Once the world was dominated by giant animals like dinosaurs. Then suddenly the dinosaurs were destroyed by a meteorite. They were primarily terrestrial animals. But once upon a time there existed some monstrous aquatic creatures like dinosaurs. They disappeared from the world long ago
1. Plesiosaurs
Their bodies were like boats. The neck was long. Looking at the picture, you might think of a species of dinosaur. But it's actually a plesiosaur. During the Triassic period - 25.19 million to 20.14 million years ago - experts believe that these animals were on Earth. Paleontologist Michael Caldwell of the University of Alberta, Canada, said, 'Plesiosaurs were quite strange compared to today's aquatic animals. They traveled all over the world.
2. Tanystropheus hydroides
Once there was only one continent on Earth. All the landmasses of today's 7 continents were there together. The supercontinent Pangea was broken into two by the Tethys Sea. Tanystropheus hydroids once lived in that Tethys Sea. The animal was on earth during the Triassic period about 24 million years ago. Researchers identified their fossils from the border of Switzerland and Italy. Their necks were about 10 feet long. "Like Plasiore, these animals had small heads," says Michael Caldwell.
3. Helicoprion
The animal looks a lot like a shark. Their teeth looked like saws. According to the Australian Museum, they lived on earth from the Devonian period (4192 million to 3589 million years ago) to the Triassic period. Their fossils show that they were about 25 feet long, which is more than 5 feet longer than the longest living predator fish, the white shark.
4. Habelia apatata
Habelia apatata is smaller in size compared to others. The body length was only 4.1 cm. Their main food was small fish in the sea. Fossils of this animal were found in British Columbia, Canada. According to the Royal Ontario Museum, they lived on Earth from 5.5 million years ago during the Cambrian period (53.88 million to 485.4 million years ago).
5. Lyrapax unguispinus
These animals ruled the earth during the Cambrian period. It does not look like an animal in any way! Like a tree with roots drowning in water. It is one of the most peculiar arthropods of the Cambrian period. It was about 3.2 feet long. Claw-like organs on the front of the head were used to catch prey. This killer arthropod was one of the world's best predators.
6. Mosasaurus
Although not the strangest creature on this list, water monsters are. About 56 feet tall, this monster lived in the Late Cretaceous period (6.6 million to 8.2 million years ago). The first animal fossil was found in the Netherlands in 1764. To learn more about Mosasaurus, read: Prehistoric Waterloo Mosasaurus
7. Placodonts
It looks like a dinosaur from the Jurassic Park movie. But they lived in water. They lived in present-day Europe, the Middle East and China during the Triassic period. Their huge teeth protruded from the mouth. With the help of these teeth, they could catch molluscs from the bottom of the sea.