Extant megaherbivores are large megafaunaul herbivores that can exceed 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) in weight.
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.
[1][2] Their large size offers protection from predators, but at the same time, it decreases the degree at which they reproduce due to restricted food sources.
These families are polyphyletic and do not share a recent common ancestor, but were instead assembled due to similarities in ecological niches.