Before The Dinosaurs This Terrifying Predator Ruled The World

Before the dinosaurs these saber-toothed weirdos ruled. So why did they die so abruptly?
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SOCIAL MEDIA
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CREDITS
Created by Dylan Dubeau
Executive Producer, Director, and Director of Photography: Dylan Dubeau
Host and Art: Danielle Dufault
Editors: Jim Pitts and Cat Senior
Writer, Researcher, Producer, Camera Operator: Andres Salazar
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Taking a deep look at the past and the animals that lived in it.

[@DanGamingFan2846]

When I was a kid, and first saw a Gorganopsian on _Walking With Monsters,_ I was in awe that a creature could look like that. They really were some of the strangest fauna to exist on or planet, and one of my favorites.

[@marcopohl4875]

It was so awesome!

[@marcopohl4875]

@Ewan Callister Inostrancevia is the species name, so Gorgonopsid is still correct, it just refers to other species too

[@jokuvaan5175]

Well we dunno exactly what they looked like. Except for their skeleton I think

[@Gildedmuse]

@@marcopohl4875 Maybe they are a fan of all or most Gorgonopsids, the way many people will say they're a fan of dolphins or sauropods.

[@zezekingyo2374]

@@marcopohl4875 Just because we are apes does not mean we are named "apes" for that speech. It just makes the species's identity inconspicuously confusing

[@MsUltraBob]

I remember seeing the Gorganopsid the first time as a kid watching Primeval. It scared the hell out of me but also started my fascination for the lesser known prehistoric animals.

[@soundwave2273]

Same here ma

[@lapislazarus8899]

I love learning about the animals that lived prior to the archosaurs. I also love the pterosaurs, they are such a trip!

[@nathaniellawson963]

Lol I forgot about primeval and looked it up. Did not age well but I used to love that show as a kid.

[@riftninja420]

I love that it has hair in your picture.....just wish it had ears. Like a rabbit.

[@Weirdisjustabrownandyellowword]

@@nathaniellawson963Everyone forgot that show. It was amazing.

[@erichtomanek4739]

The Gorgonopsids aren't evil; they're just drawn that way!

[@danielrivera1833]

Anything with teeth like that are just as evil as any other carnivore…so maybe not evil but you are still dinner.

[@tsbrownie]

Roger Rabbit reference.

[@xeschire706]

Nah, their all secretly dragons, they just don't want you to think that! XD

[@Lionwoman]

This is my favourite pre-historic animal. Stem-mammals are so unique.

[@AsadAli-jc5tg]

Reason?

[@turkoositerapsidi]

You have an opinion that I support. Stem-mammals are great.

[@Saber23]

What do you mean “stem-mammal”?

[@mmgs1148]

​​​@@Saber23he/she means synapsids, a group of animals that separated from reptiles at one point in their evolution. They are mammals' ancestors even tho they look like reptiles, the research shows they are more closely related to mammals than reptiles.

[@tylociraptor8131]

For some reason I always thought Gorgonopsids were post-dinos, not pre-dinos. They're one of my favorite animals, so cool looking.

[@alieoftruth1130]

probably because you wouldn't expect typically a mammal to exist before the cretaceous period.

[@DJFracus]

@@alieoftruth1130 They weren't mammals. Just more closely related to mammals than reptiles, as they were synapsids.

[@yancgc5098]

@@DJFracus Synapsids include mammals AND animals more closely related to mammals than to reptiles. Edit for clarification: All Synapsids from before the dinosaurs are considered stem mammals, but mammals nowadays are still considered synapsids in a sense since they are part of the same lineage.

[@DJFracus]

@@yancgc5098 I know, that was the point of my comment

[@brigidtheirish]

@@alieoftruth1130 To be more precise, you wouldn't expect something with a typically mammalian head to exist before the cretaceous period.

