanoboa

60 million years ago, the early rainforests of the Earth were stalked by the apex predator Titanoboa. This prehistoric monster was up to 50 feet long and 3 feet wide, making it the largest snake to ever live. Cold-blooded Titanoboa was able to grow to such a huge size due to the hot climate of prehistoric Earth– there’s a reason to stop global warming if there ever was one.

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Terror Bird

Phorusracos, more commonly known as the Terror Bird, was a flightless bird that lived 12 million years ago. At about eight feet tall and 300 pounds, Terror Birds lived up to their name as fearsome predators. Based on the behavior of related species, paleontologists believe Terror Birds killed their prey by grabbing it with their talons and bashing its head on the ground repeatedly to crack its skull.

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Sarcosuchus

Sarcosuchus was a 40-foot long, 10-ton crocodile-like reptilian predator from the Cretaceous era. It likely had a varied diet that consisted of basically any animal foolish enough to wander into its path– anything from dinosaurs to other crocodiles. Sarcosuchus has been nicknamed SuperCroc, and it’s not hard to see why.

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Rhizodus

Rhizodus, which lived roughly 330 to 300 million years ago, was likely the largest freshwater fish to ever live. It had massive teeth that resembled those of tyrannosaurs, and dismembered its prey by death-rolling like a crocodile. And if you think you could stay safe by staying out of the water, think again. It’s thought that Rhizodus could use its powerful fins to crawl onto land and follow its prey onto the shore.

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Megalodon

This 40 to 60 foot long shark ruled the oceans of Earth from about 17 million years ago to about 3 million years ago. Paleontologists estimate that the megalodon needed to eat 2,500 pounds of food every day to survive. Some cryptozoologists believe megalodons still lurk somewhere in the depths of the sea. We think they’d be pretty hard to miss.

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Smilodon

Sabertooth cats were around from about 56 million years ago to as recently as 11,700 years ago. Yes, that sounds like a long time ago, but in the grand scheme of things it’s practically yesterday. Smilodon had 8 inch long fangs it used to slash and stab its prey, taking down animals much larger than it. Be glad these things aren’t still roaming around North America!

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Livyatan melvillei

This extinct sperm whale relative, also known as the dire whale, is named after the biblical Leviathan and Herman Melville. It could be up to 57 feet long, and had teeth that were 14.5 inches long, the longest teeth used for feeding known from any animal ever. Livyatan fed on large prey like other whales, and was a direct competitor for prey with Megalodon.

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Jaekelopterus

Jaekelopterus was an eight foot long giant sea scorpion with multiple spiked and snatching claws. You might take some solace in the fact that they usually stayed in the ocean catching fish to devour, but they did crawl up onto the shore regularly to molt. Now that’s a way to ruin a beach day.

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Gorgonops

Gorgonops was basically a cross between a crocodile and a sabertooth tiger. It lived about 260 million years ago and was a key predator in Africa. It could be up to six feet long, and could chase down and eviscerate prey with its powerful legs and long sharp canine teeth.

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Giganotosaurus

Giganotosaurus was a theropod dinosaur about 43 feet long, making it 3 feet longer than T. Rex. It had long serrated teeth made for slicing through flesh, and may have been a pack hunter. Imagine being chased by a group of 43-foot-long killing machines with steak knives in their mouths. We’re glad that meteor hit.

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Arctodus

Arctodus is considered to be one of the largest terrestrial carnivorous mammals to ever live. Despite weighing over 1500 pounds and measuring around 12 feet standing up, it could likely run over 40 miles per hour. Considering how terrifying grizzly bears are, imagine a bear that weighed over twice as much and was nearly twice the height. I’d never go camping again.

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Dinopithecus

Dinopithecus, whose name aptly translates to ‘terrible ape’, was a giant baboon who lived during the Pleistocene era. They were almost six feet tall and mainly carnivorous, with plants making up only 2% of their diets. They may have preyed on early humans.

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Azhdarchid

Azhdarchids were gigantic pterosaurs, as tall as a giraffe with a wingspan of up to 30 feet. Though they had huge wings, they were likely land predators, chasing down and snatching up prey from the ground. Whatever prey they couldn’t swallow whole they’d bash to death. Thank god these things are not still around.

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Arthropleura

Arthropleura was a millipede-like arthropod that walked the Earth with its many legs during the Permian period. It was about 8.5 feet long– roughly the size of a full-grown American alligator. It holds the title of largest terrestrial invertebrate to ever live.

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