Megafauna

Megafauna are large animals, especially those above a commonly used mass threshold of about 45 kilograms.

Megafauna are large animals, especially those above a commonly used mass threshold of about 45 kilograms. The term is used in zoology and ecology, but its exact definition varies by context, habitat, and author. It is often applied to the largest living terrestrial mammals as well as to extinct large animals from the Pleistocene and other periods.

Definition

Megafauna is a size-based term for large animals. Scientific usage varies, but a common threshold is around 45 kilograms, with other definitions depending on habitat or feeding type.

Usage in zoology and ecology

In practice, the term is often used for the biggest living terrestrial mammals and for large marine or freshwater animals. Some ecological sources also divide megafauna into categories such as megaherbivores and megacarnivores.

Fossil and extinct megafauna

The word is frequently associated with extinct large animals, especially those from the Late Pleistocene. In that context, it is often used in discussions of Quaternary extinction patterns and human impact.

Conservation relevance

Many megafaunal species have slow reproduction and long lifespans, which can make them vulnerable to hunting, habitat loss, and other human pressures. This has made the term relevant in conservation biology.