What to expect:

While still related to ancient humans, this video’s focus is on some other interesting species. Everyone knows about the wooly mammoth, but did you know about the woolly rhino? Or the giant armadillo? At one point in history, these and various other animals were walking alongside prehistoric people. Some were friendly while others were vicious. Some were predators while others were prey. Give this video a watch and see how familiar you are with the creatures that roamed the ancient earth. Let’s put your knowledge to the test.

I guarantee you’ve never heard of number 7!

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7 Extinct Animals You NEVER Knew Coexisted With Humans

From giant flightless birds to lethal reptiles and cats, humans have witnessed it all. Over the past 6 million years of human evolution, we’ve encountered countless species - some harmless, some very, very dangerous. Here are 7 animals past humans likely met eyes with, that are now long gone.

1. Dangerous Saber Cats 

Five million years ago, in the sprawling landscapes of Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe, an extraordinary predator roamed these very lands. Its name was Megantereon, a creature both majestic and terrifying. Its large, saber-like canines marked it as one of the most formidable hunters of its time, and yet, much about this elusive animal remains a mystery.

Megantereon, with its sleek, muscular body, was a relative of the more famous Smilodon or saber-toothed cat, but it was smaller - roughly the size of a modern leopard. It possessed a powerful build, perfect for ambushing prey, lurking in dense woodlands or along the edges of open savannas. Its large forelimbs were designed for grappling and subduing its targets, while its elongated fangs delivered a swift, lethal bite.

These saber-like teeth were both a blessing and a curse. They allowed Megantereon to pierce the thick hides of large herbivores, like early forms of horses, deer, and perhaps even young mastodons. However, these fangs were fragile - ineffective in a prolonged struggle. Megantereon was a master of precision, relying on short bursts of power and skill to bring down its prey swiftly.

The environment Megantereon thrived in was teeming with life - forests mingled with open grasslands, providing plenty of opportunities to hide and hunt. This predator was well-adapted to its surroundings, but it faced stiff competition from other carnivores, such as early hyenas and large predatory cats.

And then, of course, there were the early humans. It’s likely that Megantereon’s world overlapped with some of our earliest ancestors - Homo habilis, perhaps even Australopithecus. These humans were not necessarily the hunters we evolved to become, but rather scavengers, living in a constant state of awareness, always alert to the dangers around them.

For ancient humans, Megantereon would have been both a threat and an opportunity. The remains of an abandoned kill could provide a valuable source of meat for people - if they dared approach. But make no mistake, to be caught by Megantereon would spell certain doom.

Like all creatures, however, Megantereon faced the unstoppable forces of change. As climates shifted and prey species disappeared, so too did the great predator. By around a million years ago, it had vanished from the Earth, leaving only its fossilized bones and the echoes of its legacy. It’s a reminder of a time when the world was wilder, and survival belonged to the swift and the strong.

2. Birds Too Big To Fly

In the remote islands of New Zealand, there once lived a truly remarkable creature - a giant among birds. Towering over its surroundings, the Moa was the undisputed ruler of its forest home. For millions of years, these flightless giants roamed the land, untouched by mammalian predators, and evolved into a multitude of species, each uniquely adapted to the island's diverse habitats.

New Zealand, at this time, was an ecological sanctuary, cut off from the rest of the world. Without large land mammals, birds like the Moa filled the roles that would have been taken by herbivores such as deer or bison in other parts of the globe. Moa were giants of the avian world, with some species growing up to 3.6 meters in height and weighing nearly 250 kilograms.

Their size and stature made the Moa perfect browsers, capable of reaching into the upper branches of New Zealand’s ancient trees, feeding on leaves, seeds, and fruits. With long necks, strong legs, and a barrel-shaped body, the Moa had no need for flight. Instead, they thrived in the dense forests and grassy plains, moving quietly through the landscape.

The environment in which the Moa lived was rich and varied - from the dense, subtropical forests of the North Island to the cool, temperate rainforests and alpine slopes of the South Island. Here, Moa evolved into several species, each one perfectly suited to its particular environment. Some lived in open grasslands, while others preferred the shelter of the forests, browsing on ferns and shrubs.

But for all their might, the Moa had no natural defenses. And when humans first set foot on these islands, the balance of nature was forever changed.

Roughly 700 years ago, the first humans - the Polynesian ancestors of the Māori - arrived on these shores. For centuries, the Moa had thrived, with no natural predators. But now, they faced an altogether different kind of challenge.

