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We can only guess what the future will look like. But the past? We have evidence to help us paint a picture of it. To visit it.

There's a cool subreddit called 'Nature Was Metal' and its members are like online paleontologists, digging around the internet in search of pictures of dinosaurs and other creatures that are now extinct.

Often, they find pretty good ones: photos of real uncovered skeletons or image projections, built around them.

This subreddit is like a time machine, which may not physically take us to visit the long-gone days, but it certainly allows us glimpses of it, and that can be just enough to please our burning curiosity.

#1

This Artist Tom Björklund Draws Neanderthals As People And Not As Biological Specimens. I Have To Say, Out Of All The Art I've Seen Of Neanderthals, This Is The One That Humanizes Them The Most

This Artist Tom Björklund Draws Neanderthals As People And Not As Biological Specimens. I Have To Say, Out Of All The Art I've Seen Of Neanderthals, This Is The One That Humanizes Them The Most

Salt_x Report

#2

Crinoid Fossils Can Be Found In Some UK Rivers And Were Once Thought To Be Fairy Coins. Sometimes Called ‘Star Stones’

Crinoid Fossils Can Be Found In Some UK Rivers And Were Once Thought To Be Fairy Coins. Sometimes Called ‘Star Stones’

j3ffr33d0m Report

Extinction has been a natural part of the planet's evolutionary history. In fact, 99% of the four billion species that have evolved on Earth are now gone.

And the process continues.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List has tried to estimate the number of extinctions over the last five centuries but unfortunately, we don't know everything about all of the world's species over this period, so it's likely that some will have disappeared without us even knowing they existed in the first place, so its numbers can be an underestimate.

Still, that's the best guess we have. The IUCN Red List estimates that 900 species have gone extinct since 1500.

#3

In 1982, The Comic Strip 'The Far Side' Jokingly Referred To The Set Of Spikes On A Stegosaurus's Tail As A "Thagomizer". A Paleontologist Who Read The Comic Realized There Wasn't Any Official Name For The Spikes And Began Using The New Word; "Thagomizer" Is Now The Generally Accepted Term

In 1982, The Comic Strip 'The Far Side' Jokingly Referred To The Set Of Spikes On A Stegosaurus's Tail As A "Thagomizer". A Paleontologist Who Read The Comic Realized There Wasn't Any Official Name For The Spikes And Began Using The New Word; "Thagomizer" Is Now The Generally Accepted Term

mtlgrems Report

#4

“Dogor” An 18,000 Year-Old Puppy That Was Discovered In The Siberian Permafrost. He’s So Well Preserved That His Nose And Whiskers Are Still Mostly Intact

“Dogor” An 18,000 Year-Old Puppy That Was Discovered In The Siberian Permafrost. He’s So Well Preserved That His Nose And Whiskers Are Still Mostly Intact

TheEternels Report

#5

Opalized Crab Claw

Opalized Crab Claw

If a cavity has formed because a bone, shell or pinecone was buried in the sand or clay that later became rock, and conditions are right for opal formation, then the opal forms a fossil replica of the original object that was buried.

KimCureAll Report

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To understand the biodiversity problem we need to know how many species are under pressure; where they are; and what threats are they facing.

To do this, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species evaluates species across the world for their level of extinction risk. It does this evaluation every year and continues to expand its coverage.

But the IUCN has not evaluated all of the world's known species. In many taxonomic groups, it has assessed only a very small percentage. In 2021, for example, it analyzed only 7% of described species.

#6

This Isn’t A Dinosaur Fossil; It’s A Mummy

This Isn’t A Dinosaur Fossil; It’s A Mummy

A 110 million-year-old Nodosaur was swept to sea by a flooding river, sank, landed on its back, and was pressed into the ocean floor. It’s so well- preserved that it still has intestines and weighs 2,500 of its original 3,000 lbs

m0rris0n_hotel Report

#7

It May Not Look Like Much, But This Tiny, Billion-Year-Old Green Algae Is The Ancestor Of All Land Plants On Earth

It May Not Look Like Much, But This Tiny, Billion-Year-Old Green Algae Is The Ancestor Of All Land Plants On Earth

Peachy-Persimmons Report

#8

A Neanderthal Father With His Child. Reconstruction Made By The Kennis Brothers

A Neanderthal Father With His Child. Reconstruction Made By The Kennis Brothers

AddisonDeWitt_ Report

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#9

10 Million Years Ago, Turtles Could Eat You With A Single Bite

10 Million Years Ago, Turtles Could Eat You With A Single Bite

billenbijter Report

As we'd expect, animals such as birds, mammals, and amphibians have seen a much larger share of their species assessed – more than 80%. On the other hand, only 1% of insects have. And less than 1% of the world's fungi.

