Extant megaherbivores are large megafaunal herbivores that can exceed in weight. They include twelve species of elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and giraffes distributed across Africa and Asia. Keystone species in their environment, extant megaherbivores perform important ecological functions such as habitat defoliation and extensive seed dispersal. They are K-selected animals, meaning they have high life expectancies, slow population growth, large offspring, lengthy pregnancies, and low mortality rates. They evolved slow reproduction to enhance their survival chances, and as a result, increase their lifespan. Their large size offers protection from predators but decreases the degree at which these herbivores reproduce due to restricted food sources.
Throughout Africa and Asia, habitat destruction, agriculture, overhunting, and human invasion have caused declines in megaherbivore populations. Due to their slow reproductive rates, overexploitation poses the greatest threat to megaherbivores. As time progresses, it is thought that the situation will only worsen.
List
+ List of extant megaherbivores Common name (Scientific name) Image Description Weight IUCN status and estimated population African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) The African bush elephant, also known as the Savanna elephant, is one of three members of the family Elephantidae, of which it is the largest member. It is native to a large part of sub-Saharan Africa and is characterized by its large size, huge ears, long trunk with two finger-like processes, and large ivory tusks. 472,269 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, it is characterized by its convex back and relatively small ears compared to African elephants. The trunk has one finger-like processing and contains over 60,000 muscles. Tusks are rare in females and usually occur in males.48,323–51,680 African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) The African forest elephant is the smallest species of elephant and is one of two species of African elephants, the other being the African bush elephant. It is native to West Africa and the Congo Basin. Its trunk has two finger-like processes and contains about 40–60,000 muscles. It has tusks that grow to long and weigh .135,690 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. The largest extant rhino species, it has two horns, with the larger front horn growing up to . It is light grey in complexion and has a conspicuous hump on the back of the neck. 18,064 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, the Indian rhinoceros has prominent lumps on its skin and one horn that grows to a length of about 3,588 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. It has large canines up to long and its incisors can grow to . The torso is barrel-shaped with pillar-like legs and the body is nearly hairless. 115,000–130,000 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 . It is actually brown or grey rather than black.5,630 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. Horns are only present in males and can grow up to .74 Maasai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi) The Masai giraffe, also called the Maasai giraffe or the Kilimanjaro giraffe, is a species of giraffe native to East Africa. It is the tallest terrestrial animal and has an extremely long neck that can grow up to . Male and female giraffes both have horn-like structures called ossicones, which in males can reach .35,000 Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) The southern giraffe, also known as the two-horned giraffe, is a species of giraffe native to Southern Africa. It has rounded spots with star-like streaks on a light tan background that stretches down to the hooves. 34,418 Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) The reticulated giraffe, also known as the Somali giraffe, is a species of giraffe native to the Horn of Africa. It has a distinctive coat pattern that consists of block-like, reddish-brown polygonal patches surrounded by thin white lines. Spots may or may not extend under the hocks, and a median lump is present in males.15,785 Northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) The northern giraffe, also known as the three-horned giraffe, is a species of giraffe native to North Africa. Often mistaken for the southern giraffe, the northern giraffe differs by having longer and larger ossicones. In males, a third ossicone ranging from long is situated above the eyes.3,050
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