To the early Māori, the Moa represented a vital source of food and materials. Its meat was abundant, its bones were used for tools, and its feathers were used for clothing. Hunting techniques became increasingly sophisticated - using spears, traps, and even fire to flush the birds from the forest.

Sadly, this relentless hunting pressure, combined with habitat destruction, led to the rapid decline of the Moa. Within just a few centuries of human arrival, the Moa - along with many of New Zealand’s unique species - had vanished from the landscape.

The Moa, once the giants of New Zealand, now exist only in the fossilized remains found beneath the earth. Their disappearance serves as a stark reminder of the fragile balance between life and extinction. In their prime, the Moa stood as living giants, rulers of an isolated world. But like so many great creatures, their time came to an end - leaving behind only their memory, and a cautionary tale of human impact on the natural world.

3. Rhinos… With Hair?

On the windswept plains of Ice Age Europe, an imposing figure once dominated the frigid landscape. The woolly rhinoceros, or Coelodonta, was a creature built for survival in some of the harshest environments our planet has ever seen. Thick, shaggy fur draped its massive frame, shielding it from the bitter cold. Its broad, sloping shoulders and immense bulk were powered by strong legs, able to traverse the frozen tundras and grassy steppes of what is now Europe and northern Asia.

The woolly rhino, with its long, curved horns - up to a meter in length - used these powerful tools to scrape away the snow and ice, revealing the tough grasses and herbs beneath. In this treeless expanse, food was scarce, but this ancient beast was perfectly adapted to its world. Its thick fur and layers of insulating fat allowed it to withstand temperatures far below freezing, while its sturdy limbs carried it across the frozen plains in search of sustenance.

This vast region, known as the Mammoth Steppe, stretched from the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the frozen shores of Siberia in the east. It was a land of extremes, where summer brought brief bursts of life and winter gripped the landscape in a near-permanent freeze. The woolly rhino thrived here, sharing its world with the more commonly known woolly mammoth, in addition to cave lions and steppe bison.

But these creatures were not alone in this frozen wilderness. Around 300,000 years ago, another species arrived - one that would change the fate of the Ice Age giants forever. Early humans, including Neanderthals, and later Homo sapiens, entered the scene, learning to hunt and survive in this icy domain.

While not as fearsome a predator as the Megantereon or cave lion, humans were clever and resourceful. Evidence suggests that Neanderthals, and later modern humans, hunted the woolly rhinoceros. Fossils found alongside spear points and butchery marks tell the story of how humans may have banded together to take down these colossal creatures, though the task was anything but easy. A charging woolly rhino, weighing up to 3,000 kilograms, could have been a terrifying sight.

Yet, for tens of thousands of years, humans and woolly rhinos coexisted. The rhinos provided early humans with meat, bones for tools, and possibly even their thick hides for warmth. But as the climate began to warm at the end of the last Ice Age, the world of the woolly rhinoceros began to change.

As the glaciers retreated and temperatures rose, the woolly rhinoceros found itself increasingly out of place in a world that was no longer theirs. Forests began to replace the open grasslands, and the cold-adapted rhinos could no longer find the icy, wide spaces they needed to survive.

By around 10,000 years ago, the woolly rhinoceros - along with so many other Ice Age giants - disappeared. Unlike the overhunting of many other Ice Age species, the extinction of the woolly rhino was undoubtedly due to dramatic climate change. In its time, it ruled the frozen plains of the Ice Age, a testament to nature’s power to adapt and endure. But as the ice retreated, so too did these magnificent beasts - leaving only their bones beneath the earth, as silent reminders of a world frozen to time.

4. Massive Armadillos

Down in ancient South America, there once roamed a creature unlike any other. The Glyptodon, a colossal armored beast, was as much a part of this prehistoric landscape as the towering sloths and saber-toothed cats that shared its world. Imagine, an armadillo - scaled up to the size of a small car.

The Glyptodon, with its thick, protective shell, was covered in bony armor called osteoderms, providing it with almost impenetrable defense. This formidable shield, combined with its sheer size - up to 3 meters in length and weighing nearly 2 tons - kept it safe from even the fiercest predators of the day.

But this ancient herbivore was no aggressive fighter. It spent much of its time foraging for food, using its blunt, peg-like teeth to grind down the tough grasses, plants, and fruits that were plentiful in this semi-arid environment. Its enormous, clawed feet helped it dig for roots and tubers, essential sources of sustenance during dry seasons.

