megaherbivores
Massive plant-eating mammals
Megaherbivores are very large plant-eating animals, typically defined as those weighing over 1,000 kilograms (about 2,200 pounds).
Living examples include elephants, hippos, and rhinos.
The term appears frequently in ecology and paleontology, where megaherbivores shaped ancient landscapes through their feeding: Megaherbivores kept prehistoric grasslands from becoming forests.
Tusked, trunk-bearing mammals
- rhinocerosesLarge horned mammals
- hippopotamusesMassive semiaquatic African mammals
- giraffesLong-necked African ruminants
- buffaloesLarge wild cattle
Extinct woolly elephants
- mastodonsExtinct elephant-like mammals
- glyptodonExtinct armored ice-age mammal
- PleistoceneAncient glacial geological period
- quaternaryFourth-order or four-bonded
fossils · paleontology · cave-paintings · permafrost · tusks
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- keystoneArch's central locking stone
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
browsing · grazing · vegetation · woodland · trampling · wallowing · forage · browse
At risk of extinction
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- reserveSupply kept back
- reintroductionAct of bringing back
anti-poaching · CITES · translocation · deforestation · rewilding · conservancy · ecotourism · WWF
elephants
Tusked, trunk-bearing mammals
- rhinocerosesLarge horned mammals
- hippopotamusesMassive semiaquatic African mammals
- giraffesLong-necked African ruminants
mammoths
Extinct woolly elephants
- mastodonsExtinct elephant-like mammals
- glyptodonExtinct armored ice-age mammal
- PleistoceneAncient glacial geological period
quaternary · fossils · paleontology · cave-paintings · permafrost · tusks
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- keystoneArch's central locking stone
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
habitat · browsing · grazing · vegetation · woodland · trampling · wallowing · forage · browse · coexistence
endangered
At risk of extinction
reintroduction · anti-poaching · CITES · translocation · deforestation · rewilding · conservancy · ecotourism · WWF
megaherbivoresapex predators
Dominant hunters, no natural enemies
ambush predators · predators · meat-eaters · carnivores · scavengers