Thread
I just saw a meme about Noah's arc, and a thought popped into my head, and I checked the dates, and around 4800yrs ago seems to be the claimed date roughly, which did match what I was thinking, and so I present this thread:
UNEXPECTED ANIMALS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON NOAH'S ARK
UNEXPECTED ANIMALS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON NOAH'S ARK
Quick note before we begin - this thread isn't about passing commentary on people's beliefs, it's purely a look at the zoological timescale of extinctions, and how even within what people consider the human timescale things have changed *radically*.
That said:
That said:
#1 - WOOLLY MAMMOTH
While Woolly mammoth were generally extinct over much of their range vanished earlier, there were infact relict populations still around on places like Wrangel Island and Taymyr Peninsula after 4800 years ago!
While Woolly mammoth were generally extinct over much of their range vanished earlier, there were infact relict populations still around on places like Wrangel Island and Taymyr Peninsula after 4800 years ago!
#2 - MOAS
Eleven species of Moa were still extant within the last thousand years! However, within approximately 100yrs of humans arriving on what would become New Zealand, they were all extinct. The largest reached over 3.5m tall!
Eleven species of Moa were still extant within the last thousand years! However, within approximately 100yrs of humans arriving on what would become New Zealand, they were all extinct. The largest reached over 3.5m tall!
#3 - THE MALAGASY HIPPO SPECIES
Up until the last 1000 years there were *3* miniture hippo species on Madagascar! Possibly the result of separate waves of colonisation and speciation, and one - the Madagascar Dwarf Hippo, may have still been around 500yrs ago!
Up until the last 1000 years there were *3* miniture hippo species on Madagascar! Possibly the result of separate waves of colonisation and speciation, and one - the Madagascar Dwarf Hippo, may have still been around 500yrs ago!
#4 - GIANT LEMURS
Also Madagascar, did you know that even in historical times *giant* lemurs lived on Madagascar? There are 17 giant lemurs known with some as recent as 1500ish" The biggest was Archaeoindris, which estimates suggest weighed *at least* 160kg!
Also Madagascar, did you know that even in historical times *giant* lemurs lived on Madagascar? There are 17 giant lemurs known with some as recent as 1500ish" The biggest was Archaeoindris, which estimates suggest weighed *at least* 160kg!
#5 - GREAT AUK
This is one of the more famous extinctions, but nonetheless it's easy to forget how recently they went extinct! At 85cm tall they were huge, and the last person to have lived contempraneously with the last plausible sighting didn't die until 1964!
This is one of the more famous extinctions, but nonetheless it's easy to forget how recently they went extinct! At 85cm tall they were huge, and the last person to have lived contempraneously with the last plausible sighting didn't die until 1964!
#6 - MEGALOCNUS
*Just* scraping in the this time period are the last of the Ground Sloths - Megalocnus lived in Cuba until at least 4700 years ago, and while not as big as it's more famous cousin Megatherium, it was still the size of an American Black Bear!
*Just* scraping in the this time period are the last of the Ground Sloths - Megalocnus lived in Cuba until at least 4700 years ago, and while not as big as it's more famous cousin Megatherium, it was still the size of an American Black Bear!
#7 - HAAST'S EAGLE
Going back to New Zealand, we have the largest eagle to have ever lived! Preying on the moa's we mentioned earlier, these birds were over 50% again heavier than modern Harpy Eagles! Sadly, they followed the moas into extinction as their prey vanished.
Going back to New Zealand, we have the largest eagle to have ever lived! Preying on the moa's we mentioned earlier, these birds were over 50% again heavier than modern Harpy Eagles! Sadly, they followed the moas into extinction as their prey vanished.
#8 - ELEPHANT BIRDS
Back to Madagascar again for the Elephant birds, believed to be the inspiration for the mythical Roc. Four species are currently believed to have existed, the largest reaching 3m tall and 500+kg, they were still present until about 1000yrs ago.
Back to Madagascar again for the Elephant birds, believed to be the inspiration for the mythical Roc. Four species are currently believed to have existed, the largest reaching 3m tall and 500+kg, they were still present until about 1000yrs ago.
#9 - AUROCHS
On the one hand, the genes of Aurochs continue in all modern cattle, on the other, Wild Aurochs were *really* an entirely different beast! Up to 180cm tall, contemporary descriptions considered them very aggressive
On the one hand, the genes of Aurochs continue in all modern cattle, on the other, Wild Aurochs were *really* an entirely different beast! Up to 180cm tall, contemporary descriptions considered them very aggressive
And last for now...
#10 - GOLIATH TENERIFE LIZARD
Most people probably think of Tenerife as a holiday resort, but up until the 1500s it was also home to this 1.2m long lizard!
#10 - GOLIATH TENERIFE LIZARD
Most people probably think of Tenerife as a holiday resort, but up until the 1500s it was also home to this 1.2m long lizard!
(Note: I previously refered to 1 species here by a name including a slur, ammended here)
This is not even listing all the other famous extinctions including Thylacine, Dodo, Passenger Pigeon, Carolina Parakeet, Ivory Billed Woodpecker, Northern & Slender-billed Curlews etc
This is not even listing all the other famous extinctions including Thylacine, Dodo, Passenger Pigeon, Carolina Parakeet, Ivory Billed Woodpecker, Northern & Slender-billed Curlews etc