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The lack of complete coverage of the world’s species highlights two important points we need to remember when interpreting the IUCN Red List data:

1. Changes in the number of threatened species over time do not necessarily reflect increasing extinction risks;

2. The number of threatened species is an underestimate.

#10

Outdated Reconstruction Of A Neanderthal vs. Scientifically Accurate Reconstruction Of A Neanderthal

Outdated Reconstruction Of A Neanderthal vs. Scientifically Accurate Reconstruction Of A Neanderthal

AddisonDeWitt_ Report

#11

A 120-145 Million Year Old Dinosaur With Two Heads Was Found In Yixian, China

A 120-145 Million Year Old Dinosaur With Two Heads Was Found In Yixian, China

It's super rare because the chances of a two headed animal are small and for it to even fossilize are even smaller.

Narendra_17 Report

#12

Imagine Just How Huge And Metal This Mammoth Must Have Been... Tusk Of A Woolly Mammoth In Siberia

Imagine Just How Huge And Metal This Mammoth Must Have Been... Tusk Of A Woolly Mammoth In Siberia

mariospants Report

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amybuck2005 avatar
Nathaniel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is still a legitimate ivory trade, people are finding mammoth tusks in Siberia and selling them on.

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#13

A Comparison Between The Skull Of A Sarcosuchus And A Nile Crocodile

A Comparison Between The Skull Of A Sarcosuchus And A Nile Crocodile

No-Promotion-2955 Report

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Lemon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Crocodiles today: I can swallow the mammal 2 leg land dwellers whole! Sarcosuchus: Hold my beer...

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In total, the IUCN Red List has evaluated 40,084 species across all taxonomic groups to be threatened with extinction in 2021.

But as noted before, since birds, mammals, and amphibians are the most well-studied groups, their numbers are the most accurate reflection of the true number (and therefore, understudied groups such as insects, plants, and fungi will be a large underestimate).

#14

The Last Photo Taken Of A Wild Barbary Lion. Taken In 1924

The Last Photo Taken Of A Wild Barbary Lion. Taken In 1924

2005Cule Report

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#15

The Giant Monster That Was Argentinosaurus

The Giant Monster That Was Argentinosaurus

Husdjur Report

#16

Megalodon & Human Size Comparison

Megalodon & Human Size Comparison

_KingScar Report

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amybuck2005 avatar
Nathaniel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Huge a*s shark, do do, do do do do. Huge a*s shark, do do, do do do do. Huge a*s shark, do do, do do do do. Huge a*s shark.

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#17

Indohyus - The Earliest Known Ancestor Of The Whale

Indohyus - The Earliest Known Ancestor Of The Whale

Animalnuttt Report

Many think that humans are also doomed to disappear. Paleontologist Henry Gee thinks the most insidious threat to humankind is the so-called extinction debt.

"There comes a time in the progress of any species, even ones that seem to be thriving, when extinction will be inevitable, no matter what they might do to avert it," Gee wrote in Scientific American.

"The cause of extinction is usually a delayed reaction to habitat loss. The species most at risk are those that dominate particular habitat patches at the expense of others, who tend to migrate elsewhere, and are therefore spread more thinly. Humans occupy more or less the whole planet, and with our sequestration of a large wedge of the productivity of this planetwide habitat patch, we are dominant within it. H. sapiens might therefore already be a dead species walking."

#18

Around 26000 Years Ago This Lion Cub Was Abandoned In A Siberian Cave By Her Mother Who Either Went Hunting, Or Was Killed Never To Return

Around 26000 Years Ago This Lion Cub Was Abandoned In A Siberian Cave By Her Mother Who Either Went Hunting, Or Was Killed Never To Return

Unable to feed herself, the cub dubbed Sparta starved and has been perfectly preserved since.

xindigothoughtsx Report

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#19

Reconstruction Of Sue, The T. Rex, In The Field Museum In Chicago

Reconstruction Of Sue, The T. Rex, In The Field Museum In Chicago

Notice the eyes and the snout, to this day I never saw a reconstruction that looked terrifying and cute at the same time. Blue Rhino Studio made the model for this exhibition. Photo taken from their Facebook page.

