Megafauna

What happened to the megafauna? The various species of animals that was a significant part of the Australian food chain during the Pleistocene period, was wiped to extinction approximately 46,000 years ago (Koch & Barnosky 2006). There are many theories revolving the question of how the megafauna died out, these theories including climate change, human hunting, and illness. Although it is still unclear as to how these immense animals - most weighing over 40 kilograms (Stuart, 1991) - were…

Thousands of years ago on the island of Australia; megafauna roamed. By definition; the large animals of a region, these animals are now long extinct. But even today there is still debate about the true cause of this, there are three main theories: A inter-species illness, being hunted to extinction and a ‘sudden’ ice age, these three theories are more commonly known as ILL, KILL and CHILL respectively. In this essay; we’ll look at these theories in detail and draw conclusion as to which theory…

The word megafauna means ‘big animals’, generally over 40 kilograms. It’s generally used as term used to explain particular large land animals that evolved after the extinction of the dinosaurs. After their extinction the surviving mammals, birds and reptiles evolved to include some very large animals; this group of megafauna was most widespread during the last Quaternary Period, in the last 2.5 million years. The megafaunas in Australia were very unique; and included giant marsupials such as…

Bison, or buffalo, are the tallest mammal in North America standing at six and a half to twelve and a half feet from feet to head, that is taller than an average male! Many breeds of bison are around the world, North American, European, and the Wisent are all breeds of the bison. The North American and European bison live on flat plains with fresh grass, which is a buffalo’s most common food they eat, but the bison in North America are only located along the west side of the U.S. Bison are…

The anaconda, also known as the green anaconda, is the heaviest, largest, and second longest snake in the world. The only snake larger than it is the reticulated python, found in Southeastern Asia. Male anacondas are usually 3-3.5 meters, while females range from 4.6-5 meters long. Anacondas are only found in South American countries which are east of the Andes mountains, such as Bolivia, Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, and Ecuador. They mainly live in the Amazon river basin…

The size of the antelope’s head has a long symmetrical structure that is 14 5/8 inches long, and the based of the mask stretch a few inches wider than the antelope’s head to fit a human size face. The material is made out of a dark and warm-brown wood. It is smooth, and is faddily shiny on the mask. Starting from the top of the mask shows two long drilled horns that are straight and pointed. The length of the mask’s horns is not as long as the original antelope’s horns, yet it has a similar size…

GRIZZLY BEARS WHAT; often viewed as man's fiercest rival, no mammal species is more daunting than the grizzly bear. They can be cantancarous, outsprint a horse, and weigh as much as 480 kg . Grizzly bears are perhaps the most sought after (from a distance) mammal in Yellowstone. Although the Yellowstone region is home to nearly 600 grizzly bears, they can be difficult to find. Grizzly bears are identified by a large hump above their shoulders and the fact that their rump is lower than the…

There are many theories regarding the extinction of the Megafauna but none of the theories can be fact until evidence proves one of them to be the cause of the death of the mega beasts. These theories have some evidence in which have been found in various fossil sites. Some theories include: Climate change – Climate change is one of the bigger theories to be believed that wiped out the population of the megafauna. This may be because of the climate changed from cold dry to warm dry…

extinction to the Megafauna with much of the habitats and food drastically changing and being wiped out itself. With it being proven that humans lived with Megafauna for a long time before extinction wiped out the Megafauna it is believed that mass hunting was a massive cause in the extinction in the animals. Genyornis Newtoni is one to be believed that mass hunting of the bird and their eggs was a large factor in the extinction of the Thunder Bird. The question of how the Megafauna became to be…

Nordenskjoeldi's giant penguin (Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi) is a species of megafauna, with evidence suggesting it lived 37-45 million years ago. It's diet mainly consisted of fish and other seafood and it was an aquatic creature, spending the majority of its life in the water. These giant penguins grew up to 1.7 metres in height and 90kg in weight (Abyssal, 2015). It had a bent wing joint, beneficial for flight and powerful propulsion under water when diving for fish. Gilbert Price,…