A new study suggests how the deadly combination of climate change and humans, all played a crucial role in the extinction of Ice Age giant beasts that once ruled the Earth such as elephant sized sloths, bears weighing one ton, and sabre toothed cats. In a span of 3,000 years megafauna and humans co-existed, however, within just 300 years, these creatures were wiped out due to warming temperatures.

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This new study also challenges the "Blitzkrieg" theory that involves how humans are responsible for wiping out the populations of the world's largest beasts. In this new study by researchers from the University of Adelaide, Australia, new findings reveal the significant effects of climate change that ultimately contributed to the disappearance of the this megafauna.

Led by Alan Cooper of the University of Adelaide, the team of scientists retraced the genetic history of these populations and analyzed ancient DNA from teeth and skeletal remains from South American caves. Researchers found out that some 12,300 years ago, megafauna disappeared in just 300 years, based on carbon dating. Evidence also shows that humans were also living in Monte Verde, Patagonia about 14,600 years ago based on the fossil record, suggesting how these beasts and humans overlapped.

The team along with researchers from the University of New South Wales found out that a rapid warming in the South American climate occurred during this timeline, leading to the animals' extinction.

This new study also suggests that human colonization along with the effects of climate change and global warming provided a deadly combination for this megafauna extinction. The only large species that survived this extinction are the ancestors of the llama and the alpaca, which is the guanaco.

This new study is published in the journal Science Advances.

Tagshumans climate change ice age extinction, sabre toothed cats, ice age giants, Climate Change, ice age animals extinction, Ice age, megafauna