AlJRaba Report

#20

This Brachiosaurus Skeleton

This Brachiosaurus Skeleton

mtlgrems Report

#21

The Diversity Among Homo Erectus Around The World. Homo Erectus Existed For 1.9 Million Years And Was The Most Successful Human Species

The Diversity Among Homo Erectus Around The World. Homo Erectus Existed For 1.9 Million Years And Was The Most Successful Human Species

AddisonDeWitt_ Report

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Lesley Christie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really love what they have done with Java Man. You feel like you could mid conversation with them.

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"The signs are already there for those willing to see them," Gee said. "When the habitat becomes degraded such that there are fewer resources to go around; when fertility starts to decline; when the birth rate sinks below the death rate; and when genetic resources are limited—the only way is down. The question is 'How fast?'"

The paleontologist suspects that the human population is set not just for shrinkage but collapse. I guess, time will show.

#22

Quetzalcoatlus, The Biggest Flying Animal Ever!

Quetzalcoatlus, The Biggest Flying Animal Ever!

Rabano11 Report

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Naughty panda
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How could something so big get off the ground and fly. The size of the neck and head makes it seem impossible. Not saying it wasn't possible.

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#23

These Starfishes Embedded In Stone As A Fossil

These Starfishes Embedded In Stone As A Fossil

Peachy-Persimmons Report

#24

These 250-Million Year Old Detailed Crinoid Fossils

These 250-Million Year Old Detailed Crinoid Fossils

Peachy-Persimmons Report

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#25

Titanoboa Skeleton

Titanoboa Skeleton

Ryunysus Report

#27

Tail Of A 99m Yo Dinosaur, The First One Ever Discovered. Perfectly Preserved, Still Covered In Feathers

Tail Of A 99m Yo Dinosaur, The First One Ever Discovered. Perfectly Preserved, Still Covered In Feathers

Tangledtitty Report

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Nathaniel
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even the T Rex was thought to have feathers. Imagine the Jurassic Park films with lots of feathery beasts!

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#28

Had To Drive 14 Hours To Get Her, But I Finally Have My Little Own Coelophysis

Had To Drive 14 Hours To Get Her, But I Finally Have My Little Own Coelophysis

thebriss22 Report

#29

Sue Is The Largest T.Rex To Be Found So Far, At 90% Of The Body Complete

Sue Is The Largest T.Rex To Be Found So Far, At 90% Of The Body Complete

Peachy-Persimmons Report

#30

A Megalodon Tooth Compared To A Great White Shark!

A Megalodon Tooth Compared To A Great White Shark!

Rayan2550 Report

#31

A Raptor And Protoceratops’ Fight Preserved In The Sand

A Raptor And Protoceratops’ Fight Preserved In The Sand

Peachy-Persimmons Report

#32

An Incredibly Intact Crinoid Specimen Fossil Dating Back To About 345 Million Years Ago!

An Incredibly Intact Crinoid Specimen Fossil Dating Back To About 345 Million Years Ago!

monomotive Report

#33

The World’s Only Intact Fossil Of An Early Whale - The Basilosaurus Dating About 40 Million Years Ago - Has Been Uncovered During A Excavation At Wadi Al-Hitan In Egypt

The World’s Only Intact Fossil Of An Early Whale - The Basilosaurus Dating About 40 Million Years Ago - Has Been Uncovered During A Excavation At Wadi Al-Hitan In Egypt

jaketocake Report

#34

Cretan Dwarf Mammoth. It's Possible Its Skull Was The Origin Of The Myths About Cyclops In Ancient Times. (Not My Photo)

Cretan Dwarf Mammoth. It's Possible Its Skull Was The Origin Of The Myths About Cyclops In Ancient Times. (Not My Photo)

ACJ96 Report

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amybuck2005 avatar
Nathaniel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The hole for the nose may have been thought to have been an eye socket. People see a huge skull with one "eye hole". CYCLOPS!

