How Mammals Giant Growth Process? If now we know the elephant as the largest mammal on land, at 25 to 35 million years ago also develops the giant mammals larger than an elephant. Height giant mammals that could reach more than 5 feet and weighs thousands of pounds was reached.

One of the largest mammals recorded are Indricotherium transouralicum. The creature's height can reach 5.5 meters, 9.2 meters long, and weigh 20-30 tons.

Side by side with this animal, there are also other mammals that are large at the time. All the super class of mammals, according to expert opinion, is a herbivore.

Recently, a group of scientists researching the causes of the rapid growth of mammals tens of millions of years ago. One member of the research team was Jessica Theodor from the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Based on research results, Theodor revealed the existence of two growth factors that cause large mammals, namely the availability of abundant food and selection pressure to grow large.

When dinosaurs still exist, mammals lost the competition. Food sources of mammals have been eaten by dinosaurs. Therefore, small body size is more efficient in the limited food resources at that time.

Conditions change when the dinosaurs became extinct, especially in herbivores. "After the dinosaurs became extinct, no animals that eat plants," he explained. Herbivorous mammals also have an abundant food source.

Herbivorous mammals themselves naturally expected to grow big. "Being avoid large herbivores from predators, large herbivores often become prey," says Theodor.

Then, what about the carnivorous mammals? Research shows that the size of carnivores indeed changed, but could not reach a size of herbivores.

Researchers reveal, if the size of large carnivores, then it would hurt. "Size can be a problem for predators. Prey easily aware of his presence and fled," said Theodor.

Changes in size of mammals that occurred tens of millions of years ago, according to the researchers, is very significant. "When dinosaurs became extinct, mammals, only the maximum size of 1 to 10 kg. 25 million years later, the size of mammals can reach thousands of times the original size," says Theodor.

Theodor research published in the journal Science, published recently.