[@MikeMozzaro]

I can never not see a Gorgonopsian anymore without picturing the fight with the Future Predator from Primeval

[@user-roninwolf1981]

I'd love to see an Inostranscevia fighting a Utahraptor.

[@surfinwax58]

Feel Like a Monster! Is a Gorgonopsid tribute.

[@zezekingyo2374]

It's so interesting that this decade is getting more known about Inostrancevia and other permian animals than last decade. The permian period is one of my favorite Paleozoic era, since that the confusion of reptiles began to debunk as they're within synapsids than with diapsids like the dinosaurs, turtles lizards and snakes. Edaphosaurus and dimetrodon were crazily lizard like for a synapsid, but hell the dicynodontids were fascinating for their unique mouths for an early terrestrial vertebrate. All of the reasons why I love the Permian!

[@grahamstrouse1165]

I reckon that if you talk to young paleontologists whose professional focus is on eras either before or after the time of the dinosaurs you’ll likely find that Primeval was a positive influence on their future careers.

[@Empr4evr]

Danielle said the dinosaurs dominated after the Great Dying, but that didn't happen immediately following the event. Archosaurs DID emerge, but it was the rauisuchians, who were more related to crocodiles, that ruled the Triassic. It took another extinction event, the Triassic-Jurassic, for the dinosaurs to take over as the lead beasts. Triassic is actually a funky little period all of its own. It would be great to see Paleologic do a mini-series on it.

[@seanmckelvey6618]

I agree. One of my favorite aspects of the Triassic is that you have a certain point where crocodile and bird line archosaurus all start to converge on the "dinosaur" form. So you have a moment in time when it was really hard to tell the earliest dinosaurs from their crocodilian-line cousins. Really fascinating stuff.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

The Triassic was like college. Everyone as trying on the craziest look they could some up with….

[@Tamo8]

I remember recommending Gorgonopsids in a previous Paleologic video hosted by Talia few weeks ago.. I really love these animals, especially Inostrancevia. Excellent video about such majestic prehistoric creatures, the animals of the Permian deserve more love.

[@MeAuntieNora]

In honor of the dad in me, I'm not only not leaving after the "gorgoyespian" joke, I'm sending Animalogic my money.

[@thefastandthedead1769]

Scottish Wildcats next, please! Incredibly rare and desperately in need of assistance.

[@austinbabut4245]

PLEASE do a video on Arthropleura 🙏

[@louiemercado5595]

Excellent on the video on the deadly Gorgonopsids, my friend! Please continue to make more videos on other prehistoric creatures that we all love!

[@Nikki0417]

Creatures like this leave me convinced that concept artists for games, TV, and movies must used extinct animals as inspiration for designing monsters.

[@gypsydildopunks7083]

They had a rough go of it all. R.I.P. Crazy Ultimate Predator

[@BrianWelcher-qy5wn]

The DBZ fusion dance reference Danielle made was great. She never disappoints as a relatable and entertaining youtube host as she educates fans of Animalogic. The captivatingly warm personality she has always helps me feel better whenever I'm having a rough day.Thank you Danielle.😊

[@kimbratton9620]

Excellent as always!

[@Polloles]

Awesome video!! More prehistoric creatures please!!!

[@comicmoniker]

The way these guys are depicted really makes me think about C M Koseman's art in All Yesterdays and how we essentially draw things as if they just had a layer of skin over their skeletons. There's no way they actually looked like something out of Stranger Things, right?

[@inzomniacZz]

I blame Walking with Monsters for my fascination with Gorganopsians. I like to ponder what the world would look like if there was no “Great dying” and these crazy predators continued to evolve.

[@Kudu300]

From my perspective there is a resemblance to the Tasmanian Tiger.

[@silverhowl9331]

They are a product of convergent evolution! And are just SO cool!!

[@poogissploogis]

Man, that artist is TALENTED!