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#35

The Licking Bison Of La Madeleine Was Carved On A Reindeer Antler Fragment In Upper Paleolithic France Sometime Between 20,000 And 12,000 Years Ago. It Depicts The Now Extinct Steppe Bison

The Licking Bison Of La Madeleine Was Carved On A Reindeer Antler Fragment In Upper Paleolithic France Sometime Between 20,000 And 12,000 Years Ago. It Depicts The Now Extinct Steppe Bison

Pardusco Report

#36

A Preserved Foot Of The Giant Moa Bird. An Extinct Species Native To New Zealand. It Grew To Be 12 Feet Tall

A Preserved Foot Of The Giant Moa Bird. An Extinct Species Native To New Zealand. It Grew To Be 12 Feet Tall

Sleeeepy_Hollow Report

#37

When Breeding, Australian Gastric-Brooding Frogs (Rheobatrachus) Would Stop Producing Gastric Acid, Swallow Their Eggs, And Carry Them In Their Stomachs Past Metamorphosis. Extinct Since 1985

When Breeding, Australian Gastric-Brooding Frogs (Rheobatrachus) Would Stop Producing Gastric Acid, Swallow Their Eggs, And Carry Them In Their Stomachs Past Metamorphosis. Extinct Since 1985

masiakasaurus Report

#38

100,000 Years Ago, A Group Of Neanderthals In Spain Walked Down To The Beach

100,000 Years Ago, A Group Of Neanderthals In Spain Walked Down To The Beach

sylvyrfyre Report

#39

An Argentinian Farmer Recently Found 20,000 Years Old Fossilized Glyptodons

An Argentinian Farmer Recently Found 20,000 Years Old Fossilized Glyptodons

Peachy-Persimmons Report

#41

A Rare Fossil: The Shell Of A Tortoise Stuck In The Jaw Of An Ancient Elephant

A Rare Fossil: The Shell Of A Tortoise Stuck In The Jaw Of An Ancient Elephant

Scientiaetnatura065 Report

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BakedKahuna
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That would be the beginning of a apocalypse scenario in Pratchett's disc world

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#42

I See Your Various Well-Preserved Animals And Raise To You A Smushed Baby Mammoth (Credit Ruth Hartnup)

I See Your Various Well-Preserved Animals And Raise To You A Smushed Baby Mammoth (Credit Ruth Hartnup)

reddit.com Report

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Natalie H
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aww Is that Lyubya? I saw her at the Field Museum in Chicago, along with Sue the T Rex 💖

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#43

Prehistoric 'Hell Ant' Stuck In Amber Biting It's Prey For 99 Million Years

Prehistoric 'Hell Ant' Stuck In Amber Biting It's Prey For 99 Million Years

Jeski221 Report

#44

Livyatan Is An Extinct Genus Of Sperm Whale And Is Most Notable For Being A Member Of The Raptorial Sperm Whales (Hyper-Predatory Sperm Whales) And Having The Strongest Bite Of Any Tetrapod

Livyatan Is An Extinct Genus Of Sperm Whale And Is Most Notable For Being A Member Of The Raptorial Sperm Whales (Hyper-Predatory Sperm Whales) And Having The Strongest Bite Of Any Tetrapod

tgood139 Report

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#45

This Was Toughie, The Last Known Living Rabbs' Fringe-Limbed Treefrog. He Was Captured As An Adult In Panama In 2005 And Died In Captivity On September 26, 2016

This Was Toughie, The Last Known Living Rabbs' Fringe-Limbed Treefrog. He Was Captured As An Adult In Panama In 2005 And Died In Captivity On September 26, 2016

Pardusco Report

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Octavia Hansen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We destroy ourselves most efficiently. Animals just catch the fall out.

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#46

Skeleton Of Archelon Ischyros

Skeleton Of Archelon Ischyros

Ryunysus Report

#47

Triceratops Femur (Left) vs. Elephant Femur

Triceratops Femur (Left) vs. Elephant Femur

TheGreatHsuster Report

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amybuck2005 avatar
Nathaniel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do we know if the woman is tall or short? We also need a banana for scale.

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#49

Giant Chinese Paddlefish Now Officially Extinct

Giant Chinese Paddlefish Now Officially Extinct

iam1whoknocks Report

#50

Prehistoric Spider-Like Arachnid Found Preserved In Amber

Prehistoric Spider-Like Arachnid Found Preserved In Amber

Tangledtitty Report

Note: this post originally had 97 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.