Predator ruled before dinosaurs, page 1

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Topic started on 17-1-2012 @ 11:10 PM by freakjive

Fossils are teaching us more about our ancient history on this amazing planet. The article and subsequent links will teach you something quite interesting about an animal that predated dinosaurs, was distantly related to mammals and would seem to be out of a science fiction novel.

Also, interesting to note;
The fossil site was identified through an analysis of satellite imagery from Google Earth.

Paleontologists have found the skull of a weird but deadly mammal-like monster that terrorized Brazil long before dinosaurs ruled the earth.

The specimen is from the Permian period, more than 260 million years ago. The complete skull measures about 13 inches (35 centimeters) in length and was discovered in 2008 during a scientific excavation on a farm in the pampas region of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. The skull came from a creature that was part of a class of long-extinct vertebrates called dinocephalian therapsids, which predated the dinosaurs and were distantly related to mammals.

This next part just sounds too awesome to be true. Can you imagine a creature like that?

In an interview with Discovery News, lead researcher Juan Carlos Cisneros of Brazil's Federal University of Piaui said the critter was a cross between "a tiger and a Komodo dragon, if you can imagine that."

Original Source

More Images and Discovery Interview

reply posted on 17-1-2012 @ 11:16 PM by Danbones

sandf
wow
just wow....
so this is what bankers are decended from....

reply posted on 17-1-2012 @ 11:25 PM by daaskapital

When you said Predator in your title, i was like "

so predators are real"

reply posted on 17-1-2012 @ 11:30 PM by DanielET

Cool article. Thanks for bringing this to my attention!

reply posted on 17-1-2012 @ 11:38 PM by aussiemisfit

reply to post by daaskapital

Lol yeah i was thinking the same thing.

On topic : Interesting find, i will check out the info in the links when i have a bit of spare time..

reply posted on 18-1-2012 @ 12:37 AM by Dimitri Dzengalshlevi

I prefer Dimetrodon myself, of the same period:

reply posted on 18-1-2012 @ 07:36 AM by freakjive

reply to post by Dimitri Dzengalshlevi

That's a great illustration! Thanks for adding.

What makes you prefer this one? Is it his mega-cool mohawk?

reply posted on 18-1-2012 @ 09:39 AM by freakjive

Thanks for moving the thread. I actually reached out to a Mod right after it was placed and he said Cryptozoo was fine, but tomato/tomAto, right?

reply posted on 18-1-2012 @ 10:23 AM by smithjustinb

We are all descendents of reptiles. I think that's very interesting. Sometimes, I can look at a person, or any other animal, and see their inner reptile.

reply posted on 18-1-2012 @ 11:58 AM by sam_inc

Cool stuff!!

reply posted on 18-1-2012 @ 12:24 PM by connorromanow

reply to post by freakjive

That's a gorgonopsid right, it looks like one. I have that high on my list of animals I want to avoid

reply posted on 18-1-2012 @ 12:32 PM by randomthoughts12

I was hoping to see predator from the movies but knew better! Komodo Dragon and Tiger cross sic. Wonder who would win tiger vs Komodo? Neither...they both end up dying.

reply posted on 18-1-2012 @ 12:34 PM by doctornamtab

Ogopogo? Maybe this is the dinosaur that people see in the jungles of Africa.

reply posted on 18-1-2012 @ 12:38 PM by nixie_nox

reply to post by Danbones

thanks for my laugh of the day.

bad ass predators get a s n f from me...

reply posted on 18-1-2012 @ 12:52 PM by Darkblade71

That's mind bending stuff,
kind of reminds me of furry dragons...

awesome!!

edit on 18-1-2012 by Darkblade71 because: (no reason given)

reply posted on 18-1-2012 @ 04:05 PM by Dimitri Dzengalshlevi

Originally posted by freakjive
reply to post by Dimitri Dzengalshlevi

That's a great illustration! Thanks for adding.

What makes you prefer this one? Is it his mega-cool mohawk?

I think that's the first dino that I was acquainted with as a young aspiring paleotologist back in the glory days of childhood fantasy

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