![]() Much of what’s known about Anteosaurus beyond the skull comes from its close relatives, points out Christian Kammerer. More data from the rest of the skeleton are needed, Tseng says, to better understand how these animals moved. But even in today’s beasts, scientists don’t know exactly how inner ears affect different types of motion. Those animals are only distant relatives of the early reptiles that include anteosaurs. Kruger’s group drew on comparisons with the inner ears of modern mammals, he notes. He works at the University of California, Berkeley. They found no “smoking gun,” says this paleontologist. However, he adds, this team has not proven anteosaurs were fleet-footed. These conclusions are reasonable, says Z. It could move quickly while tracking prey. All of these findings suggest that Anteosaurus was an agile hunter, Kruger says. That would allow it to more easily scan its environment. In contrast, the anteosaur appears to have held its head more level. The skull of this herbivore slopes downward. magnificus with that of a head-butting relative. The team also compared the skull of this A. The researchers shared these conclusions February 18 in Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. It could have coordinated motion while spying prey. Their shape also suggests these reptiles had a rather large brain region. Bony tubes in those ears would have helped with balance. And the animal’s inner ears dwarfed those of its peer predators, they found. ![]() It appeared to have been adapted for head-butting. The team digitally reconstructed its long, bumpy noggin. The fossils came from a juvenile that had been dug up in South Africa. They started with CT scans of segments from a skull. Kruger was part of a team from Europe and Africa. The skull of an Anteosaurus magnificus now seems to tell a different story. They had assumed the animals waited to ambush prey. Based on that size, researchers had pegged them as sluggish. ![]() These beasts were about as big as today’s hippos or rhinos. He works at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm. “This contradicts what we knew about anteosaurs before,” says Ashley Kruger. ![]() A new analysis now suggests these hefty beasts may have been relatively speedy. Other reptiles reigned as land’s largest predators. Hippo with jaws open: Johannes Gerhardus Swanepoel, Dreamstime.Some 260 million years ago, dinosaurs had not yet evolved. Photos: Hippo family: Sergey Uryadnikov, Dreamstime. In captivity, they tend to live longer and may reach up to 50 years old. Soon after birth, the mother and her baby join up with other cows and calves for protection against predators, such as crocodiles, lions and hyenas.ġ0) In the wild hippos live for around 40 years. To warn off rival males, they open their huge mouths and display their long, curved canines! They also make loud grunts and aggressive splashes in the water.ĩ) Female hippos, called cows, give birth every two years, usually to a single calf. The other members are females, their young and a few young non-breeding males.Ĩ) Dominant males are very protective over their group. When completely submerged, their ears and nostrils fold shut to keep water out.ħ) Hippos usually live in groups (or “herds”) of around ten to 20 individuals, led by one large dominant male. They are herbivores, and eat mostly grass – and boy do they eat grass! In just one night, they can guzzle down up to 35kg of their favourite grub!Ħ) Despite their enormous size, hippos are great swimmers and can hold their breath for up to five minutes underwater. Today, they are largely confined to protected areas in East African countries.ĥ) Hippos are most active at night, when they forage for food. Sadly, populations have declined due to habitat loss and hunting. Their eyes, nose and ears are located on the top of their head, which means they can see and breathe whilst submerged in the water. What’s more, these super-cool creatures sweat an oily red liquid which helps protect their skin from drying out – and acts as a sunblock, too! Cool, huh?Ĥ) These magnificent mammals were once found throughout all sub-saharan Africa. That’s as much as three small cars!ģ) To stay cool in the blistering African heat, hippos spend most of their day in rivers and lakes. Males measure around 3.5m long and 1.5m tall, and can weigh up 3,200kg. Get ready to meet one of nature’s most powerful animals with our ten facts about the hippopotamus… Hippo Factsġ) Hippos are large semi-aquatic mammals, with a large barrel-shaped body, short legs, a short tail and an enormous head! They have greyish to muddy-brown skin, which fades to a pale pink colour underneath.Ģ) They are considered the second largest land animal on Earth (first place goes to the elephant!). ![]()
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