The world in which the Glyptodon lived was one of incredible biodiversity. The lush grasslands and open forests were home to a variety of giant creatures, from the towering Megatherium, or giant ground sloth, to the fearsome saber-toothed predators. But none were quite so uniquely armored as the Glyptodon.

Archaeologically, we see that humans were living in South America at least 14,000 years ago. These early hunters, ancestors of the indigenous peoples of the continent, encountered Glyptodon as part of their new, unexplored world. Evidence suggests that humans may have hunted these massive creatures, though such a task would have required careful planning and coordination.

The Glyptodon's armor made it nearly invulnerable to direct attacks, but the soft underbelly and unprotected legs may have provided a weak point. While humans could have used its meat for food, its armored shell might have also served another purpose. Some researchers speculate that early people used Glyptodon's giant carapaces as makeshift shelters, finding protection from the elements within the hollowed-out remains of this prehistoric tank.

But despite its formidable defenses, the Glyptodon could not protect itself from the changing world. As the climate warmed at the end of the Pleistocene, and humans spread further across the continent, these giants of the grasslands found themselves struggling to survive.

By around 10,000 years ago, the Glyptodon had vanished. Like the woolly mammoth in North America, its extinction was probably due to a combination of climate change and human activity - a fate shared by many of the Pleistocene megafauna.

For millions of years, the Glyptodon roamed the ancient plains of South America, a living fortress armored against the dangers of its time. But, like so many of the Ice Age’s great creatures, it could not withstand the forces of a changing world. Today, its armored shell remains as one of the last traces of a giant that once ruled the grasslands.

5. Big-Horned, Wild Cattle

Back in the savannas of ancient Africa, long before the vast herds of modern wildebeest and buffalo laid claim to the plains, there was another giant. The mighty Pelorovis, a relative of today’s buffalo, was one of the largest bovines to have ever lived. These immense creatures, with their towering horns and immense stature, shaped the ecosystems of their time, much like the elephants and rhinoceroses of today.

Standing nearly 2 meters at the shoulder and weighing close to 1,600 kilograms, the Pelorovis was a true giant of the African plains. But it was its horns - magnificent, sweeping arcs that could span over 3 meters from tip to tip - that made this creature truly extraordinary. These impressive horns weren’t just for show. They likely served as a formidable defense against predators, including the early human species that shared the land with them.

Pelorovis thrived in the open savannas, grasslands, and wetlands of Africa during the late Pleistocene. It roamed an ecosystem rich with life - rivers teeming with crocodiles and plains where the early ancestors of elephants, giraffes, and zebras grazed. The lush vegetation provided food for these grazing giants, which would have moved in herds, much like the African buffalo today.

Around 2 million years ago, early human species, including Homo habilis and later Homo erectus, began to emerge across Africa. For these early humans, Pelorovis was both a source of fascination and necessity. These giant herbivores provided meat, hides, and even bone for tools - but they were no easy prey.

Hunting a creature of this size would have been an immense challenge. Pelorovis, with its large size and sharp horns, was no passive victim. Homo habilis would have scavenged on the remains of already dead individuals. Homo erectus likely hunted them in groups, relying on their developing tools and coordination to bring down such a massive beast. But for those who succeeded, the rewards would have been great - an animal of this size could provide sustenance for an entire community for days.

Evidence of this interaction between humans and Pelorovis can be found in fossils at Olduvai Gorge, where cut marks on bones suggest that ancient humans butchered these large creatures for meat. These animals were part of a delicate balance between predator and prey - a balance that would eventually shift as humans grew more advanced in their hunting techniques and as the environment began to change. We also see evidence of human interaction in rock art depicting these ancient wildebeests.

As the climate fluctuated during the end of the Pleistocene, Africa’s environment began to shift. The once-wet regions that supported Pelorovis herds became drier, and water sources shrank. Combined with increased hunting pressure from early humans, these once-dominant bovines gradually disappeared.

By around 12,000 years ago, Pelorovis vanished from the African landscape. Its extinction marked the end of an era - a time when giant herbivores ruled the grasslands of Africa and early humans lived alongside these awe-inspiring creatures.

Pelorovis, with its sweeping horns and immense power, was a testament to the richness of life on Earth’s ancient plains. For millions of years, it wandered the African wilderness, shaping the landscape alongside early humans. Today, its memory survives largely in the archaeological record of human butchery.

6. The Largest Lizard Ever 

In ancient Australia, a reptile existed that was so large it dwarfed the intimidating Komodo dragons of today. The Megalania, a colossal, predatory lizard, was a true giant of its time, dominating the dry woodlands and open plains with its sheer size and strength. This fearsome beast was the largest terrestrial lizard ever to have existed.

