Prehistoric animals are larger and stronger than modern animals in the public mind, and the main reasons are as follows:
The first is the reason why the fossils are preserved. The conditions for fossil formation are extremely harsh, and most animals have no chance to form fossils after they die. As it is now, many wild beasts are eaten by scavengers after death, decomposed by bacteria, and finally there is no bone residue left, and humans have to be cremated after death, leaving only ashes, which are impossible to form fossils. Most of the species that have ever lived on Earth in the past have disappeared forever without leaving fossils. There are often many genera of extant animals, and prehistoric organisms are usually one species per genus, and the reason for this is that most prehistoric animals have not left fossils.
Fossil recovered specimen of T. rex
Large animals are more likely to leave fossils than small animals, and large animals may be decomposed in part, and another part of the fossil formation is presented to us, and under the same conditions, small animals may be completely decomposed. In addition, powerful animals often have weapons, for example, the hard shell of ammonite, the pincers of sea scorpions, the fortified mouthparts of giant insects, the claws and teeth of dinosaurs and hyenas, and these hard parts are more likely to form fossils than soft parts.
The second is the reason for paleontological research. Large and strong animals are often key species in prehistoric ecosystems and are more valuable for research. At the same time, since the public is more interested in these animals, it is easy to apply for research grants and become famous for these projects. As a result, these animals are more favored by paleontologists.
Again, the reason for the public concern. The public has a hunting mentality and likes to exaggerate the unknown, which is why the media is always the first to report on large animals, while some small animals are not cared about. Science fiction books and film and television works have also played a role in fueling the waves, and some of the expressions are particularly exaggerated. For example, the slippery tooth dragon is actually only about 7 meters, which is exaggerated to 25 meters by the BBC documentary, and the Tyrannosaurus rex in the movie is even more invincible. These details will impress the public.
Slippery Tooth Dragon was exaggerated by BBC to 25 meters, but it was actually only 7 meters
Here zoology reminds everyone to pay attention to the following points:
First, there are large animals and small animals in any era, and there are many more types and numbers of small animals than large animals. In the age of the dinosaurs, there were both 70- and 80-ton Argentinosaurus rex, Tyrannosaurus rex weighing more than a dozen tons, as well as 20 centimeters of Hu's Yaolong and short-feathered Chinese feathers. It's just that the former is well known, and the latter is ignored and forgotten.