Megafauna

The large animalsany particular area or timeits megafauna. Generally"large animal"consideredbe one weighing over 100 pounds (45 kilos). Aside from its generalmore strictly correct meaning,termoften used asshorthand wayreferringparticular groupslarge animals, most commonly ones that became extinctgeologically recent times. The sensewhichtermusedusually apparent fromcontext:

1. Particular groupslarge, extinct animals. For example, "American megafauna", meaning the various specieslarge American mammal that became extinct about 13,000 years ago.
2. Any grouplarge animals. For example: "South American megafauna", meaning all large animalsSouth America today: anaconda, jaguar, giant anteater, capybara, llama, so on.
3. A board game published by Sierra Madre Games.
4. The term "charismatic megafauna" refersanimals that have great popular appeal:example,Giant Panda,Red Wolf,Blue Whale orKoala. Charismatic megafauna often garnerdisproportionate levelpublic concern. Forenvironmental movement, directing public attention toplight of, say,panda can raise supportprotectionnot justpanda itself, butentire ecosystemdepends on too. Environmental activistswell awarethis effect, andskilled at usingextra "leverage" ofcharismatic speciesachieve more subtlefar-reaching goals. On other hand,public concentration on charismatic species can easily become counter-productiveoften leads toplightother, less prominent but more seriously threatened species being ignored. For example,Australia thereinvariably public uproar at any movecontrol or exploitEastern Grey Kangaroo (whichnot remotely threatened,becauseno longer has predators often reaches plague proportions),yet barelyrippleconcernseriously endangered species such asGouldian Finch,Murray Cod,Feather-leaved Banksia, orSpotted Tree Frog.

see also Bambi

Tablecontents

1 African megafauna 2 AsianEuropean megafauna 3 Australian megafauna 4 American megafauna 5 Island megafauna 6 Oceanic megafauna

African megafauna

AsianEuropean megafauna

• Cave Bear
• Mammoth

Australian megafauna

• Diprotodons
• Thylacoleo

American megafauna

• Megatherium
• Mastodon
• Smilodon

Island megafauna

• Megalania Prisca

Oceanic megafauna