SPEAKING OF PREDATORS

Above is a chart showing the 15 largest predators ever to live on Earth, past and present.  You can click on the image to enlarge, but for more magnification and clarity, click on this link, then click once more on any portion of the chart.

It is an impressive assembly.  Note that two are alive today, in the depths of the ocean.

Below you will find the identity and approximate size stats for each creature, expressed in the metric system.  (For equivalency, note that a meter is about 3.28 feet, a tonne is about 2,204.6 lb., and the abbreviation MYA stands for millions of years ago, i.e., the approximate time span when each creature was alive on the planet.  Here are the entries in order ~

1. Sperm whale ~ 20.5 meters, 57 tonnes, alive today
2. Mauisaurus ~ 20 meters,                    65 MYA
3. Megalodon ~ 18 meters, 70 tonnes, 25-1.5 MYA
4. Spinosaurus ~ 18 meters, 9 tonnes, 106-93.5 MYA
5. Basilosaurus ~ 18 meters, 6 tonnes, 40-34 MYA
6. Tylosaurus ~ 17.5 meters,                  85-80 MYA
7. Mosasaurus ~ 16 meters, 17 tonnes, 70-65 MYA
8. Predator X ~ 15 meters, 45 tonnes, 147 MYA
9. Titanoboa ~ 15 meters, 1.2 tonnes, 65-58 MYA
10. Gigantosaurus ~ 14.8 meters, 8 tonnes, 95 MYA
11. Carcharodontosaurus ~ 14 meters, 17.5 tonnes, 100-93 MYA
12. Elasmosaurus ~ 14 meters, 2.2 tonnes, 85-65 MYA
13. Colossal Squid ~ 14 meters, 0.5 tonnes, alive today
14. Tyrannosaurus Rex ~ 13 meters, 8 tonnes, 65 MYA
15. Deinosuchus ~ 12 meters, 10 tonnes, 80-73 MYA

On the enlarged grid, each square corresponds to 1 meter, and a 1.75 meter human figure appears as a size reference.  It is appropriate that we should appear, for though we are diminutive in size, we are undeniably the most deadly, opportunistic predator of all.