[@ambientheat]

I always look forward to these videos

[@lewisdogdson416]

“If a Komodo dragon and a saber tooth at did the fusion dance” might be the greatest thing I’ve heard today.

[@akechijubeimitsuhide]

My mom is scared of dinoaurs (even though she never saw any Jurassic Park movie) so I probably shouldn't tell her these existed XD

[@zebedeemadness2672]

Dose she know that there are Dinosaurs, all over Earth, most Dinosaurs died, one branch didn't 🐓🐔🐦🐧.

[@charlieskerry-wallace9514]

Great video! Could you please do the Asian Straight Tusked Elephant (Paleoloxadon Namadicus) It's the new largest land mammal ever and no one is talking about it!

[@maxspechter4321]

I'm a believer of Danielle supremacy 😍😍😍

[@davidaleman777]

I like how over the course of time and in each video Danielle is visibly more professional, like there was a certain shy-ness on her early on animal logic and over the time she's more and more fluid, i really love watching these videos, and her professionalism developing, and of course the amazing art.

[@trajan74]

Loving the intro music. It's like the music from the RDJ Sherlock Holmes.

[@nixdapogs]

Love the way you draw the animals you talk about, D!

[@z1az285]

Dimetrodon was more primitive but had similar dentation and was extremely successful in its own right.

[@LordAllo]

Thanks a lot for this awesome Video!

[@d3fct]

I am Archer, leader of the Gorgonites! Everytime I see one of these beauties I think of "Small Soldiers".

[@liambrandley2716]

could you do videos on other synasids like dimetrodon, anteosaurus, or lystrosaurus?

[@astreaward6651]

Oooh, do Tiktalik! Neil Shubin's "Your Inner Fish" is a fantastic book and a very well-done series and I'd love to see your take on Tiktalik :)

[@pudgeboyardee32]

To be fair a hairless coyote looks like an alien monster too. That's why some scholars think coyotes with bad cases of mange are the source of the chupacabra myth. Gorgonopsids might've had some sort of covering on their skin but they were ancient in the time of dinosaurs and things like fur or feathers are very difficult to find in fossil records especially older fossils. Dinosaurs went through the same thing; most early fossils didn't have preserved feathers or down so people made some assumptions with the evidence that was preserved. Not the most unreasonable thing but something to keep in mind with animals only known through fossils as old as these.

[@AaronHendu]

I saw a poor raccoon with mange walking across the road once and I thought something weird escaped from a zoo or something. It was skinny, very little hair, and lo g skinny tail...it looked nothing like a raccoon. Poor thing. I called animal control / hamane society but they surely had to euthanize it :(

[@xeschire706]

Also not every non avian dinosaur had feathers, some of them were completely covered in scutes, like Trex all along, after finding both skin impressions & well preserve skin samples that confirmed this. Also this doesn't mean that all dinosaurs did not had feathers either, velociraptor being an example of a feathered dinosaur.

[@megacrashthehedgehog5377]

I remember I first learned about Gorgonopsids on the show Primeval. If anyone else remembers that show, please tell me I'm not the only who was terrified of their depiction of it? That thing was some kind firesome!

[@headwreak1768]

I remember the mutant bat looking things lol

[@headwreak1768]

@Ewan Callister still, it was such a terrifying creature

[@turkoositerapsidi]

I may be late, but I did watch that series.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

You’re not the only one, mate! 🙂

[@luzmarinavillafane8779]

Excelente programa. Muy didáctico. Gracias animalogic.

[@NitroIndigo]

I've had gorgonopsids on my mind a lot recently. There are hardly any outright works of fiction set in the Palaezoic, and I wanna change that.

[@duhduhvesta]

Love this paleologic sub series thank you

[@sauraplay2095]

Amazing video!👍

[@CapnBlud]

This is the point where it's easier to explain that calling creatures reptiles or mammals is a regressive and cenozoic-chauvinist approach than to explain the morphological difference (apart from the holes in the skull) between synapsids and diopsids/anapsids combined.

