Ancient Beasts

Dinosaurs

Dinosaur fossils have a long history in India, where numerous significant finds have been unearthed over the years. The following are some of the most notable dinosaur species discovered in India:

  • Rajasaurus – The Late Cretaceous is thought to have been the time period during which the dinosaur Rajasaurus, which was unearthed in the early 2000s, lived. It was a carnivorous dinosaur with regal features including unique crests on its head.
  • Titanosaurus – Thought to have lived in the Late Cretaceous epoch and was one of the last species of sauropod dinosaurs to exist. It was a big herbivorous dinosaur with a long tail that resembled a whip.
  • Indosuchus – Theropod dinosaurs, such as Indosuchus, were a subclass that lived in the Late Cretaceous. It was a predatory dinosaur with a long, slender snout and strong teeth.
  • Barapasaurus – The Early Jurassic era saw the existence of the sauropod dinosaur known as Barapasaurus. It had a long neck and tail and was a large herbivorous dinosaur.
  • Stegosaurus – One of the most well-known dinosaur species is the Stegosaurus, which is distinguished by the unique plates on its back. While the majority of Stegosaurus fossils have been discovered in North America, some have also been found in India.

 

Fossil Parks

Numerous dinosaur fossil sites can be found in India, including the Balasinor Fossil Park in Rajasthan and the Dinosaur Fossil Park in Gujarat. These resources assist scientists to learn more about the dinosaurs that once walked the globe and offer insightful information into the prehistoric world.

Ancient Animals

India has a long history of biodiversity, with numerous animal species having inhabited its territories for millennia. Unfortunately, some of these extinct prehistoric animals have vanished from the planet as a result of several circumstances, such as climate change, habitat loss, and human hunting.

  • The Indus Valley elephant, also known as the Asian straight-tusked elephant, is one of the most well-known extinct species from India. During the ancient era, this elephant species—one of the biggest terrestrial animals to have ever lived—was widespread in India. Unfortunately, the Indus Valley elephant became extinct some 4,000 years ago as a result of hunting and habitat loss.
  • The Indian aurochs, a sizable kind of wild cattle that was previously present all over the nation, is another extinct animal from India. Early humans valued the Indian aurochs, which they hunted for food and utilised for tools and clothing as well as for its bones and hides. But by the turn of the 20th century, the Indian aurochs had become extinct due to hunting.
  • Another animal that is extinct in India is the cheetah. This big, swift cat formerly roamed the entire nation, but by the 20th century it had been hunted to extinction. With the help of animals from other areas of the world, efforts are currently being done to bring the cheetah back to India.