{"id":1868,"date":"2024-11-29T09:18:52","date_gmt":"2024-11-29T06:18:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/?p=1868"},"modified":"2024-11-29T09:18:52","modified_gmt":"2024-11-29T06:18:52","slug":"incredible-extinct-creatures-that-once-ruled-our-planet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/index.php\/2024\/11\/29\/incredible-extinct-creatures-that-once-ruled-our-planet\/","title":{"rendered":"Incredible Extinct Creatures That Once Ruled Our Planet"},"content":{"rendered":"

The wildlife we\u2019ve lost forever<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Over 99% of all species that have ever existed on Earth are now extinct. As we confront a growing number of species currently under threat, it’s crucial to reflect on the incredible creatures we’ve already lost \u2014 some at the hands of humankind. From the gigantic land mammals of the ancient past to the smallest sea creatures lost to climate change, each entry reminds us of the urgency of conservation.<\/p>\n

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Read on as we reveal some extinct animals that we’ll never see roam Planet Earth again…\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Dunkleosteus<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Dunkleosteus\"<\/p>\n

Dunkleosteus roamed the oceans around what is now North America, Europe\u00a0and Morocco from 358 to 382 million years ago. This giant fish grew up to 33 feet\u00a0in length, had an armour-plated head, but lacked true teeth \u2013\u00a0instead it had two long bony blades that could snap and crush its prey.<\/p>\n

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Quetzalcoatlus<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Quetzalcoatlus\"<\/p>\n

Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest known flying animals, lived around 70-65 million years ago. With a wingspan exceeding 30 feet, it soared over what is now North America. Quetzalcoatlus fossils, especially those found in Texas, reveal that it equaled the large birds of today in its flying prowess.<\/p>\n

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Megalodon<\/h3>\n

\"Megalodon\"<\/p>\n

That’s right: the Meg! Megalodon was a giant shark that lived from 23 to 3.6 million years ago and inhabited warm oceans worldwide. Reaching lengths of up to 60 feet, it preyed on whales and large fish. Bearing a resemblance to the modern great white shark, Megalodon teeth, often the size of a human hand, are frequently found in marine sediments, showcasing its formidable presence.<\/p>\n

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Smilodon<\/h3>\n

\"Smilodon\"<\/p>\n

Smilodon, commonly known as the saber-toothed cat, lived in the Americas from 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago. Weighing up to 620lbs, it had long, curved saber-like canine teeth. Smilodon resembles modern big cats, like lions and tigers, but is distinct for its powerful forelimbs and elongated fangs. Many fossils have been discovered in the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, providing significant insight into this fierce predator’s life.<\/p>\n

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Pinta Giant Tortoise<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Pinta<\/p>\n

Endemic to the Galapagos Islands, the pinta giant tortoise was a significant species studied by Charles Darwin. Its population plummeted due to centuries of hunting, especially by whalers in the 19th century. The subspecies was assumed extinct by the mid-20th century, until a single male was discovered in 1971. Attempts were made to mate Lonesome George, the last known individual of the species, with similar subspecies, but they were unsuccessful. Lonesome George died alone in June 2012.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The wildlife we\u2019ve lost forever Over 99% of all species that have ever existed on Earth are now extinct. As we confront a growing number of species currently under threat, it’s crucial to reflect on the incredible creatures we’ve already lost \u2014 some at the hands of humankind. From the gigantic land mammals of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1868"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1870,"href":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868\/revisions\/1870"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedresponse.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}