[@magnarcreed3801]

But it still mostly does it’s job. It’s easier for most to think in either a or b. Not as a spectrum.

[@nebulan]

The main model seemed kinda shrinkwrapped but the detail us incredible. Kudos to the artist(s).

[@saphonax]

Y’all make the best videos :3

[@thomasgumersell9607]

Really enjoyed your video on Gorganopsians. Interesting to learn about the precursor to the age of the Dinosaur. 💪🏻🙏🏻✨

[@edsmith2562]

As always, well done.

[@GnollMore]

that joke hurt

[@BigBossMan538]

I hope these things are gonna be in Prehistoric Kingdom. I want a zoo full of these guys!

[@mathiasthomsen8450]

@Animalogic can you do a video on Dhole And Spix's Macaw!

[@kmurphy5010]

Love gorgonopsids🥰 Great video! Love the art too!

[@evelynharber6077]

Thank you for introducing me to this dino/mammal that I had no previous knowledge of. I now feel I really need to do some more research on dinosaurs. So many I seem to have forgotten or never encountered in my light study of the many varieties of prehuman creatures. Gives me something to do in my twilight years!!! Thank you Dannielle Dufault. You are lady of many, many talents. Thank you.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

As I explained in detail in my own comment; gorgonopsians were NEITHER reptile nor mammal. And not dinosaur either.

[@evelynharber6077]

@@Dr.IanPlect OKAY!!! Sorry if I have offended you with my philistine thinking. I am an average person who is very curious about everything and I found the fact that a mammal was discovered in an era of early dinosaurs very fascinating. Unsure as to what category this animal belongs so have placed it where I understand it to be. Are you able to correctly categorize it for me instead?

[@georgebennett715]

​@@evelynharber6077 One could call it a ''stem mammal'' or a ''therapsid.'' Basal (by which I mean primitive) amniotes evolved into two distinct lineages: Synapsids and Sauropsida. Synapsids are split into two with the more basal forms being called Pelycosaurs and the more advanced and derived forms (including this guy) falling under the title of Therapsids. Therapsids include the ancestor to ''True Mammals'' but weren't truly Mammals themselves. Sauropsids on the other hand include the ancestors to true reptiles, dinosaurs and birds.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

@@evelynharber6077 Evelyn, I think you over-reacted a bit there! Here's my own comment ------- "Gorgonopsians Were Half Mammal, Half Reptile" Title is nonsense. They were NEITHER! - Gorgonopsians are non-mammalian therapsids - Therapsids (in regard to one lineage) are the ancestors of mammals but Gorgonopsians were non-mammalian therapsids not mammals themselves (nor ancestral to mammals) - Synapsids are the 'mammal line', one of 2 major clades that evolved from an amniote ancestor, from whose lineage mammals eventually evolved via ancestral groups known as stem mammals, therapsids being the immediate ancestral group to mammals. - The other clade is the 'reptile line', the sauropsids, from whose lineage the reptiles eventually evolved ------ So, the ancestral chain on the mammal line had NO reptiles WHATSOEVER. And gorgonopsians were a diverged, non-mammalian lineage of therapsid. Both mammals and reptiles took millions of years to appear on their lineages (synapsid and sauropsid respectfully). ----------------- I will say; likely what the thinking was is the fact that until somewhat recently, the conventional thinking was that mammals did evolve from a reptile lineage. This is where the (now obsolete) term 'reptile-like mammals' originates; that reptile lineage once thought to have diverged and evolved into mammals. As you see I use it above, 'stem mammal' has taken the place of 'reptile-like mammal' to accurately reflect current understanding.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

@@georgebennett715 That's not bad, but there's a few quibbles in there, let me know if you'd like to discuss it.

[@Mrlanesaccount]

This is such a cool video. 🤘

[@fuccyahhat1229]

They are so cool ❤️ thanks for all the awesome content!

