Top 10 Deadliest Prehistoric Animals

This includes animals that lived after the dinosaurs, not just dinosaurs and megalodon.

This list is awesome.

The Top Ten

Megalodon

The megalodon, an extinct species of shark, lived until about 1.5 million years ago. It reached lengths of up to 59 feet (18 meters), making it much larger than today's great white shark.
Megalodon had more than 250 large, razor-sharp teeth, and its massive jaws could easily swallow a human. Fossils... read more

The Megalodon is a perfect example of a creature so deadly that it could kill you, and you'd die never knowing what hit you. The Megalodon was the god of the oceans, feasting on practically any creature. It had an amazing sense of smell and vision, and could sink its enormous, powerful teeth into nearly any creature it wanted.
At more than 50 feet in length, it was the largest shark to ever live. It could swim fast, and the most astonishing thing about it was its jaw power. Its teeth were already sharp enough, but combined with a jaw strength of over 18.2 metric tons (more than 40,000 lbs), it had a force strong enough to crush a whale skull effortlessly.
Combined with its enormous, sharp teeth, the Megalodon could kill nearly any creature almost immediately. The Megalodon was truly the most powerful giant beast to have ever lived.
Saber-Toothed Cat

Why is Andrewsarchus ahead of the saber-toothed cat? I understand why Megalodon is higher, but Andrewsarchus, really? The saber-toothed cat was a dominant predator during the Ice Age!

The last thing an Entelodont would hear before its organs were clawed out on the floor.
Spinosaurus

Spinosaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now North Africa during the Lower Albian to Lower Cenomanian stages of the Cretaceous period, approximately 112 to 97 million years ago. It is notable for its distinctive sail-like structure on its back and semi-aquatic adaptations. Spinosaurus... read more

Get this thing in first place... NOW! Here are some reasons the first three shouldn't be there.
#1: Megalodon was as big as a bus and had the deadliest bite force of all. It was so big, it was really slow! Plus, it only fed on whales, so it wasn't a huge threat to other marine animals.
#2: Saber-Toothed Cat isn't even its real name! Smilodon wasn't even that big anyway. Its mouth didn't open wide enough to use its big fangs, either.
#3: Titanoboa was a constrictor, not venomous, and predators too big could just step on it when it was wrapping itself around them.
The Spinosaurus was the fastest of the first four and the biggest. This dinosaur could hunt in water as well as on land, so it could follow pretty much everything pretty much everywhere. The sail helped it to stay active and to stay at a good temperature.
Titanoboa

Titanoboa, which was about the same size as Sarcosuchus, could have potentially killed it. This giant snake could swim in waters and might have been able to swallow a saber-toothed cat in one gulp. At 40 feet long (about 12 meters) and weighing 400 pounds (approximately 181 kilograms), I think it should be in second place on the list.

Huge. Snake. This beast could eat a school bus. I'm not sure why it would want to, though. If you're afraid of snakes, don't look this up.

A 40-foot-long constrictor with 400 pounds per square inch of pressure. That's equivalent to being crushed under the weight of three Eiffel Towers.
Tyrannosaurus

Tyrannosaurus, meaning "tyrant lizard" from the Ancient Greek tyrannos ("tyrant") and sauros ("lizard"), is a genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur.
It had an extraordinary bite force, estimated at around 12,800 pounds (approximately 5,800 kilograms). This is considered the strongest known... read more

Tyrannosaurus rex is considered one of the strongest carnivorous dinosaurs based on factors such as bite force, jaw gape, teeth size, overall size, and weight. Full-grown adults could reach lengths of 12-13 meters and weigh between 8-9 tons, with the largest individuals possibly approaching 10 tons. T. rex was also one of the most advanced predatory dinosaurs, with exceptional vision, a keen sense of smell, and the ability to run at speeds of up to 30-35 km/h, making it a highly effective predator.

Why is this not number one? Doesn't his name mean tyrant lizard king?

