This is Christopher Kapelet speaking live in the Eocene epoch, 49 million B.C. It's now been 16 million years after the dinosaurs went extinct and is now the beginning of the age of mammals. I am right now looking at a Leptictidium and its babies feeding on the forest floor. This three foot long omnivore is one of the last of its kind. I now see a group of Propaleotherium, an early cat-sized horse, feeding on grapes and other fruit. There is right now a group of Godinotia, a lemur-sized primate, jumping in the tree canopy. What's that sound? A Gastornis, also known as Diatryma, has killed a Propaleotherium. This six foot tall bird has taken the dinosaurs' place as becoming the top predator. On the ground is an army of the giant ant, Formicium Giganteum. Like the army and driver ants from the 21st century, they will kill any creature that gets in their path. I'm now at the river were I see an Ambulocetus resting. This 10 foot long carnivore hunted like a crocodile and swam like an otter, but is an early relative of whales.
We are now back 36 million B.C. in the late Eocene. I am right now at the Tethys Sea, which is the Sahara desert in the 21st century. I see a pod of Dorudon, a whale that means "speared tooth." Right now a Basilosaurus, also known as Zeuglodon, is eating the young Dorudons. This 60 foot long whale is the top predator of the Eocene seas, feeding on fish, shellfish, sharks, and other whales, like Dorudon. I am starting to get seasick so let's head for solid ground. On the land there are some strange creatures. I am right now watching at a heard of Embolotherium, a species of brontothere, browsing on the vegetation. These guys look like rhinos, except their horns are made of bone not hair like a modem rhino. What's that terrifying sound? An Andrewsarchus is harassing a mother brontothere who's protecting her calf. This dog-like predator is probably a relative of hoofed mammals and even whales. The brontothere is charging at the carnivore. The Andrewsarchus runs off to find easier prey. Let's head to that mangrove swamp over there. In the trees are Apidium, an early primate, foraging for fruit. What is that ugly thing in the water? It's a Moeritherium, the first elephant. Moeritherium also known as "Little Moe," is amphibious like a hippo.
Here we are in the late Oligocene, 24 million B.C., which I like to call the land of the giants. There is a mother Indricotherium feeding her baby. This leaf eating rhino is the largest mammal to ever walk the earth; about 28 feet tall and weighing in at 15 tons. Down by the watering hole are a mother bear-dog and her pups. They're hunting for rodents and rabbits it looks like. Not too far away is a herd of Chalicotherium. These 9¬foot tall strangers walk like gorillas, eat like pandas, but are closely related to horses, rhinos, and tapirs. Something violent is going on over there. A Hyaenodon has killed a Chalicotherium. Despite its name, this carnivore is not related to hyenas. Some Hyaenodon species can be as small as a fox while some, like the one I'm watching, is as big as a rhino. A group ofEntelodonts has stolen the kill from the Hyaenodon. These ancestors of the pig are as tall as rhinos and eat from roots and tubers to carrion. I better get out of here. The Hyaenodon is after me.
We're now back in the Pliocene epoch, 3 million B.C. I am right now looking at a group of human-like apes. They are Australopithecus, which means "the southern ape." They almost look like short hairy humans. They are stopping at a watering hole to drink and eat. A herd of Ancylotherium is nearby. Sadly, these harmless herbivores are the last of the chalicotheres. Back in the 21st century however, there are rumors in Africa that people might have seen a living Ancylotherium; kind of like an African, mammalian, terrestrial version of the Loch Ness Monster. The Australopithecus troop knows that Ancylotherium are harmless, but not all the herbivores are gentle. A male Deinotherium is charging at them. Deinotherium is the second-largest land mammal, right after the mighty Indricotherium. This ancient elephant is as tall as a giraffe but fourteen times heavier. Like a modern male elephant, this male Deinotherium is in must, which means he's in the mood for mating, which makes him very dangerous and aggressive. Our australopithecine friends have escaped from the wrath of the angry Deinotherium. Yikes! A Dinofelis has captured one of the Australopithecus. This cat is also known as the "false saber-tooth cat," cause of his teeth. Let's head on to our next stop.
Here we are in the Pleistocene, 1 million B.C., in South America. The grassland is pretty warm right now. A herd of Macrauchenia is grazing on the open plain. These llama-like animals are the last of their kind. Not too far away is a small group of giant armadillos called Doedicurus. These "dillos" are the size of a Volkswagen and their spiky, clubbed tails are as big and heavy as a cannon ball. We better hike some were away from these armadillos. A Megatherium, also known as the giant ground sloth, is feeding on the leaves in the trees. This big fellow is 750 times larger than a modern sloth. What's all the commotion over there? A Phorusrhacos has killed a young Macrauchenia. Phorusrhacos, also known as the terror bird, is the top predator of South America. It was about 10 feet tall, 300 times larger than its closest living relative, the seriama, a 3-foot tall bird. Whoa! A Smilodon has stolen the kill from the terror bird. Also known as the saber tooth cat, Smilodon Populator is another one of South America's top predators. Let's head to our last prehistoric stop.
We're now at the late Pleistocene, 30,000 B.C., during the ice age. There's a herd of woolly mammoths a few miles away. They're migrating to find a plain of grass. I see a couple of male Megaloceros head-butting each other. This species of deer is the size of a moose but with 12-foot long antlers. What's that? A cave lion has killed a Megaloceros. The cave lion, Panthera Leo Spelaeus, is one of the largest cats; twice as large as an African lion. I see some human-like figure in the woods. It's a Neanderthal, a.k.a. caveman. The Neanderthals are built to survive the ice age. Oh dear! A woolly rhinoceros has picked up the scent of the Neanderthal. The rhino has charged him but he is okay. There's that mammoth herd again. Now I see Cro-Magnons, another ice age human. Unlike the Neanderthals, Cro-Magnon built tents and made necklaces.
So there you have it. From the small Leptictidium and large Indricotherium to the peaceful Ancylotherium and dangerous Smilodon, we've seen many of the creatures that lived after the dinosaurs went extinct. I hoped you've enjoyed walking with prehistoric beasts.
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