The most strange disappearances in history

In the process of formation and development of life, Earth has witnessed countless species of creatures appear and disappear. Their extinction is mostly caused by. But there are also some species: rocky grasshoppers, Megalodon sharks, curly-haired mammoths . their extinction remains a mystery that challenges modern science.

Below is a list of 7 species that have disappeared in the most puzzling way.

1. Rocky mountain grasshopper

Normally, when it comes to extinction, many people will immediately think of dinosaurs, dodo birds (also called lazy cuckoo) or other large creatures. In fact, many insects are not out of that risk, they can even disappear completely in a very short period of time.Rocky Mountain Grasshopper (Melanoplus spretus) is a good example of this. Often flying in herds in extremely large numbers, within four years (from 1873 to 1877), Rocky Mountain grasshoppers devastated most plants throughout the Midwest region of the United States, causing hundreds of millions of losses. USD. But less than 30 years later, this species is almost extinct in the astonishment of humans. And because no one expected such a popular species to be extinct, very few specimens were collected.

The reason for their disappearance is still controversial. Many argue that it is the development of farming and irrigation works that disrupts their natural life cycle. Meanwhile, some scientists point out that the lack of genetic variation may be the root of the problem.

2. Megalodon shark

About 28 million years to 1.5 million years ago, the oceans on Earth were dominated by a superhuman Megalodon predator. This giant shark is considered to be the most ferocious vertebrate in history with sharp teeth up to 18 cm long. Megalodon body can reach a length of 18 meters, weighs more than 100 tons while white sharks are also large species but only up to 6 meters long.

However, about 28 million years ago to 1.5 million years, they suddenly disappeared without trace.

There are many hypotheses given for this strange disappearance. Experts believe that megalodon could not adapt to the decline in sea level as well as ocean temperatures that appeared during the late Ice Age, the early Pleistocene. On the other hand, the disappearance of giant whales - the main food of Megalodon is also considered a part of the cause.

Today many experts still believe that Megalodon exists and only lurks in the depths of the ocean. No one has ever proved it, but everyone seems to want to believe it. Real damage this mysterious story is always waiting for people to find answers .

3. Curly feather mammoth

About 250,000 years ago, the curling mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) was widely distributed across North America, Europe and Asia. While most of them were extinct about 10,000 years ago, a small population survived on Wrangel Island, the Arctic Ocean until 1700 BC.

Human hunting has long been considered the cause of extinction in mammoth mammoths. Others blame global climate change on the freezing temperatures. A detailed study published in Nature Communications on June 12, 2012 concluded by both.

4. Wide face pocket

After Europeans arrived in Australia a few hundred years ago, many creatures in this country were reduced and led to extinction due to the narrowing of the habitat, due to widespread hunting in the middle of the years. 1800, including Potorous platyops.

Researchers collected the last specimens of Potorous platyops (a bag-sized animal less than 0.25 meters long) around 1875. Although they did not know how long they survived but Many studies show that being eaten by wild cats is also a significant cause of that rapid disappearance.

5. Toad Atelopus longirostris

Atelopus longirostris is a long snout toad in the wet forests of Northern Ecuador and has not been seen since 1989.

The reason for the extinction of this amphibian species has not been determined yet, but experts believe that the disease chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is definitely part of the cause. In the past 30 years, chytridiomycosis has spread at dizzying rates, causing a decline or extinction of many amphibians with a death rate of up to 100% if unfortunately caught. In addition, scientists also identified that disappearance of A.longirostris may be because they face climate change and habitat loss.

6. Birds of elephants

Aepyornis elephant bird - a flightless giant bird that lives in Madagascar is considered the largest bird in the world. They are tall (up to 9m) and weigh nearly 454 kg while male adult ostriches are only 2.7 meters tall. Researchers believe that they were completely destroyed in the early 18th century.

There are two main hypotheses that explain the disappearance of elephant birds, both of which are related to humans when it is the culprit who not only destroys the habitat but also takes away their 150-fold eggs. chicken eggs. In addition, many other comments also suggested that the disease from home chickens devastated populations of elephant birds.

7. Neanderthals

For a long time, the cause of extinction of the Neanderthals - a close relative of human ancestors - some 30,000 years ago was one of the most heated debate topics of anthropology. Many scientists support the idea that a large volcanic eruption combined with a terrible cold spell killed Neanderthals, a group of people who are difficult to adapt to climate change.

However, after that, the experts found evidence to prove that the true culprit is likely to be a modern person (Homo sapien), in which the most persuasive hypothesis to date is the process of mating between Neanderthals and Homo sapien somehow led to their disappearance.

Reference: Livescience