'Prehistoric mammals' are groups of
mammals that lived before humans developed
writing. 164 million years ago, in the
Jurassic period, ''
Castorocauda lutrasimilis'', a mammal-like (mammaliaform) animal weighing about 500
grams (1.1 lb), had a full mammalian pelt, with guard hairs and under fur, webbed feet, and scales on the tail like a modern
beaver, as well as teeth specialized for catching fish.
Later, about 130 million years ago in the
Cretaceous, there existed larger mammals, including ''
Repenomamus giganticus'' and ''
Repenomamus robustus''. Fossils up to one
meter (3¼ ft) long have been found, with dinosaur remains in their stomach contents.
The lineages of many varieties continued through the
Tertiary period where some reached very large sizes. Most of the very large mammals became extinct in the last
ice age, but have smaller descendants.
List of Prehistoric Mammals
Main articles: List of prehistoric mammals
Prehistoric mammals include:
★
Basilosaurus
★ ''
Brontotherium''
★ ''Castorocauda lutrasimilis''
[1]
★
Cave Bear
★
Cave Lion
★
Chalicotheres
★
Dire Wolf
★
Dorudon
★
Entelodont
★
Giant Beaver
★
Glyptodon
★ ''
Hyracotherium''
★ ''
Indricotherium''
★
Irish Elk
★
Macrauchenia
★
Mammoths
★
★
Columbian Mammoth
★
★
Woolly Mammoth
★
★
Pygmy Mammoth
★
★
Imperial Mammoth
★
★
Tundra Mammoth
★
★
Wrangel Island Mammoth
★
Mastodons
★ ''
Megatherium''
★
North American Camel
★
North American Lion
★
North American Llama
★
Purgatorius
★ ''Repenomamus giganticus'' and ''r.robustus''
[2]
★
Saber-toothed cats
★
★
Smilodon
★ ''
Uintatherium''
★
Woolly rhinoceros