EARLY HUMAN FAMILY

Long ago, the Earth was populated by many kinds of humans. Today, we modern humans (Homo sapiens) are alone on the Earth (except perhaps for the “Hobbit” (H. floresiensis) of Indonesia). The development of Humankind from prehistory to modern times is like an orchard of fruit trees. Some of the trees continuously bore fruit, while ( Read more... )

Unlike many other prehistoric Animals, Mountain “Beaver” (Aplodontia rufa) is still with us. She is neither a Beaver nor an inhabitant of the mountains; instead Mountain “Beaver” is the most primitive Rodent alive today. In the Eocene epoch (about 44 million years ago), Her Family had split off from the Squirrel Family. Since then, She lived in ( Read more... )

The Family of Bears (Ursidae) is usually divided into three Sub-families - Giant Panda (Ailuropodinae), True Bears (Ursinae), and Short-faced Bears (Tremarctinae). Today only Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) of South America represents the Short-faced Bear Sub-family. Extinct members of the Tremarctinae included Arctodus pristinus (Lesser Short ( Read more... )

Since Amphicyonids resemble both Bears and Dogs, They became known as “Bear-dogs”. These Carnivores had skulls similar to Dogs but feet and claws similar to Bears. In addition, various Members of the Bear-dog Family had bodies that ranged from being Dog-like to Bear-like. In fact, scientists once thought that Amphicyonids were “true dogs”, but now ( Read more... )

The Great Dying of the Permian Period occurred about 250 million years ago. At that time, about ninety percent of all animals on the earth died out. One group that did survive was the Cynodont Family, which then thrived before the rise of the Dinosaurs (at the end of the Triassic Period). From this group of proto-mammals (Therapsids (Synapsids ( Read more... )

From 50,000 to 10,000 years ago, Woolly Rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) roamed throughout Europe and Northern Asia. As detailed in many cave paintings, Woolly Rhinoceros was well-adapted to life in the Ice Age for He had an undercoat of thick fur and a top coat of shaggy hair. To survive in the extreme conditions of the freezing cold, He also ( Read more... )

A giant amongst Deer, Megaloceros stood twelve feet (3.5 meters) high with a rack of antlers which were 6.6. feet (two meters). This Giant Deer was well-known for his antlers, which was shaped like two outstretched human palms. Also, his former name of “Irish Elk” was derived from the many bones of his that were first found in Irish bogs. ( Read more... )

As one of the strangest mammals in prehistory, Chalicotherium has baffled paleontologists for a long time. When fossils were first found of this animal, naturalists thought that She had to be a predator. What they had discovered were the long sharp claws of Chalicotherium. Since She had no modern descendents to guide them, paleontologists ( Read more... )

“Creature Teacher Cards: Animal Wisdom for All Ages”, Scott Alexander King and Sioux Dollman, Blue Angel Publishing: Victoria (Australia), 2008 ( Read more... )

One of the first Animals to have specialized teeth was Cynognathus, a Cynodont (proto-Mammal). This meat-eater had two canines to stab her prey with, and cheek teeth to shear meat off. A cross between Dog and Lizard, Cynognathus was the top predator during the Triassic before the rise of the Dinosaurs. Like modern Wolves, Cynognathus hunted in ( Read more... )