Pleistocene extinctions Pleistocene extinctions The American lion, also known as the North American or American cave lion, is an extinct feline known from fossils. It is comparable in size to the Eurasian cave lion, the largest cat that ever existed, and was about 25% larger than the modern African lion. ...more on Wikipedia about "American lion"
Arctodus, also known as the Short-Faced Bear, is a genus of extinct bear. One species, the Giant Short-Faced Bear ( Arctodus simus) was the biggest bear ever to have lived. Standing 1.5 metres at the shoulder (over 3 metres when standing on hind legs) and equipped with powerful jaws this bear would have been an intimidating sight. It probably weighed an average of about 2000 pounds, and was much leaner in build than the Brown Bear. ...more on Wikipedia about "Arctodus"
The Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus) was a species of bear which lived in Europe during the Pleistocene and became extinct at the end of the last ice age about 10,000 years ago. ...more on Wikipedia about "Cave Bear"
The cave lion, also known as the European or Eurasian cave lion, is an extinct feline known from fossils and a wide variety of prehistoric art. It is the largest cat that ever existed, and was about 25% larger than the modern African lion. ...more on Wikipedia about "Cave lion"
Chasmaporthetes was a hyena which hunted prey at high speed, rather like a modern cheetah. It was the only hyaenid genus which crossed the Bering Strait into North America, during the Pliocene era. ...more on Wikipedia about "Chasmaporthetes"
The Columbian Mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) is an extinct sub-species of elephant that inhabited the Great Plain of North America between 100,000 and 14,000 years ago. The species was one of the largest mammoths to have lived, measuring 4 metres at the shoulder and weighing 10,000 kg (9.8 tons). It was a herbivore, with a diet consisting of varied plant life ranging from grasses to conifers. It is also theorised that the Columbian Mammoth ate the giant fruits of North America such as the Osage-orange, Kentucky coffee and Honey locust as there was no other large herbivore in North America then that could ingest these fruits. ...more on Wikipedia about "Columbian Mammoth"
Deinotheriidae ("terrible beasts") are a family of prehistoric elephant-like proboscideans that lived during the Tertiary period, appearing in Africa, and then speading across southern Asia (Indo-Pakistan), and Europe. During that time they changed very little, apart from growing much larger in size, until by the Late Miocene they had become the largest land animals of their time. Their most distinctive feature were the downward curving tusks on the lower jaw. ...more on Wikipedia about "Deinotheriidae"
Deinotherium ("terrible beast") was a huge prehistoric proto-elephant that appeared in the Middle Miocene and continued until the Early Pleistocene. During that time it changed very little. In life it probably resembled modern elephants, except that its trunk was probably not as long, and it had downward curving tusks attached to the lower jaw. ...more on Wikipedia about "Deinotherium"
Dinofelis is a genus of machairodontin saber-toothed cats belong to the tribe Metailurini that lived in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America approximately 5-1.2 million years ago (most of which would have been in the Pliocene). ...more on Wikipedia about "Dinofelis"
Diprotodonts were the largest marsupials that ever lived. They, along with many other members of a group of unusually species collectively called the Australian megafauna, existed from 1.6 million years ago until about 50,000 years ago (through most of the Pleistocene epoch). Diprotodon spp. fossils have been found in many places across Australia, including complete skulls and skeletons, as well as hair and foot impressions. More than one female skeleton has been found with a baby lying where it died while still in its mother's pouch. ...more on Wikipedia about "Diprotodont"
(Dire Wolf) | species = C. dirus ...more on Wikipedia about "Dire Wolf"
The Giant Unicorn (Elasmotherium sibiricum) was a rhinoceros which stood two meters high and six meters long, with a single two-meter-long horn in the forehead. Its habitat was the steppes south of the range of the Woolly Rhinoceros. It may have weighed up to 5 tonnes. Its legs were longer than those of other rhinos and were designed for galloping, giving it a horse-like gait. It was probably a fast runner, in spite of its size. Its teeth were similar to those of horses, and it probably grazed low herbs. ...more on Wikipedia about "Elasmotherium"
Elephas recki is an enormous, extinct species of elephant. It lived in Africa between 3.5 and 1 million years ago. Although fossils have only been found in the eastern part of the continent, it is believed that E. recki ranged throughout Africa. The Asian Elephant is a member of the same genus, and it is still extant. ...more on Wikipedia about "Elephas recki"
Gigantopithecus was a genus of ape that existed from as long ago as 5 million years ago and as recently as 100 thousand years ago in what is today the countries of China and India. The fossil record suggests that the Gigantopithecus species were the largest apes that ever lived. It was a quadruped and an herbivore and probably had a diet that consisted primarily of bamboo. Although it is not known why Gigantopithecus died out, researchers believe that climate change and resource competition with better adapted species were the main reasons. ...more on Wikipedia about "Gigantopithecus"