Best non-marine predator and fighter.
Woolly Mammoth
Liopleurodon

Liopleurodon is a genus of large, carnivorous marine reptiles that belonged to the Pliosauroidea, a group of short-necked plesiosaurs. These reptiles lived during the Callovian stage of the Middle Jurassic Period, which occurred approximately 166 to 163 million years ago. Fossils of Liopleurodon have... read more

Predator X can't beat the Megalodon!
Deinosuchus

Deinosuchus is an extinct genus related to the alligator that lived approximately 80 to 73 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. It was one of the largest prehistoric crocodilians, reaching lengths of up to 33 feet. Fossils have been found in North America, primarily in the United States... read more

Deinosuchus was about twice the length of today's largest crocodiles, and significantly heavier, possibly up to 10 times the weight. It had a powerful jaw, capable of delivering one of the strongest bite forces among prehistoric animals. Its teeth were razor-sharp, making it a formidable predator. However, claims that it could outsmart or hunt dinosaurs like T. rex and Spinosaurus are speculative and not supported by evidence. Comparing Deinosuchus to other prehistoric creatures is common, but direct confrontations between species from different time periods are purely hypothetical. While Deinosuchus had a powerful bite, there's no concrete evidence to suggest it was far more deadly than a T. rex. The analogy of being bitten as equivalent to stabbing oneself with 250 sharp pieces of glass is hyperbolic and not scientifically accurate.

Deinosuchus sp., consisting of two species, was among the largest crocodilian-like animals. At maximum size, it could reach 8-10 meters in length and weigh between 5-8.5 tons for the largest individuals. Deinosuchus was likely capable of overpowering most, if not all, carnivorous dinosaurs that lived in its time, particularly the largest individuals.
Andrewsarchus

Andrewsarchus was the largest mammalian predator ever. It was related to sheep and had a fearsome appearance, somewhat resembling a warg.

It's dangerous because it is like a saber-toothed tiger.

Andrewsarchus could crush bone. It should be in 1st place for the strongest bite.
Mosasaur

Why is the shark considered the top sea predator? It's not even that big! Sure, it could swallow a person whole, but that's mainly due to its mouth shape. Mosasaurus was faster and could have intentionally hunted and swallowed sharks whole.

Mosasaurus could grow to 17 meters long and was capable of killing sharks. I believe it is one of the deadliest sea predators.

The Newcomers

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Inostrancevia

This was basically a giant dog with saber teeth. I'm surprised it isn't listed here.
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Postosuchus

The Contenders

Megalania

This lizard was essentially a 30-foot-long monster that prowled the Australian Outback 40,000 years ago. It would have been your worst nightmare if you came across one. The name "Megalania" is derived from Greek, meaning "Great Roamer" or "Great Wanderer."
It was made of pure solid muscle, a rapacious demon with curved fangs possibly harboring deadly venom used to dispatch victims with a single bite. Even if the victim - typically a giant kangaroo (Procoptodon) or the wombat (Diprotodon) - got away, they would soon fall to shock-induced blood loss and die later, leaving a tasty corpse for the monitor to find, much like today's Komodo Dragon.
Even real dragon wyrms, which were said to breathe fire, would have thought twice before encountering a reptile of this size, if they lived in prehistoric Australia. However, as was the case with other reptiles like the running Game of Thrones-sized, real-life lizard lion known as Quinkana fortirostrum, its relative Pallimnarchus, the serpent Wonambi naracoortensis, and the Thylacoleo carnifex (a.k.a. Marsupial Lion), its rule came to an abrupt halt, coinciding mysteriously with the arrival of humans on the continent.
While there is no doubt that this legendary creature could certainly kill Aborigines, the intelligence and cunning of its human competitors finally proved fatal. Yet the phantom of this monster lives on in memory, sending chills down one's spine at the mere thought of it.
Arctodus

Why isn't Arctodus at least 5th on the list? It was by far the largest mammalian carnivore to have ever existed.
Megatherium

