The 7 Deadliest Animals You’ll Be Happy Are Extinct

Dinosaurs aren’t the only ancient animals that existed centuries ago, and there were terrifying versions of the animals inhabiting the Earth today, from reptiles to mammals. Some of those creatures were also humongous, and humans would definitely have a challenging time containing them. With their remarkable features that make hunting easy, you’ll definitely be thankful that they evolved into smaller, less dangerous counterparts of themselves.

Various groups of scientists are still in the works of cloning extinct animals. A de-extinction project and the film industry have adapted this concept by releasing the infamous Jurassic Park franchise. In reality, de-extinction is not happening just yet. In 2003, scientists from Europe were able to resurrect the Pyrenean ibex. However, the kid did not last long, as it died a few minutes after birth. For this reason, the Pyrenean ibex was named “the animal that went extinct twice.” How far can de-extinction efforts really go?

7 Terrifying Animals You’ll Be Happy Are Extinct

If cloning or resurrecting extinct species will be successful, you must hope that the animals listed below won’t be part of the plan.

Megalania

The giant goanna, or the Megalania, is the largest terrestrial lizard that once lived in eastern Australian Pleistocene habitats. Its close relative is the Komodo Dragon. The Megalania is a formidable predator that hunts for large mammals, other reptiles, and birds. Its hunting skills are top-rate as it will surprisingly ambush its prey — they are terribly good at hiding and can instantly immobilize the victim. The giant goanna went extinct 50,000 years ago, and Megalania fossils have not been found in their entirety — experts are yet to discover other fragments of the ancient lizards’ skeletons.

Titanoboa

Five times larger than the anaconda, the Titanoboa is one dreadful predator that can be compared to the T-rex. The gigantic snake made the South American jungles its kingdom 60 million years ago. This legendary snake was said to be 50 feet in length and weighed over 2,500 pounds. The Titanoboa can quickly catch its prey, as it can thoroughly blend with the muddy forest due to its brown skin. For this reason, humans wouldn’t be able to easily catch a Titanoboa once it goes berserk and constricts anyone in the way.

Dunkleosteus terelli

Sharks wouldn’t be the only fish that would make you wary of the deep, vast ocean if the Dunkleosteus terelli existed today. They were the largest underwater predator reigning in the Devonian “Age of Fishes” era, over three hundred fifty-eight million years ago. Dunkleosteus terelli was 10 meters long and had an armor-plated head. Its mouth was lined with self-sharpening teeth that could bite with a force of 5,000 newtons. The underwater predator could bite a shark into pieces — any prey would not be able to escape their jaws.

Haast’s Eagle

New Zealand has no records of large ancient mammalian forms, but, eight hundred years ago, the deadliest predator the island was terrified of was the Haast’s Eagle. The evidence shows that the humongous bird existed when the Māori arrived in New Zealand. Haast’s Eagle had a wingspan of two to three meters and weighed thirteen pounds, and they also had immense claws that measured up to nine centimeters. They could prey on animals that weigh two hundred kilograms — the Moa bird was their favorite meal. Nowadays, reports show that eagles often snatch human children — imagine if this massive bird existed today.

Megalodon

This underwater carnivore can scare both humans and animals; the Megalodon is the largest shark ever. Its name means “large tooth,” which is evident in the collected fossils — the giant’s teeth were 18 centimeters long. This predatory fish preyed on massive animals such as humpback whales. Its jaw measured up to 2.7 by 3.4 meters wide, which could swallow two adult humans fairly easily. The mega shark was such an immense and notable legend that film creators created projects inspired by it — interpreting how precarious its existence for humans would be.

Terror Birds

Taller than humans, the Phorusrhacids, famously known as terror birds, could run fast and kill prey. It was a flightless meat-eating bird that ruled as a predator in South America — feasting on both herbivores and small carnivorous mammals. Terror birds had gigantic sharp beaks which they used to tear their victims with the help of their long, razor-sharp talons. These birds went extinct before humans appeared on the planet. The terror birds’ modern relatives are parrots, falcons, and passerines.

Daeodon shoshonensis

You’d run for your life if you encountered the huge carnivorous hog called the Daeodon shoshonensis. It’s one of the largest predators that roamed North America twenty-five million years ago. The Daeodon shoshonensis had a meter-long skull with rigid jaws and strong teeth for killing its victims. This terrible pig hunted horses and camels, and it was also recorded as the largest entelodont that ever existed. They are often called “hell pigs,” but studies claim that these pigs are not related to modern pigs. Daeodon shoshonensis are more closely related to hippos and whales in the evolutionary tree.

The Extinction of Gigantic Deadly Animals

It’s hard to believe that these titanic animals once inhabited the Earth. Would they be able to survive civilization and adjust to how humans have changed the environment? Maybe these animals did not really go extinct — they just evolved into a version of themselves that would adjust well to the modern era. Imagine the daily encounters between humans and terror birds. Wouldn’t that be horrifying?

The animals listed above are just seven of the most lethal creatures that once dominated Kingdom Animalia. Today’s environment wouldn’t be the best habitat with them around, and cohabiting with these animals seems impossible. Thank goodness we don’t have to.