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Wednesday, February 27, 2008 

The Lesser Known Prehistoric Mammals

I have had a passion for all things Prehistoric and Mammalian, or preferably some combination there-of, since I was a youth!

Approximately 11,000 years ago many of them became extinct. But why? The climate? Human hunters? Probably the latter, damn us.

You probably know of mammoths and smilodons (saber-toothed tigers), but what about the lesser known ones? They are gone and pretty much forgotten...

Giant Beaver



  • The size of a black bear, it was one of the largest rodents ever.
  • Know them by their ridged cutting teeth, deep skulls, and roundish, muskrat-like tails.

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    Stag-moose



  • It looks like a cross between an elk and a moose.
  • It's got funny stilt legs.
  • Otherwise it was pretty much like a moose.

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    Short-faced Skunk



  • I couldn't find any information on this prehistoric beast, but it was very real.
  • And it once ruled this planet, no doubt with an Iron Fist.

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    Eohippus



  • The first horse and the smallest, it was 2 feet long and 9 inches high.
  • Another name for it is Hyracotherium, which oddly enough means "mole beast".
  • Admit it, you want one as a pet.

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    Dire Wolf



  • It was pretty much like a wolf except it had a bigger head.
  • Oh, and bigger teeth.
  • Did I mention it had shorter, sturdier legs as well? Yes.

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    Wooly Rhino



  • As big as an elephant and it had two horns.
  • A complete intact body of one was found buried in mud.
  • If only it was still alive, what secrets would it reveal?

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    Ground Sloth



  • Frickin' huge, it could get up on its hind legs.
  • It has the coolest name of all: MEGATHERIUM.