Why were prehistoric era animals so gigantic in comparison to animals from the “modern era”
In: 1281
The absence or scarcity of certain types of animals and the availability of abundant resources created opportunities for certain species to evolve into massive sizes.
🦖- Firstly, let’s consider dinosaurs. These giants were able to grow to enormous sizes due to several factors.
For example, the earth’s climate during that time was generally warmer than it is today.
This warmer climate allowed for abundant plant growth, providing a vast food supply for herbivorous dinosaurs.
Plus, dinosaurs had a fascinating respiratory system that gave them an edge.
They had these amazing air sacs that extended into their bones, which actually made their skeletons lighter compared to the animals we know today.
This unique adaptation allowed dinosaurs to reach enormous sizes while still being able to move around and support their massive bodies.
👨🏼🔬- You know, when it comes to animals, their size isn’t just a random thing.
It’s actually shaped by a bunch of factors in evolution.
Now, when it comes to those huge prehistoric creatures, scientists suggest that these colossal sizes served as a defense mechanism against predators or helped them regulate their body temperature more efficiently.
So, size played a crucial role in their survival and overall well-being.
Nowadays, the sizes of animals we see are totally different, and it’s because of a whole new set of ecological stuff going on.
You see, our Earth’s ecosystems have been evolving and shifting for millions of years.
That means the environment has changed and the resources available are different too.
Plus, the animals we have now have evolved to fit into their own special ecological spots.
And guess what? Those niches don’t always call for big sizes like the ones the prehistoric animals had.
So, it’s all about adapting to the circumstances of today’s world.
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