- Megafauna-0.mp3
- Megafauna-0.mp4
- Megafauna-I.mp3
- Megafauna-I.mp4
- Megafauna-II.mp3
- Megafauna-II.mp4
- Megafauna-Reggae.mp3
- Megafauna-Reggae.mp4
- Megafauna-intro.mp3
[Intro]
Far from the hunt…
Yet, you continue to…
Grunt!
(Runt, runt, runt)
[Verse 1]
Mammoth (and mastodon)
Gone! (Gone, gone, gone)
Human’s thinkin’
(in the Extinction)
[Bridge]
Far from the hunt…
Yet, you continue to…
Grunt!
(Runt, runt, runt)
[Chorus]
Megafauna (Fallin’, fallin’)
Ain’t lyin’ (Cave lion)
Megafauna (has fallen)
Dire Wolves (it’s dire)
Man’s damned demands
(All life depends)
[Verse 2]
Saber-Toothed Cat
(Imagine that?!?!)
Homo sapien
(At it again)
Advanced tools
(Advanced fools)
[Bridge]
Far from the hunt…
Yet, you continue to…
Grunt!
(Runt, runt, runt)
[Chorus]
Megafauna (Fallin’, fallin’)
Ain’t lyin’ (Cave lion)
Megafauna (has fallen)
Dire Wolves (it’s dire)
Man’s damned demands
(All life depends)
[Outro]
As man demands
(To do it again)
A SCIENCE NOTE
During the Ice Age, the top predators varied by region, but they were typically large carnivorous mammals or birds adapted to cold climates and capable of hunting the megafauna that thrived during this period. By the end of the Ice Age, humans (Homo sapiens) emerged as the dominant apex predator globally, surpassing other predators due to their intelligence, adaptability, and cooperative hunting strategies.
Some of the most notable apex predators of the Ice Age include:
1. Saber-Toothed Cats (Smilodon):
- Region: North and South America.
- Known for their long, dagger-like canine teeth, Smilodon was a powerful predator that primarily hunted large herbivores like bison and ground sloths.
- Despite its strength, Smilodon was likely an ambush predator, relying on stealth rather than prolonged chases.
2. Dire Wolves (Canis dirus):
- Region: North and Central America.
- Larger and more robust than modern gray wolves, dire wolves hunted in packs and were highly efficient at taking down large prey like mammoths, horses, and camels.
3. Cave Lions (Panthera spelaea):
- Region: Europe, Asia, and Alaska.
- These massive lions were some of the largest cats to ever exist, preying on animals like reindeer, bison, and woolly rhinoceroses.
4. Short-Faced Bears (Arctodus simus):
- Region: North America.
- Among the largest bears ever to exist, they were likely both scavengers and active hunters, capable of intimidating other predators away from their kills.
- Their massive size and speed made them formidable threats.
5. Humans (Homo sapiens):
- Region: Worldwide.
- Human ancestors became apex predators during the Ice Age through advanced tool use, cooperation, and hunting strategies. Humans hunted megafauna such as mammoths and mastodons and significantly impacted ecosystems through hunting and habitat alteration.
6. Other Ice Age Predators:
- Woolly Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta spelaea): Europe and Asia.
- Harpagornis (Haast’s Eagle): New Zealand, preying on large flightless birds like the moa.
These predators played a crucial role in maintaining the balance of Ice Age ecosystems. However, many went extinct due to a combination of climate changes at the end of the Pleistocene and pressures from human activities, such as hunting and habitat disruption.