This list includes ancient animals that aren’t dinosaurs. There were other amazing prehistoric creatures! Some of the world’s most magnificent, and oddest, ancient creatures are included in this list, several of which were early cousins of current-day animals.
Are you ready to face the Titanoboa?
This page contains pictures and information on prehistoric animals that lived after the dinosaurs, as we’ve already made a list of awesome prehistoric creatures that lived with dinosaurs.
Giant horses, ferocious birds, the world’s largest snake, and other ancient creatures will be among the creatures we’ll see.
List of Prehistoric Animals That Are Not Dinosaurs
Andrewsarchus
In the Paleogene epoch, Andrewsarchus was a huge herbivore. It was a hoofed animal related to hippos and whales, and it lived about 70 million years ago. Naturalist Roy Chapman Andrews, for whom the genus Andrewsarchus was named, discovered Andrewsarchus in Mongolia.
Andrewsarchus was a huge-snouted hunter who may have been the world’s largest carnivorous animal (who walked on land) based on skull dimensions.
Basilosaurus
Basilosaurus was discovered to be a mammal, despite its name, which contains the term “saurus.” Basilosaurus was a paleocene whale that resided during the Eocene epoch of the Paleogene period.
Basilosaurus had a 1.5 m (5 ft.) skull and was around 21 m (70 ft.) long. Its fangs were long, dagger-like fangs that filled its jaws. It may have had the most powerful bite force of any creature, according to its skull analysis!
Brygmophyseter
In the Miocene epoch, Brygmophyseter was a primitive sperm whale. Its teeth were up to 14 cm (5.5 in.) long, and it was an apex predator, so its name means “biting sperm whale.” Brygmophyseter grew to be 7 meters (23 feet) long.
Castoroides
During the Pleistocene epoch, Castoroides was a 2.5 m (8 ft.) long massive beaver that lived in North America. It had a tiny brain in proportion to its body size, and it may not have been as clever as its contemporary counterpart. It is the world’s biggest beaver ever.
Coelodonta
The woolly rhinoceros, Coelodonta, is another name for it. This massive beast had two enormous horns on its snout and was covered in thick fur. Several species have been identified in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Coelodonta thrived during the ice age that preceded it.
Entelodon
During the Paleogene era, Entelodon was a hoofed animal. It used to be thought to be connected with whales and hippos, but is now regarded to be a kind of ancient pig. From the mid-Paleocene through the early Neogene epoch, it roamed across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Glyptodon
During the Pliocene and Pleistocene periods, Glyptodon was a huge armadillo. It would have been a magnificent sight walking through the South American woods and plains, with a shell that was roughly 1.5 m (5 ft.) in length and a total body length of roughly 3.3 m (11 ft.).
Hyaenodon
From the Eocene through the mid-Miocene epochs, Hyaenodon was a genus of big carnivorous animals. Among their contemporaries, the Hyaenodons were the top predators. It would have had little to fear from most other animals because of its long skull and powerful, doglike body.
Mastodon
During the Pleistocene epoch, about 10,000 to 11,000 years ago, the Mastodon was an elephant ancestor that walked the planet. It lived in the woods of North America and possessed long tusks and a trunk.
Megalania
The biggest lizard known to man is Megalania. During the Pleistocene era, it resided in Australia. Megalania is a contemporary-day goanna that is a carnivorous reptile.
Megalodon
Megalodon was a Neogene shark that lived during the Neogene era and had the name “mighty tooth.” It is not only the world’s biggest shark, but also one of the world’s biggest predators. At 18 meters (59 feet) long, it is both the world’s biggest and oldest.
Megatherium
From the Pliocene through the end of the Pleistocene, Megatherium was a massive ground sloth that lived in South America. It was one of the biggest creatures of its day, weighing up to 4 tonnes and measuring 6 meters (20 feet). Megatherium’s claws were large, and they may have been utilized for digging rather than climbing.
Mesonychids / Mesonyx
Mesonyx was a prehistoric animal that resembled a wolf but had hoofed feet. It was a member of the Mesonychid group of carnivorous animals. It lived in America from the early to the mid Paleogene period.
Paraceratherium
During the Oligocene epoch, this enormous rhino had no horn. The neck and legs of Paraceratherium were both large and robust. Fossils suggest that it may have had a short trunk and tusk-like front teeth. It may have been the world’s largest land mammal, weighing up to 20 tonnes and measuring up to 4.8 m (16 ft.) tall.
Phorusrhacos Longissimus (Terror Bird)
The Phorusrhacidae family, also known as “terror birds,” contained the Phorusrhacos Longissimus species. With strong hooked beaks and huge claws, these enormous, flightless meat-eaters lived up to their name.
Phorusrhacos Longissimus was most likely an apex predator during the Miocene epoch, living in South America.
Procoptodon
Procoptodon, the world’s biggest kangaroo, stands at a height of 2 meters (6.5 feet). It was a member of the Sthenurinae, or short-faced kangaroo, subfamily and lived in Australia during the Pleistocene epoch.
Propalaeotherium
The ancient precursor of the horse, Propalaeotherium, was tiny. During the Eocene epoch, it ranged across Europe and Asia. Scientists were able to see that the creatures had been eating berries because of the fossils discovered in Germany.
Smilodon (Saber-Toothed Tiger) (Sabre-Toothed Tiger in British English)
Extinct cat-like creatures with long canine teeth have been discovered over the ages. They’ve been dubbed “saber-toothed cats” as a result of their combined traits. The Smilodon, also known as the “saber-toothed tiger,” is the most well-known.
Smilodon has been identified in three different species. Smilodon populator, the largest of the big cats, may have been the biggest cat species ever.
Smilodons were discovered in both North and South America throughout the Pleistocene period.
Titanoboa
The world’s largest snake, Titanoboa, lived. It weighed approximately 1,135 kg and was over 13 meters (43 feet) long. During the Paleocene era, it lived in South America.
Uintatherium
During the Eocene epoch, Uintatherium was a massive herbivore. One species has been found in the United States and another in China. Uintatherium’s canine teeth were tusk-like, and they might have been utilized as defensive weapons or food manipulation instruments.
Woolly Mammoth
The woolly mammoth is without a doubt one of the most well-known prehistoric creatures! The prehistoric elephant family included mammoths. During the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs, they lived.
Mammuthus subplanifrons was the name given to the woolly mammoth, a kind of mammoth that lived towards the close of this epoch. The woolly mammoth was covered in fur and was similar in size to the African elephant. It lived during the ice age.
List Of Prehistoric Animals That Are Not Dinosaurs: Conclusion
We hope you’ve found this list of prehistoric creatures useful. Seeing how ancient animals related to one other is fascinating.
Despite the fact that animals like the woolly mammoth are no longer around, 60 million years separates us from the Titanoboa, which is a relief.