[@enricotoesca3941]

Awesome video ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Scarlet_Soul]

Some mighty teef

[@bencake28]

Awesome Video and a wonderful, maybe one of the best, Paleo Artwork ever made Worldwide! Fur and Scales in Kombination. Lips and a mammal like nose. Oh I ❤️ it. Thanks for your stunning Content always! 🦖

[@xeschire706]

You definitely don't care about scientific accuracy at all, just aesthetics.

[@andyjay729]

Thinking of all the "paleoart" depicting dinosaurs with feathers, is there any indication that Gorgonopsians and other "mammal/reptiles" had fur? Yes, I have seen a few "paleoart" examples depicting, for instance, Dimetrodon with fur (and looking suspiciously like a lion).

[@grahamstrouse1165]

@@SmashBrosInitiativeSome therapsids definitely had hair or fur of some kind. It’s hard to say how common this was and how much they had.

[@xeschire706]

Dimetrodon was cold blooded, it absolutely would have not had fur, for the same reasons that lizards & other pre-dinosaur reptiles don't, & didn't have feathers, because filament based skin coverings that are ment to provide insulation for a vertebrate, would not have any benefit to it if it's an ectothermic creature, as they don't produce their own body heat to be insulated. Also I advise against seeing most Paleoart as an accurate depiction of reality, or how those creatures actually looked, as a lot of that stuff is more creative licence than scientific accuracy, often at the expense of scientific accuracy, just pure fantasy in other words.

[@xeschire706]

​​@@grahamstrouse1165 only cynodonts had fur as far as we are concerned, the much earlier ones very likely did not. Do not keep you're hopes too high.

[@user-nl3xw4gg7m]

It’s crazy that these things that looked like saber toothed cats gave rise to actual saber toothed cats millions of years later.

[@caspianvoss6552]

I love these videos! Gorgonopsians are some of my favorite creatures of all time. Where do you get the models for your videos? I would love to purchase some Great video!

[@Dr.IanPlect]

It's flawed.

[@marcopohl4875]

my absolute favorite prehistoric animals!

[@roseskull97]

Did she really make a Dragon Ball Z joke? I love it 🤣

[@vivekb.s.491]

The climax was an epic twist 🔥🔥🔥

[@frankhernandez6883]

*they also may have had fur. Pores found on their skulls led to wiskers*

[@Renisanxious]

Gorgonopsians are one of my absolute favorite prehistoric animals. Dinos as a whole, dimetrodons, anomolacaris, and trilobites are just some of the coolest things ever

[@DeinoSarcosuchus]

Didn't know they could regrow their teeth! Also, thanks for explaining the climates in Pangea

[@kmurphy5010]

Thanks!

[@jenniferbalesteri2810]

Danielle, you’re terrific!❤️😸😻🐈💕🐆👍😺🙏

[@reipolhopolar]

Scary timing considering the current Ark creature vote winner

[@bbbenj]

Thanks 👍

[@CameronKiesser]

Betting that Gorganopsids are skin wrapped and inaccurate. They remind me of those aliens reconstructing hippos meme.

[@solangeaunaturel1808]

Toujours aussi intéressant! Puis-je suggérer les cochons d'Inde comme prochain sujet? Il y a les sauvages et les domestiques, les différentes races, etc.

[@weirdshibainu]

The stuff of nightmares

[@maxnum1sgameclub263]

People often think dimetrodon is also a dinosaur but its its same family as this. And i love the dimetrodon, one of the coolest animals ever! I stand corrected, it seems dimetrodon came before the gorgons. So dimetrodon was the gorgon ancestor.

[@millytheomegawolf6175]

Hecking AWESOME! I think I've heard of them before, but I don't think I ever looked into it. Can you do an episode on whip-tailed lizards?

