The time of Pleistocene was the first geological division of the Quaternary period. It was mainly characterized by low temperatures that covered almost the entire planet with ice. The Pleistocene fauna It was characterized primarily by the emergence of large mammals such as the mammoth. We also observe the evolution of the human species during this period. It was during this time that the ancestors of modern humans appeared, such as the homo habilis.
In this article we are going to analyze all the characteristics and evolution of the Pleistocene fauna.
General context of the Pleistocene fauna
To understand the development of the Pleistocene fauna, we must understand the generalized context, both climate and geology, etc. It is a time that is one of the most studied and that has the most fossil records. For this reason, it has become one of the times when there is more extensive and reliable information. This period of time began 2.6 million years ago and ended after the last ice age, approximately 10.000 BC
During this period, large mammals reached their peak in terms of development and diversification. Among them, the mammoth, the megatherium, and the mastodons, which dominated virtually the entire planet, stand out. Their large size was their distinguishing characteristic from the rest of the fauna. Also worth mentioning is the development of human ancestors, such as Homo ergaster, Homo erectus, Homo habilis, and Homo neanderthalensis.
Regarding geology, we found that there was little displacement of the continents. In this case, the continental drift was quite low and has remained that way ever since. Already at this time the continents had the same positions that they have today. Analyzing the climate we see that there was a predominance of low temperatures. And it is that during this time several glacial cycles happened. It remained that way all the time until the end of the last ice age. Much of the planet was covered in ice. Specialists have recorded that approximately 30% of the entire earth's surface was frozen. The South Pole in Antarctica was once completely covered in ice, just as it is today. All the lands within the Arctic Circle were also covered in ice. If you want to know more about the climate, you can consult the Antarctica weather.
Once we have analyzed the context of this time period, we begin to analyze the fauna of the Pleistocene.
Pleistocene fauna
During this period, mammals became the dominant group, generally maintaining the hegemony that began in earlier periods. Among the Pleistocene fauna, the emergence of the so-called megafauna stands out. This megafauna refers to large animals that were able to resist the low temperatures that existed at that time. If you are interested in this phenomenon, you can consult about the Quaternary fauna.
Although mammals were the maximum development and diversification of the fauna of this time, other groups of animals such as birds, amphibians and reptiles also continued to diversify. Much of these groups of animals has remained until today. However, it cannot be argued that mammals were the kings of this age.
The Pleistocene megafauna consisted mainly of large animals. Among these animals, we highlight the most representative ones, which are the mammoth, the megatherium, the smilodon, the elasmotherium, among others. Let's analyze the main animals of the Pleistocene fauna one by one.
Mammoth
These animals belonged to the genus Mammuthus and looked very similar to the elephants we have today. One of the most representative characteristics of this group was its nasal prolongation. This is because they belong to the Proboscidea order and have the organ that is colloquially known as the trunk. Its scientific name is proboscis. The mammoths also possessed long, sharp fangs that helped defend against potential predators. These tusks had a curve that pointed upwards. These tusks were made of ivory. If you want to learn more about the origin of these animals, you can read the article about the Pliocene.
Depending on the individual's range and the proximity or distance to areas with lower temperatures, the body was covered with more or less fur. Its diet was herbivorous, meaning its tusks served only a defensive function. Despite its enormous appearance and belonging to the Pleistocene megafauna group, it became extinct in the following era. Thanks to numerous fossil records, we have learned a great deal about the morphology and lifestyle of this species.
megatherium
These animals belong to the order Pilosa and are related to the current sloths. It is a type of animal that became one of the largest that populated the earth. His average weight was between 2.5 and 3 tons and were approximately 6 meters long. This species has been studied thanks to the fossils collected. Its bones were quite robust, so it is suspected that it had to support a large mass of meat.
Like modern sloths, they had very long claws. These claws were used primarily for digging in search of food. Their diet consisted entirely of vipers, and they are thought to have been solitary. Their bodies were covered in thick fur that helped protect them from the low temperatures that prevailed at that time. Its habitat and distribution area expanded throughout South America. If you want to go deeper into this topic, you can consult the article on the boreal forest.
Smilodon
This animal belongs to the Felidae family, being direct relatives of modern felines. Its main characteristic was its large size and two long fangs descending from its upper jaw. Thanks to these characteristics, the smilodon was known worldwide as «saber-toothed tigers». It is one of the most studied animals in all of history because it is also present in numerous stories and mythologies.
Thanks to the fossils that have been collected from these species, it has been proven that males could reach up to 300 kilos in weight. They lived mainly in all areas of North and South America. In this regard, it is interesting to mention the glacialism, which had a significant impact on the living conditions of these animals.
elasmotherium
It was one of the mammals that belonged to the Rhinocerotidae family, related to today's rhinos. The main characteristic of these animals was that they had a large horn that protruded from their skull and that could measure up to more than two meters. Their diet was herbivorous and their main food was grass. Like other Pleistocene mammals, it had a body covered in thick fur. Its habitat and distribution were in Central Asia and the Russian steppes.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the fauna of the Pleistocene.
