Evolution is a serious thing. At each stage of the formation of our planet in a certain period of time, there were certain animals that, of course, were the elite of their era. Prehistoric predators were considered such for a long time. Let's talk about them.
Vertebrates have inhabited the Earth for more than 500,000,000 years! Almost half of this period on our planet was dominated by prehistoric predators - dinosaurs! Just think about these numbers! No other group of animals has been able to hold out in the history of the formation of the Earth for as long as the ancient pangolins did. They were true overlords!
Prehistoric predators - the crowning achievement of nature
At one time, ancient reptiles were the pinnacle of development of all terrestrial organisms that inhabited our planet. Dinosaurs have ruled the land for over 100,000,000 years! These were numerous and varied monsters. No other creature could compare with them in strength and perfection! Today, prehistoric predators-reptiles do not cease to excite scientists andphilistine minds: the process of their existence and the drama of extinction are of interest to man from the moment he learned about the Great Age of Reptiles! Dinosaurs are studied very carefully, no other species of extinct animal is more popular in scientific circles than the ancient lizards!
Prehistoric marine predators
Over time, the land became too crowded, and some reptiles began to master the water. Scientists experimentally traced that reptiles throughout the history of their development from time to time returned to the water. This happened when more abundant food and security of existence awaited them there.
It was not difficult for them, since life in the seas and oceans does not require absolutely any cardinal changes in the body and physiology from reptiles.
The very first prehistoric predators who mastered the water were anapsids - mesosaurs of the Permian period. Following them, primitive diapsids - tangosaurus, talattosaurs, claudiosaurs and hovasauruses - went into the water. The most recent group of aquatic reptiles were the well-known ichthyosaurs. These marine predators were simply superbly adapted to life in any waters of our planet. In their form, ichthyosaurs very much resembled the most common fish or dolphins: a triangular head with long jaws extended forward, a body flattened on the sides, a tail fin blade is vertical, and the legs are transformed into four ventral fins.
Lord of the Seas andoceans
The largest reptile that ever lived in the water was a Liopleurodon. All other marine prehistoric predators simply faded before him … The time of its existence fell on the Jurassic period. There is still scientific debate about the size of this giant creature. Four huge flippers, a short and laterally compressed tail, as well as a very large and narrow head with huge teeth (about 30 cm in length) made it the undisputed ruler of all the seas and oceans of the ancient planet!