[@ArmandoEnfectana-bp6jo]

Amniotes universal feature: -Reptile-like appearance. -Teeth regeneration -Hair(But All mammals and some Synapsids has hair but others can copy it but it is not same to the real hair mammals had.) -Scales(Mammals or Synapsids has pseudoscales or fake scales, mammals may had pseudoscales, but Synapsids has real or pseudoscales.) -Hollow Bones(Some ancient or modern whales has hollow bones)

[@EayuProuxm]

2:05 I like that it looks like the crocodile just gave up on walking and decided rest was necessary immediately.

[@Crimson-kt7fd]

Pretty convenient timing since it looks like the Gorgon is gonna win the Ark community vote

[@CelicaSound]

Best show on KZbin

[@JohnSkellington]

These creatures could be what inspired Dingodile from Crash Bandicoot.

[@mlgodzilla4206]

They do look very similar.

[@olibirkett331]

Brilliant drawing.

[@Francois2144]

I like the illustration of Inostrancevia, but I'm not sure reconstructing it with a mammal-like nose or hair is accurate wise. A paper from last year that looked at the inner ear biomechanics of late Triassic mammaliamorphs and relatives compells the idea that not-mammalian therapsids had hair. None the less, I enjoyed the video.

[@BigBoiRedFrog]

Gorgonpsids : Sabre tooths before sabre tooths

[@AdGamer251]

This was such an amazing video. Keep up the great work. I love learning all about ancient animals and how they lived and your videos teach me something new every time. I would love to learn more about Permian creatures or Cenozoic creatures as they are just as cool as dinosaurs

[@Dr.IanPlect]

Except the entire premise is wrong; they were not mammals nor reptiles.

[@ArmandoEnfectana-bp6jo]

Mammals only Features. -Complex Dentition. -Boobs(Nice) -Marsupial Birth(Even sharks birth in Placental-like mode but it is dangerous) -Strange snout -Ears

[@wheelchair_charlie]

They look like a cross between a Hippo, Saber tooth Tiger and Komodo Dragon!?

[@Dr.IanPlect]

As regards the title; gorgonopsians were NEITHER reptile nor mammal.

[@isaiahmcguire1822]

Can you can do Diictodon or scutosaurus next. Watching this video flashed me back to Walking with Monsters.

[@stumpyale]

Please do an episode on Cryolophasaurus, it's my absolute favorite Dinosaur

[@germanomagnone]

a nice "Elvisaurus" on ice for the show.

[@fishsticxx8288]

the way you pronounce genre has me in tears

[@wither5673]

boy's with a time machine: im gonna go pet this apex predator.....

[@kenthanna]

Wow, great graphics.

[@Pwnagotchi-0]

Wow Danielle I love the fact that you have therapsids on here, they don’t get enough love, like temnospondyls “Koolasuchus” “Prionosuchus” “Mastadonsaurus” giant prehistoric amphibians

[@KingNexusMOCs]

I remember my friend did a report on this animal in high school. Half mammal, half reptile. Truly amazing.

[@OGbluetooth_]

So many people mentioning Primeval in the comments, I'm proud of y'all

[@dreujx9400]

Gorga nope sians, that was awesome 😂

[@wesmcinerny4524]

They are nonmammalian synapsids. For you see, we mammals are a surviving descended taxon of synapsids, much like how birds are a surviving descended taxon of dinosaurs.

[@m1sty033]

Inostrancevia : How ‘bout I…… *How about I be both?*

[@AnimeShinigami13]

One sci fi show that gets a TON of props from me for starting with gorgonopsid rather than trex is Primeval. But they had a t rex sized one. and you don't know it might have existed, the fossil records are always gonna have holes in them. but i'm extremely glad they didn't use trex like, at all.

[@nikeman1999ez]

Hey that’s my Uncle Gorgo!😃

[@Pixaurora]

it's cool to think I'm distantly related to this sabertooth reptile lion

[@goomba8170]

Well technically we are related to every animal that has ever existed in some extremely small capacity