Prehistoric Predators

Prehistoric Predators
Promotional poster
GenreTelevision documentary
Narrated by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes7
Production
Running time48 minutes
Production companyCreative Differences Productions
Original release
NetworkNational Geographic
ReleaseAugust 19 (2007-08-19) –
November 7, 2007 (2007-11-07)

Prehistoric Predators is a 2007 National Geographic Channel program based on different predators that lived in the Cenozoic era, including Smilodon and C. megalodon. The series investigated how such beasts hunted and fought other creatures, and what drove them to extinction.

Production

The producers enlisted the help of Chuck Ciampaglio, a geology professor at Wright State University–Lake Campus, to create a model illustrate a shark's jaws. Filming of the episode involving Ciampaglio took place on the university campus in 2008.

Reception

Brad Newsome of The Age praised the series for its "lovely computer animations [that] bring several species of these 'terror birds' to life". The Advertiser said the series "shows amazing animations of the shark". According to The Times, in Prehistoric Predators, "Scientists—ably assisted by the prerequisite CGI—recreate some of the most fearsome predators of old", including the Megalodon and the Terror Bird.

North America:
Smilodon fatalis, dire wolf, short-faced bear, American lion, Bison antiquus, Mexican horse, Columbian mammoth, Megalonyx, gray wolf (cameo), grizzly bear (cameo), early humans
South America, North America:
Kelenken, Parapropalaehoplophorus, Homalodotherium, Titanis, Canis edwardii, Smilodon gracilis, Neohipparion
The Atlantic:
C. megalodon, Cetotherium, Squalodon, dugong, great white shark (cameo), green sea turtle (cameo)
North America:
Archaeotherium, Hyaenodon, Dinictis, Mesohippus, Poebrotherium, Subhyracodon, Moropus, Merycoidodon, Daeodon, Amphicyon

Episodes

No.TitleOriginal release date
1"Sabertooth"2007 (2007)
Smilodon fatalis is shown as an apex predator. It is depicted defeating dire wolves, living in prides and killing Bison antiquus, and baby mammoths.
2"Dire Wolf"2007 (2007)
The savage dire wolf was the largest dog on the planet at the time. It is shown chasing off lone Smilodons and faceing off with short-faced bears and hunting down Bison antiquus and Mexican horses in large packs.
3"Giant Bear"2007 (2007)
Arctodus simus, the giant short-faced bear, was one of the largest mammalian carnivore ever to walk the Earth. The bear is shown defeating Smilodon fatalis and Megalonyx, trying to take down Mexican horses, scaring off dire wolves, and even coming into contact with early humans
4"Monster Shark"2007 (2007)
The huge, powerful shark C. megalodon is shown subsisting on a diet of whales.
5"Terror Raptor"2007 (2007)
The huge terror birds of South and North America, Kelenken and Titanis, are both shown as apex predators. Kelenken is shown to eat Homalodotherium, glyptodonts, and rodents, and Titanis is shown coming into competition with additional predators Smilodon gracilis and Canis edwardii, and is also shown to eat horses.
6"Killer Pig"2007 (2007)
Archaeotherium was the largest and most powerful beast of the badlands until the bear dogs arrived, and is depicted evolving into the even larger Daeodon (or Dinohyus) in order to survive against the new threat.
7"Razor Jaws"2007 (2007)
The only animal who would attack an Archaeotherium was Hyaenodon, with its powerful razor jaws, until bear dogs arrived on the continent, driving both to extinction.

References

  1. ↑ Weaver, Angela (2009-04-30). "Lake Campus professor's work featured on television". The Evening Leader. St. Marys, Ohio. NewsBank 127E94D04F71C028.
  2. ↑ "Lake Campus professor's research to be featured on National Geographic Channel". Sidney Daily News. 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2026-09-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Newsome, Brad (2009-08-27). "Pay TV - Sunday, August 30". The Age. p. 34. ProQuest 364220318.
  4. ↑ "Foxtel hits four too hot to miss". The Advertiser. 2009-08-13. Factiva ADVTSR0020090812e58d00088. ProQuest 354736432.
  5. ↑ "Prehistoric Predators". The Times. 2009-08-15. Factiva T000000020090815e58f0001s.
  6. ↑ "Dire Wolf A Prehistoric Predators". Youtube. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2016.[dead YouTube link]
  7. ↑ "prehistoric predators giant bear". Youtube. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "Prehistoric Predators: Terror Bird". Youtube. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2016.[dead YouTube link]
  9. ↑ "National Geographic Documentary - Prehistoric Predators: Killer Pig". Youtube. 10 January 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2016.[dead YouTube link]
  10. ↑ "Prehistoric Fossil - Predators Big Pig (National Geographic)". YouTube. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2016.[dead YouTube link]