The Time of the Behemoths Trivia Quiz

Answer: giant moa

The largest species of moa (Dinornis robustus) could reach a height of 3.6 m (12 ft) and weigh as much as 230 kg (510 lb); unlike ratites such as ostriches and emus, they had no vestigial wings. When the Maori arrived in New Zealand in the 13th century AD, these herbivorous birds had been thriving in the islands' ecosystem, and their only predator was the huge Haast's eagle.

This left the moa particularly vulnerable to hunting and habitat loss, which caused the bird's extinction in 1445. Ironically, the Haast's eagle also died out, having being deprived of its main source of food.

Answer: giant ground sloth

First discovered in 1788 in Argentina, Megatherium was one of the largest land mammals that ever lived. Like other mammals of the superorder Xenarthra (to which anteaters and armadillos also belong), these animals evolved in South America, where their modern relatives still live. An adult Megatherium could weigh as much as 4 tonnes (4.40 short tons), and measure up to 6 m (20 ft) in length.

This herbivorous creature was able to stand on its hind feet and reach out with its curved claws to pull down tree branches in order to feed on the leaves. Megatherium is believed to have existed until about 10,000 years ago, possibly somewhat later.

Answer: Irish elk

Despite its common name, the Irish elk was not closely related either to the European elk or the Northern American elk (wapiti), nor did it live exclusively in Ireland (though most skeletons were found there). An imposing animal, it stood about 2.1 m (6.9 ft) at the shoulder, and could weigh as much as 700 kg (1,543 lb).

Its antlers (the largest of any known deer species) weighed up to 40 kg, and measured up to 3.65 m (12 ft) from tip to tip. A number of hypotheses have been put forward as to the cause of this magnificent animal's extinction, which probably occurred about 8,000 years ago.

Answer: South American short-faced bear

Compared to other animals that lived during Pleistocene, not much is known about Arctotherium, the South American short-faced bear. However, the remains of a specimen of Arctotherium angustidens found in Buenos Aires (Argentina) point to a creature weighing between 983 and 2,042 kg (2,167 - 4,502 lb) - more than twice as heavy as a polar bear.

This bear's enormous size has been attributed to the competition it faced from other predators, such as the saber-toothed tiger (Smilodon) and the jaguar. The South American short-faced bear is estimated to have died out in early Holocene, the current geological epoch.

Answer: giant goanna

Varanus priscus, or Megalania prisca, was a relative of present-day monitor lizards such as the Komodo dragon and the perentie. Though estimates of this creature's size differ, it may have reached a length of 7 m (23 ft) and a maximum weight of 600-620 kg (1,320-1,370 lb) - in any case, much larger than the Komodo dragon, the largest extant lizard species.

The Megalania probably fed on marsupials, birds and other reptiles, and is believed to have been venomous, like other varanid lizards. It may have become extinct about 50,000 years ago, possibly because of human intervention.

Answer: Siberian unicorn

Endemic to Eurasia, Elasmotherium ("laminated beast") was a huge, rhinoceros-like mammal as big as a mammoth, and probably as woolly. The best-known species, Elasmotherium sibiricum, is known as the Siberian unicorn on account of the thick, large keratinous horn that supposedly grew out of its forehead. With a length of up to 4,5 m (15 ft), a shoulder height of over 2 m (6.7 ft), and a weight of over 4 tonnes (4.40 short tons), Elasmotherium was considerably larger than any of the living rhino species.

It may have died out about 35,000 years ago, at the same time as other megafauna.

Answer: giant lemur

A native of Madagascar, like most of its modern relatives, Archaeoindris ("ancient indri lemur") belonged to an extinct family known as the "sloth lemurs". Though limited remains are available, it is estimated that this herbivorous, and probably arboreal, creature was larger than a human, weighing at least 160 kg (350 lb), and possibly more than that.

The extinction of Archeoindris occurred as late as 350 BC, when the first humans reached the west coast of Madagascar from the Sunda Islands.

Answer: straight-tusked elephant

The Asian straight-tusked elephant ranged from India to Japan, and died out about 24,000 years ago, towards the end of the Pleistocene epoch. Though estimates of its size have been conducted on the basis of fragmentary leg bone fossils, experts agree that this animal may have been the largest land mammal that ever existed - with a shoulder height of at least 4.5 m (14.8 ft), and a weight of 22 tonnes (24.3 short tons).

The European and Asian straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus) was somewhat smaller.

Answer: terror bird

Unlike most of the animals mentioned in this quiz, the terror bird died out at the very beginning of Pleistocene (about 2 million years ago). Its generic name refers to the Titans, the ancient Greek gods that were defeated by the Olympians. This bird was about 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) tall, weighing approximately 150 kg (330 lb), with a large skull and powerful, axe-like beak; some scientists think it may have used its skull to pummel its prey to death.

A fitting name indeed! Most fossil specimens of this rather scary creature were found in Florida.

Answer: giant wombat

Diprotodon means "two forward teeth" in Greek. This prominent member of the Pleistocene Australian megafauna resembled a hornless rhinoceros, with a size to match: it could reach a length of 3 m (9.8 ft) from nose to tail, a height of 2.2 m (6.6 ft) at the shoulder, and a weight of about 2,790 kg (6,150 lb).

This fearsome-looking animal probably died out shortly after the arrival of humans in Australia (about 50,000 years ago); according to some theories, they may have been hunted to extinction, or killed off by climate change.