Nothing took him down since the T. rex. My favorite guy - just look at those claws on Google!
Cave Lion

The cave lion, scientifically named Panthera spelaea, was an extinct species of lion that once lived across Eurasia during the Pleistocene epoch. Fossils and ancient cave art have provided insight into its size and behavior.... read more

The cave lion (American Lion) was the largest true feline ever to exist. Although Smilodon was slightly heavier, Smilodon wasn't a true cat. If the cave lion existed today, it would be my favorite animal.
It had a bite force of over 1,600 psi (pounds per square inch). It could grow up to 12 feet in length, 5 feet in height, and weigh over 930 lbs. It could withstand high pressure on its head.
Its greatest competitor was the short-faced bear (Arctodus simus), a very close cousin of the modern-day spectacled bear. To learn more about the bear and the cave lion, you can watch Jurassic Fight Club: Ice Age Monsters.

Easily one of the most intimidating animals to ever walk the earth.
To all those who vote for Tyrannosaurus by default and rant about it being the ultimate predator, go back in time twenty thousand years and say you don't respect a 1,000 lb bear killing lion.
Sarcosuchus

Sarcosuchus is an extinct genus of giant crocodyliform that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 112 million years ago. It was a distant relative of modern crocodilians and is one of the largest known crocodile-like reptiles. Fossils have been found in regions of modern-day Africa, including... read more

Sarcosuchus imperator was indeed one of the largest crocodile-like creatures that ever lived, with a maximum length estimated at around 9 meters and a weight of about 2.4 metric tons. Larger individuals might have existed. It could have preyed on a range of dinosaurs, from small to large. Compared to Deinosuchus, Sarcosuchus had a longer snout, which might indicate a difference in hunting style or prey preference. Its bite force may have been less powerful than Deinosuchus's, though the exact figures are uncertain. Purrusaurus is another large prehistoric crocodilian that isn't often mentioned but could be relevant in comparisons.

Excuse me, but how is this guy seventeenth?! He could easily kill a T. rex.
Deinotherium
American Lion
Hyaenodon
Gigantopithecus

It's a big version of an orangutan. And I'm sure you would die if you met this!
Livyatan melvillei

This prehistoric whale ranks at number two (or perhaps even number one). It is comparable in size to a Megalodon (according to the maximum estimates of Livyatan) and possesses an immense amount of weight, making it an incredibly powerful animal.
Its teeth were longer than those of the Megalodon, and its evolutionary lineage led to a significant increase in brain size. In terms of length, weight, and teeth (including bite force and gape), Livyatan was considered the second (or even the first) apex predator of all time.

Livyatan was more powerful than Megalodon. While its bite was less powerful, a ram could stun the shark.
The Megalodon went extinct because whales got too big for it to handle. The Megalodon was only 40 feet, not 75. It's overrated because it's a shark, when whales are actually the most powerful aquatic animals.
Dire Wolf
Carcharodontosaurus

Carcharodontosaurus is a genus of carnivorous carcharodontosaurid dinosaurs that lived approximately 100 to 94 million years ago, during the Cenomanian stage of the mid-Cretaceous Period. It was among the largest theropods, comparable in size to Tyrannosaurus rex. Fossils have been found in North Africa... read more

This carnivorous dinosaur, along with Giganotosaurus, comes in after Spinosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex in terms of size, weight, and power.
Entelodont

Awesome canines, incredible fighting skills, and the strongest mammalian bite force ever! Standing at 2.1 meters tall, these terminator pigs were incredibly deadly.

Legendary. Seriously, a saber-toothed cat had no chance. My favorite animal.
Gastornis
Dunkleosteus

Dunkleosteus was one of the first super-predators, in my opinion. It lived during the Devonian period. It was a twenty-foot fish that did not have teeth but instead had scary-looking plates.
It looks goofy yet still terrifying.

Its bite force was absolutely insane!