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List of extant megaherbivores

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Extant megaherbivores are large megafaunaul herbivores that can exceed 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) in weight. They include elephants, rhinos, hippos, and giraffes, and are the largest of the land animals. There are nine extant species of megaherbivores, distributed across Africa and Asia. The term "megaherbivore" was coined in 1988 by Owen-Smith to describe large mammals that performed similar ecological functions, such as habitat defoliation and extensive seed dispersal. Animals under are this group are K-selected, meaning they have high life expectancies, slow population growth, large offspring, lengthy pregnancies, and low mortality rates. They have selected slow reproduction to enhance their survival chances, and as a result, increase their lifespan.[1][2] Their large size offers protection from predators, but at the same, it decreases the degree at which they reproduce due to restricted food sources.[3][4][5][6] As such, megaherbivores usually give birth to a single offspring every 1.3 to 4.5 years, depending on the species. Megaherbivores also have high lifespans, with giraffes living 25 years, rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses 40 years, and elephants 60 years.

The nine megaherbivore species are split into four distinct families: Elephantidae (2 genera and 3 species), Rhinocerotidae (4 genera and 4 species), Hippopotamidae (1 species), and Giraffidae (1 species). These families are polyphyletic and do not share a recent common ancestor, but were assembled due to similarities in ecological niches.

List

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Common name Image Description
African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) The African bush elephant, also known as the Savanna elephant is one of three members of the family Elephantidae, in which it is the largest member.[7] They are native to a large part of sub-Saharan Africa,[8] and are characterized by their large size, huge ears, long trunk with two finger-like processes and large ivory tusks.[9]: 124  [10]
Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) The Asian elephant also known as the Asiatic elephant is the second largest elephant species native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.[11] Its back is convex and its ears are relatively small compared to African elephants. The trunk has one finger-like processing and contains over 60,000 muscles and males are the ones who often grow tusks.[12]
African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) The African forest elephant is the smallest species of elephants. It is native to West Africa and the Congo Basin. It is one of two species of African elephants, the other being the African bush elephant.[13] Its trunk has two finger-like processes and contains about 40–60,000 muscles.[14] It has tusks that grow to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) long and weigh 23–45 kg (51–99 lb).[15]
White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) The white rhinoceros sometimes called the white rhino or square-lipped rhinoceros is a large rhinoceros native to sub-Saharan Africa.[16] The largest extant rhino species, it has two horns with the front horn growing up to 101 cm (40 in).[17]: 31  It has a visible hump on the back of the neck. Despite their size they can run at speeds of 50 km/h (31 mph).[18]
Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) The Indian rhinoceros also known as the Indian rhino, greater one-horned rhinoceros or great Indian rhinoceros, is the second largest extant rhinoceros native to the Indian subcontinent.[19] It has one horn that grows to a length of about 25 cm (9.8 in).[20]: 59–61  It is the second largest land mammal native to Asia, after the Asian elephant.[21][22]
Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) The hippopotamus also known as the hippo, common hippopotamus or river hippopotamus is a large mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is semiaquatic and spends most of its time resting in water.[23] They have large canines up to 50 cm (20 in) long and their incisors can grow to 40 cm (16 in).[24]: 222  They have large barrel-shaped torsos, with pillar-like legs and nearly hairless bodies. They can run at 30 km/h (19 mph) in spite of their size.[25]
Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) The black rhinoceros also called the black rhino or hook-lipped rhinoceros, is a species of rhinoceros native to Southern and East Africa. It has two horns made of keratin, with the larger front horn growing up to 140 cm (55 in). It is actually brown or grey rather than black.[26][27]
Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) The Javan rhinoceros, Javan rhino, Sunda rhinoceros or lesser one-horned rhinoceros, is a very rare rhinoceros species. With only 74 individuals left, it is critically endangered and only survives in one place, the Ujung Kulon National Park in western Java.[28] Only bulls have horns that grow up to 27 cm (11 in).[29]
Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) The giraffe is a large ruminant native to sub-Saharan Africa.[30] It is the tallest terrestrial animal and has an extremely long neck and legs. The neck can grow up to 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in).[31] Male and female giraffes both have horn-like structures called ossicones, which in males can reach 13.5 cm (5.3 in).[32]

References

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  13. ^ Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). "Species Loxodonta cyclotis". Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
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  29. ^ van Strien, Nico (2005). "Javan Rhinoceros". In Fulconis, R. (ed.). Save the rhinos: EAZA Rhino Campaign 2005/6. London: European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. pp. 75–79.
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  32. ^ Estes, R. (1992). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. University of California Press. pp. 202–07. ISBN 978-0-520-08085-0.
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