Many ancient animals have outdated us for a considerable amount of time. The evidence these creatures left behind normally spread legends about what they were, but as science became more refined, we’ve found explanations behind most of the legends. Here are some prehistoric monsters behind the legends.
Megalodon
Megalodon was a terrifying and enormous shark that lived up until three and a half million years ago. They are often drawn as large great white sharks, but recent studies have evidence they may have more similarly looked like mako sharks. The enormous teeth that wash up on beaches left people stumped as to what legendary creatures left them and sparked stories of giant sea monsters.
Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs were amazing reptiles that lived millions of years ago until an extinction-level event caused them to die out. One of the most fearsome of these animals was the tyrannosaurus rex, or T-rex for short. Many of the first dinosaur fossils found fueled legends of dragons and other mythical creatures.
Elephant Skulls
Elephants are beautiful and majestic creatures, but before we understood their anatomy, the species could have inspired tales of a mythical creature included in Homer’s Odyssey. Dwarf elephant skulls found in caves in the Mediterranean could be mistaken for human skulls with one eye socket.
Diprotodon
Diprotodon was a prehistoric marsupial in Australia a little under one million years ago. The animal was a wombat-like herbivore, but its fossils could have inspired Aboriginal Australian legends like the Bunyip, a mythological creature that lives in the swamps of Australia and feeds on people.
Giant Sloths
Most agree that sloths are some of the most docile animals on the planet, and it was most likely no different for the giant sloth that lived in Brazil during the Pleistocene. However, its fossils could be responsible for the Mapinguari from Brazilian folklore, a creature with a mouth on its abdomen.
Giant Squids And Other Marine Life
There have been numerous accounts of sailors from the last half a millennium returning home from a voyage only to swear that they had seen something in the water, normally a giant sea serpent. Researchers have tried explaining these accounts using modern hypotheses, including the theory that giant squid could have been frequenting the waters back then and other marine life like whales and dolphins.
Gigantopithecus
Gigantopithecus was one of the largest, if not the largest, primates to ever walk the earth. It was an ancient ape species similar to a modern-day orangutan. Fossils of the ape’s bones and teeth spread legends about giant humans that used to roam the earth.
Elasmotherium
Elasmotherium was a unique dinosaur that lived in desert-like regions. Modern-day scientists who’ve examined its fossils noticed that it had a beak and a bony frill around its neck. These unique features could have inspired the legends behind the griffon.
Argentavis
In Middle Eastern culture, popular legends speak of a giant bird of prey that was so powerful that it could pick up elephants in its talons and fly away with them. Prehistoric birds like Argentavis grew to enormous sizes, and their fossils could have given the local culture the legend of the Roc.
Basilosaurus
Basilosauris was a prehistoric whale that lived nearly 50 million years ago. The enormous animal was a carnivore and could be as long as 60 feet. The fearsome predator could have inspired the tale of the Leviathan.
Sea Scorpions
Eurypterids were prehistoric arthropods that could reach nearly ten feet long and were amazing predators. They may have inspired myths about giant arthropods coming from the depths and attacking sailors.
Archaeotherium
Archaeotherium was a prehistoric animal similar to the modern-day hippo. It was the size of a cow, had huge jaws, and had a fearsome appearance. Their aggressive nature and intimidating size could have contributed to legends of monstrous, pig-like beasts.
