Smallest and Strangest Prehistoric Creatures

From crocs the size of house cats … to dwarf-sized sauropods and microraptors … here are 20 of the smallest and strangest prehistoric creatures

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#9 Microraptors
Their cousins Velociraptors might be better known, but these diminutive dinosaurs had wings. In fact, it has been described as a ‘four-winged dinosaur’, with one set on its forelimbs, and the other set located on its hind limbs. Experts speculate that the wings were used for gliding … and possibly for powered flight as well, but that has yet to be definitively proven. Less than 4 feet tall (1.2 m) and weighing about 2 pounds (1 kg), Microraptors were certainly that. They are regarded as some of the smallest non-avian dinosaurs yet discovered.

#8 Falcatus (fahl-kay-tus)
If you hear the term “prehistoric shark” the first thing that comes to mind is probably Megalodon. That legendary beast is thought to have been more than 50 feet long (16 m) and weighed over 37 US tons (34 metric tons). About 300 million years before Megalodon appeared, this shark was found in present-day Montana. But at a mere 12 inches long (30 cm), and weighing about one pound (454 g) this is the smallest prehistoric shark identified to date. Experts say they were bug-eyed creatures with spines projecting from their heads which may have played a role in their mating process..

#7 Epidexipteryx (eh-pih-DEX-ip-tur-icks)
Think of dinosaurs and you usually think of huge, monstrous creatures. But this dinosaur would have measured about 10 inches long. Although, if you added its tail feathers that length extends to around 17.5 inches … and weighed less than 6 ounces (164 grams). This critter is known from only one fossil specimen that was found in China. Researchers say it represents the earliest example of ornamental feathers known to date in the fossil record. The diminutive dinosaur lived around 160 million years ago.

#6 Opabinia (OH-puh-bin-ee-uh)
In a way, you could also call this soft-bodied critter a small marine version of an elephant. It lived during the Middle Cambrian and had a hollow, flexible proboscis that brought food to its mouth, not unlike an elephant’s trunk. Only 2.2 inches (5.7 centimeters) long excluding the proboscis, this animal had five eyes, a mouth that faced backwards underneath its head, and a fan shaped tail. There’s been some debate over how to classify this creature. But it’s now thought to belong to animals related to the ancestors of arthropods, which includes velvet worms and tardigrades.

#5 Archicebus (ar-kih-sih-bus)
These tiny primates lived about 55 million years ago in modern day central China. It may or may not have been the smallest prehistoric primate. But weighing just over one ounce (30 grams) it could have made a claim to the title. They would have been about the size of mouse lemurs, which are the smallest primates alive today. Some sources say these animals may have been distant ancestors of modern apes, monkeys, and humans. What do you think?

#4 Iberomesornis (eye-berom-ih-sorn-is)
Around 125 million years ago, these little birds were flying in the skies of present-day central Spain. They would have been no larger than sparrows or finches, and probably weighed about 20 grams (less than an ounce). Among its distinguishing physical traits were strong clawed feet for grasping branches, and tiny jaws filled with jagged teeth.

#3 Triadobatrachus (try-ad-oh-bat-truh-kus)
Did you know that around 370 million years ago amphibians were the largest land-dwelling animals on Earth? Their place was later usurped by larger prehistoric reptiles. Triadobatrachus is the oldest known member of the frog lineage and lived during the Early Triassic in present-day Madagascar. Experts say it weighed only a few ounces and measured about 4 inches long (10 cm). It could swim by kicking its legs, but it couldn’t jump. Most sources agree that these amphibians were the earliest ancestors of today’s frogs.

#2 Hadrocodium (hay-dro-koe-dee-um)
Measuring only 1.3 inches long (3.2 cm) and weighing around 2 grams, this was one of the smallest mammals that ever existed. The mouse-like animals were about the size of a paper-clip, and lived about 195 million years ago during the Early Jurassic. Not unlike the modern day platypus and echidna (eh-kid-nuh), these were mammals that could lay eggs.
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