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Gigantopithecus blacki ( Greek and Latin for "Black's Giant Ape") is an extinct species of ape. ...more on Wikipedia about "Gigantopithecus blacki"
Glyptodon (Greek for "grooved or carved tooth") was a relative of the armadillo that lived during the Pleistocene Epoch. It is named for its globe-shaped teeth. Flatter than a Volkswagen Beetle, but about the same general size and weight, the glyptodon (or glyptodont) is believed to have been a herbivore, grazing on grasses and other plants found near rivers and small bodies of water. A large and heavy mammal, it could probably only have moved one or two miles per hour. ...more on Wikipedia about "Glyptodon"
Homo antecessor is an extinct hominin species that was discovered by E. Carbonell, J.L. Arsuaga and J.M. Bermudez de Castro. They are one of the earliest known hominins in Europe, with those from the site of Dmanisi being older. The best preserved fossil is a maxillar which belong to a 10 year old individual found in Spain dated to 780,000 years ago. The average brain was 1000 cc in volume. In 1994 and 1995, 80 fossils of six individuals that may have belonged to the species were found in Atapuerca, Spain. At the site were numerous examples of cuts on the bones, which indicates H. antecessor may have practiced cannibalism. Many anthropologists believe that Homo antecessor is either the same species or direct descendent to Homo heidelbergensis, who inhabited Europe from 600,000 to 250,000 years ago in the Pleistocene. It is suggested that this is the last common ancestor of Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens. ...more on Wikipedia about "Homo antecessor"
Homo cepranensis is a proposed name for a hominin species discovered in 1994 known from only one skull cap. The fossil was discovered by archeologist Italo Biddittu and was nick-named "Ceprano Man" after a nearby town 89 kilometers Southeast of Rome, Italy. The age of the fossil is older than fossils attributable to Homo antecessor from Spain and is estimated to be between 800,000 and 900,000 years old. The cranial features on the bone seem to be a cross between those found on Homo erectus and those of later species such as Homo heidelbergensis which dominated Europe long before Homo neanderthalensis. There is yet not enough material to make a complete analysis of the individual. ...more on Wikipedia about "Homo cepranensis"
Homo erectus ("upright man") is a hominin species that is believed to be an ancestor of modern humans (with Homo heidelbergensis usually treated as an intermediary step). The species is found from the middle Pleistocene onwards. ...more on Wikipedia about "Homo erectus"
Homo erectus soloensis (formerly classified as Homo sapiens soloensis) is generally regarded as a subspecies of the extinct hominin, Homo erectus. The only known specimens of this anomalous hominid were retrieved from sites along the Bengawan Solo River, on the Indonesian island of Java. The remains are also commonly referred to as Ngandong, after the village near where they were first recovered. ...more on Wikipedia about "Homo erectus soloensis"
Homo ergaster ("working man") is an extinct hominid species (or subspecies, according to some authorities) which lived throughout eastern and southern Africa between 1.9 to 1.4 million years ago with the advent of the lower Pleistocene and the cooling of the global climate. ...more on Wikipedia about "Homo ergaster"
| species = H. floresiensis ...more on Wikipedia about "Homo floresiensis"
Homo georgicus is a species of hominin that was suggested in 2002 to describe fossil skulls and jaws found in Dmanisi, Georgia in 1999 and 2001, which seem intermediate between Homo habilis and H. erectus. A partial skeleton was discovered in 2001. The fossils are about 1.8 million years old. The remains were first discovered in 1991 by Georgian scientist, David Lordkipanidzeis accompanied by an international team which unearthed the hominin remains. Implements and animal bones were found alongside the ancient hominin remains. ...more on Wikipedia about "Homo georgicus"
Homo habilis «HOH moh HAB uh luhs» ("handy man", "skillful person") is a species of the genus Homo, which lived from approximately 2.5 million to 1.8 million years ago at the beginning of the Pleistocene. The definition of this species is credited to both Mary and Louis Leakey, who found fossils in Tanzania, East Africa, between 1962 and 1964. Homo habilis is arguably the first species of the Homo genus to appear. In its appearance and morphology, H. habilis was the least similar to modern humans of all species to be placed in the genus Homo (except possibly Homo rudolfensis). Homo habilis was very short and had disproportionately long arms compared to modern man. It is thought to have probably descended from a species of australopithecine hominid. It may have had a more immediate ancestor in the form of the somewhat more massive and ape-like, Homo rudolfensis. Homo habilis had a brain slightly less than half of the size of modern man. These early human ancestors were small, on average standing no more than 1.3 m (4'3") tall. ...more on Wikipedia about "Homo habilis"
Homo heidelbergensis (nicknamed " Goliath") is an extinct species of the genus Homo and the direct ancestor of Homo neanderthalensis in Europe. Similar "Archaic Homo sapiens" found in Africa (ie. Homo rhodesiensis and Homo sapiens idaltu) are thought to be direct ancestors of modern Homo sapiens. Homo antecessor is likely a direct ancestor living 750,000 years ago evolving into Homo heidelbergensis appearing in the fossil record living roughly 600,000 to 250,000 years ago through various areas of Europe. ...more on Wikipedia about "Homo heidelbergensis"
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