Megalania grew up to 7 meters in length, with some estimates suggesting it may have weighed over 1,000 kilograms. Its enormous, sinuous body was lined with powerful muscles, and its limbs were equipped with long, razor-sharp claws - perfect tools for a life of hunting. Its skull was formidable, lined with serrated teeth capable of slicing through flesh with devastating efficiency.

This prehistoric apex predator would have used its jaws and claws to ambush and overpower its prey, which ranged from large marsupials like the Diprotodon - a rhino-sized herbivore - to other megafauna that roamed the ancient Australian continent. Megalania likely employed a combination of brute strength and patience, stalking its prey before striking with lethal precision.

Megalania was related to the modern Komodo dragon, but it was far larger and even more dangerous. Much like its smaller descendant, it may have also possessed a venomous bite, secreting toxins from its glands to incapacitate prey or cause a slow, agonizing death. This venom, combined with its size, made Megalania a truly fearsome predator of the Pleistocene.

Around 60,000 years ago, as Homo sapiens first arrived in Australia, they encountered a landscape teeming with megafauna. Among them was Megalania. Imagine the awe and terror of these early people as they came face-to-face with this towering reptile, a predator unlike any they had ever seen.

Interactions between early humans and Megalania would have been rare but potentially lethal. While humans were no doubt skilled hunters, Megalania would have posed a serious threat to any who ventured too close.

As the climate shifted towards the end of the Pleistocene, Australia’s environment became increasingly dry. The giant marsupials and other prey species that Megalania relied on for food began to disappear. At the same time, the spread of humans across the continent may have further reduced their numbers through competition for resources.

By around 40,000 years ago, Megalania had vanished, leaving only its fossils buried deep beneath the Australian earth. Its disappearance marked the end of the giant reptiles that once ruled the continent, as the world’s ecosystems shifted and the era of the megafauna was slowly coming to a close.

Megalania, a creature of immense power and terror, was a true giant of its time. For thousands of years, it stalked the wilds of ancient Australia, a predator without rival. But like so many of the world’s megafauna, it could not escape the claws of natural selection. 

7. Horse Gorilla Hybrid?

Shifting our gaze back to Eurasia and Africa, we meet the Chalicotherium. An odd and magnificent beast it was neither horse, nor rhino, nor ape - but an evolutionary experiment.

Chalicotherium, which lived from around 15 million to 5 million years ago, was a large herbivore related to modern-day horses and rhinos. But unlike these familiar animals, it took a completely different evolutionary trajectory. Its body was stocky and powerful, with long forelimbs that gave it a sloping, almost gorilla-like stance. At first glance, it may have seemed clumsy, but in reality, it was supremely adapted to its environment.

Its most striking feature was its front limbs. Unlike other hoofed mammals, Chalicotherium had developed long, hooked claws, which it used for grasping and pulling down leaves from trees. Its claws weren’t meant for defense, but rather for feeding, allowing this gentle giant to thrive in the dense forests where food was often found high above the ground. It was a browser, feeding on leaves, fruits, and other soft vegetation. With its claws pulling down branches and its prehensile lips plucking foliage, it was a creature that lived in balance with its environment. 

However, its odd appearance made it stand out from other herbivores of its time. It was both graceful and awkward - a creature designed not for speed or brute strength, but for a life of foraging in the forests and open woodlands.

Of all the animals on this list, we have the least evidence of this species making contact with ancient hominins. However, we now know that the human lineage goes back at least 5 million years. With species like Orrorin tugenensis and Sahelanthropus tchadensis dating to around 6 or 7 million years ago, it is not unreasonable to suggest that they could have locked eyes with these bizarre beasts. While it was not a threat to ancient apes, its sheer size and unusual appearance would have made it a creature to be respected from a distance.

Chalicotherium, with its bizarre mixture of traits, was a gentle giant of a forgotten age. Though it vanished long ago, it's an enigmatic reminder of the strange world that sculpted our lineage’s earliest origins. 

Conclusion:

There were many more incredible creatures humans encountered in the past, and one way to uncover them is by exploring what ancient people were eating. So check out my full video on prehistoric diets right here!

Song Suggestion

Music is a human universal. It’s found in every culture, at every corner of the globe. The Evolve.2 song suggestions are hand-picked by yours truly. I love all types of music, from cool jazz to death metal. So, at the end of every newsletter, I leave a little something I want to share with you all - something I’ve been jammin’ to lately.