This Artist Compares The Sizes Of Extinct Species With Their Modern Relatives By Placing Them Side By Side (20 New Pics)

We’ve featured even more of Roman’s comparisons in the past, so be sure to check out our previous posts. If you’re curious to learn more about familiar species and see how they looked in the past, keep scrolling. The artist was kind enough to answer a few questions about his work, which you can read in our interview below.

More info:Instagram|uchytel.com|x.com|FacebookImage credits:romanuchytel

This post may includeaffiliate links.

The Modem Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale Perspicillata) And The Extinct Sardinian Giant Otter (Megalenhydris Barbaricina)

We first asked Roman about the extinct animals he feels a strong emotional connection to, and without much hesitation, the history enthusiast mentioned the woolly rhinoceros. Then he told us more about it: “I don’t have to spend too much time figuring out what he might look like because our ancestors created lifetime portraits of him in caves.At the same time, if you rely on these images, you can understand that modern animals are not very different from some extinct animals, which helps in my work.”

At the same time, if you rely on these images, you can understand that modern animals are not very different from some extinct animals, which helps in my work.”

The Modern Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes) And The Extinct Fox (Vulpes Alopecoides)

The Modern Giant Panda (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca) And The Extinct Kretzoiarctos (Agriarctos) (Kretzoiarctos Beatrix)

The Modern Seriema (Cariama Cristata) And The Extinct Kelenken (Kelenken Guillermoi)

The Modern River Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus Amphibius) And The Extinct Giant Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus Gorgops)

When asked how his perception and portrayal of extinct animals have evolved over time, Roman answered: “Firstly, when I started doing digital palaeo-art, most artists were still drawing prehistoric animals with pencils and paints. As I created my archive, many scientific discoveries related to these animals came to light, necessitating changes or drastic reworking of already created reconstructions. And this process is never-ending. In addition, technology changes, allowing for more realistic images to be created. At the same time, I deliberately do not use AI.”

The Extinct Pleistocene North American Jaguar (Panthera Onca Augusta) And The Modern South American Jaguar (Panthera Onca)

The Modern Black Caiman (Melanosuchus Niger) And The Extinct Purussaurus (Purussaurus Brasiliensis)

The Modern Chambered Nautilus (Nautilus Pompilius Pompilius) And The Extinct Giant Ammonite (Parapuzosia Seppenradensis)

The Modern Burchell’s Zebra (Equus Quagga Burchellii) And The Extinct Giant Cape Zebra (Equus Capensis)

Lastly, we were curious about what dream project related to extinct animals Uchytel would like to undertake if he had unlimited resources. We learned that: “We have long been thinking about creating a virtual Prehistoric Zoo, where sabre-toothed cats, giant sloths, big-horned deer and any other extinct megafauna from different continents and eras could walk alongside visitors.”

The Modern Great Grey Owl (Strix Nebulosa) And The Extinct Cuban Giant Owl (Ornimegalonyx Oteroi)

The Modern Eurasian Lynx (Lynx Lynx Carpathicus) And The Extinct Scimitar-Toothed Cat (Homotherium Latidens)

The Modern Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon Brachyurus) And The Extinct Falkland Islands Wolf (Dusicyon Australis)

The Modern Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia) And The Extinct Chinese Panthera (Panthera Palaeosinensis)

The Modern Bush Dog (Speothos Venaticus) And The Extinct Protocyon (Protocyon Troglodytes)

The Extinct Livyatan (Leviathan Melvillei) And The Modern Sperm Whale Or Cachalot (Physeter Macrocephalus)