Giant condor- like bird of the late Miocene (over 10 million year ago) inhabited southern South America (Argentina & Chile), largest (heaviest) known flying bird(over 150 lbs.) to have existed. Wingspan was estimated to be 15-20 ft. Depicted here one is about to feed on a MACRAUCHENIA (camel-like ungulate, more closely related to tapirs and horses) carcass. Both creatures lived at a time when South America was an island continent (like Australia) before connecting with North America (via the Isthmus of Panama) about 5 million years ago.

Existing in the Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era, Elasmosaurus (a plesiosaur) and Tylosaurus (a Mosasaur) some 70 million years ago in the Niobrara Sea (named for the river in Nebraska) which connected the Gulf of Mexico with Hudson Bay, essentially dividing North America into two subcontinents: Appalachia in the East, and Laramidia in the West. Plesiosaurs (meaning "near lizard") like the Elasmosaurus were characterized by elongated necks and tails(the body itself rather compact) and reaching lengths of over 60 feet, but only weighing a couple of tons. The more massive (though shorter) Mosasaurs (named for the Meuse River in Germany), were shorter (about 40 feet) but considerably heavier (5-10 tons) and much more powerful. Unlike the Plesiosaurs, Mosasaurs were in fact true lizards, most closely related to the Monitors (Varanidae) such as the Nile, the Goanna, and the Komodo "Dragon" of today, but evolved for a primarily sea-going life.

lived during the Cretacous Period of the Mesozoic Era, some 80-65 million years ago. The setting is the Niobrara Sea (which connected the Gulf Coast with Hudson Bay),in what is now Kansas to the Dakotas. Plesiosaurs (meaning"near-lizard") were marine relatives of modern lizards (but not true lizards) , characterized by elongated necks and tails. They could measure up to 60 feet long, but weighed only a few tons, whereas the Mosasaurs (which are true lizards, related to the modern- day Monitors) measured about 40 feet long, but were more massive, weighing up to 20 tons

The Gorgosaurus (meaning "Fierce Lizard") and Styracosaurus (meaning "Shield Lizard") both inhabited what is now western Canada circa 80 million years ago. Mesozoic Era, Cretaceous Period.

Literally meaning "Polar Bear Lizard", Nanuqsaurus inhabited the Arctic coasts of (what are now) Canada & Alaska some 70 million years ago, It evolved adaptations such as a thickly feather coat (most likely white) for insulation against the frigid temperatures to be encountered at that latitude .Mesozoic Era, Cretaceous Period.

This sail-backed carnosaur actually specialized in a diet of fish (including small sharks) lurking in coastal wetlands of what is now North Africa (Egypt to Morrocco) over 90 million years ago...It was among the largest of the predatory dinosaurs, exceeded in size only by Giganatosaurus of southern South America. Mesozoic Era, Cretaceous Period.

At a total mass of over 200 lbs., and a wingspan of approximately 30 ft., Quetzalcoatlus (named after a Toltec serpent god) would've needed a very strong thermal to be airborne, and much of the time it walked on land, stalking prey like a Marabou Stork (Leptoptulus crumeniferus) would.Those living along a coast would include fish (as depicted here in their diet, while inland populations would've hunted smaller reptiles (perhaps primitive mammals as well) that they could grab. A type of pterosaur (pterodactyl kin), Quetzalcoatlus lived about 70 million years ago in (what is now) Texas and northeastern Mexico. Mesozoic Era, Cretaceous Period.

Early Jurassic 175 Million Years Ago in (what is now) Southwestern U.S. (into northern Mexico). "Dilophosaurus" means "Double-crested" lizard. Mesozoic Era, Jurassic Period.

.Fossils of both (about 200million years old) were discovered in Antarctica, which at the time they existed was 400 miles north of its present location, and had a climate more like New Zealand (temperate rainforest along the coast, snow-capped mountains inland). "Cryolophosaurus" means "Icy Crested Lizard" Mesozoic Era, Jurassic Period.

Discovered in limestone deposits in Bavaria, Germany (where it's known as "Urvogel") in the early 19th Century,the Archaeopteryx lived about 150 million years ago. It is considered the first true bird by paleontologists & ornithologists, although the creature retained it. "Archaeopteryx" means "Ancient Wing." Mesozoic Era, Jurassic Period.

Living from 1.4 Million to 24 Thousand Years ago during the Ice Ages, the Cave Bear inhabited central and northern parts of Europe and Asia. Slightly larger than a Kodiak Bear (Ursus arctos middendorfi). it was primarily herbivorous(plant-eating) in diet Climate change and competition for living space with early Man precipitated its extinction.

Meganeura (meaning "Great Nerves"* in Ancient Greek) lived in (what are now) Europe and North America during the Carboniferous Period (350-280 Million Years Ago), and had a wingspan of up to 30 inches. It inhabited rainforests of tree ferns and horsetails, feeding on smaller insects (and other invertebrates), as well as small amphibians and perhaps very primitive (early) reptiles.

* Because the veins in its wing membranes resembled nerves.