Megatherium ("Great Beast") is a genus of large, elephant-sized ground sloths that live in the Forbidden Mountains.
Characteristics[]
Unlike its outerworld relatives, the slow-moving, arboreal three- and two-toed sloths, Megatherium was one of the largest mammals to walk the Earth, weighing nearly five tons, about as much as a male African elephant. Although it is primarily a quadruped, it is capable of assuming a bipedal stance when feeding, sitting back on its haunches and tail, usually as it forages on various tall shrubs and trees. When it stands fully erect on its hind legs, it is about twice the height of an elephant, or about 6 meters (20 feet) tall. Megatherium, much like the outworld anteaters and tamanduas it also shares lineage with, walks on the sides of its feet, as its formidable claws prevent it from putting them flat on the ground.
Megatherium has a robust skeleton, with a large pelvic girdle and a broad muscular tail. Its larger size enables it to feed at heights unreachable by most other large herbivores—with the exception of the giant, hornless rhinoceros Paraceratherium. Rising on its powerful hind legs and using its tail to form a tripod, Megatherium can support its massive body weight while using the curved claws on its long forelegs to pull down branches with the choicest leaves. Mature ground sloths typically had no concern for predators, though smaller, juvenile, or overall weaker animals would likely be taken opportunistically by saber-toothed cats, cave bears, or a number of other formidable carnivores. However, Megatherium is not defenseless, with one swipe from their massive, clawed hand gravely injuring or ending the life of any potential predator.
Habitat[]
Ground sloths inhabit caves located high in the Forbidden Mountains.
Habits[]
Megatherium is an herbivorous xenarthran mammal, meaning some of its closest relatives are outworld anteaters, armadillos and tree sloths. Although it can stand on its hind legs (using its tail as a balancing tripod) to reach for vegetation, this giant ground-sloth feeds chiefly on lower-growing vegetation and succulent plants.
Megatherium live solitarily, only interacting with others of their species during the mating season. Females give birth to a single offspring, which typically rides on its mother's back for up to a year.
Diet and foraging[]
Pulling itself upright, to sit on its haunches or to "stand", the giant ground sloth balances its weight with its tail acting as a foundation. It then tugs at plants with its forelimbs, either pulling of branches or digging up lower sections with their sharp, recurved claws. Megatherium then uses its simple teeth to grind plant matter before swallowing; its highly developed cheek muscles help in this process. The ground sloth's stomach is able to digest coarse and fibrous vegetation. The stereotypically "sluggish" nature of sloths is attributed to their low-nutrient diet as well as certain toxic compounds, naturally found in the plants they consume, which may produce a "narcotic"-like effect.