The Giant Ground Sloth (Megatherium americanum) is a large prehistoric mammal from South America. It is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon and Zoo Tycoon 2.
Description[]
As its name implies, the Giant Ground Sloth is the largest of the ground sloths, a family of xenarthrans closely related to modern tree sloths. It could grow up to the size of a modern elephant, weighing up to 4 tonnes and reaching 6m (20ft) in length. It had powerful back legs and although it was normally quadrupedal, it could stand and walk bipedally. Its long curved claws could reach potential food, although it meant the sloth had to walk with its feet sideways.
The giant ground sloth was native to South America and lived until around 12000 years ago. It lived in grassland and wooded areas and, like modern sloths, was a herbivore, primarily feeding on leaves and fruits using its prehensile lips. Due to its large size, claws and the presence of bony osteoderms in its already thick hide, the giant ground sloth probably had few natural predators. It is possible that hunting from early settlers contributed to its extinction.
Zoo Tycoon[]
The giant ground sloth is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon. It is a downloadable animal that can be acquired with the Dinosaur Digs expansion pack.
The giant ground sloth is a Grassland animal and also requires snow and brown stone in its exhibit. It can walk both quadrupedally and bipedally. Its exhibit requirements are similar to Macrauchenia and the two can be mixed together.
 Animal Facts
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| Megatherium is a giant ground sloth that originally lived during the Ice Age. Giant is not an understatement - this sloth often weighs 3 - 4 tons as a mature adult.
At eighteen to twenty feet long, this shaggy creature stands the same size as a modern elephant. During the Ice Age, long, thick fur was important for warmth, even in South America and southern North America where the Megatherium lived. Megatherium’s large head is similar to that of a bear, although the jaw and peg-shaped teeth are designed for the herbivorous diet of all sloths. Megatherium can stand on its back legs, supported by its short and blunt tail, much like the large, herbivorous dinosaurs that preceded it. In this position, they can also use the three curving claws found on its front paws to hook tree branches. This permits Megatherium to eat vegetation high in the trees that other animals cannot reach. In addition to leaves and branches, Megatherium eats shoots, roots, and fruits, sometimes digging for these foods. This slow moving animal was easy prey for many of the Ice Age predators, especially the saber-toothed cats. Early man hunted these animals for food and for the warmth of their fur. Scientists speculate that this may have caused the extinction of the species about 11,000 years ago. |
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
The giant ground sloth is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 and was added as part of the Extinct Animals expansion pack. In Campaign and Challenge mode, it is available for adoption when a zoo reaches a rating of 5 stars.
The giant ground sloth is a Scrub animal, but will also tolerate Savannah and Grassland. Like all extinct scrub animals, it requires a tar pit in its exhibit to be comfortable. Unlike Zoo Tycoon, the sloth in Zoo Tycoon 2 is fully bipedal and features large tufts on its ears, which it is not known to have.
 zootycoon.com Description
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| The giant ground sloth ranged across the Americas, from Texas all the way south to Argentina, until about 8,000 years ago. This gigantic, fur-covered sloth was a quadruped, but it could walk on its hind legs by steadying itself with its enormous tail. It had long claws which it used to pull down leafy branches and dig up plants at mealtime. With its immense size and formidable claws, the giant ground sloth had little to fear in the way of predators. Its modern relatives include tree sloths, armadillos, and anteaters. |
Gallery[]
Zoo Tycoon[]
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
Trivia[]
- Along with Tyrannosaurus rex, the giant ground sloth is the most expensive animal in Zoo Tycoon 2, costing $80,000 per animal.
- The giant ground sloth is able to eat meat in game. This is based on a proposition that suggested ground sloths may have occasionally eaten meat scavenged from carcasses to obtain vital nutrients. Studies have since proven that some ground sloth species, such as Mylodon, were omnivorous.
- If an escaped giant ground sloth in Zoo Tycoon 2 "plays" with a guest, the guest will attempt to pet the sloth, only to be knocked over. Interestingly, the guest's thought will be positive instead of negative about the animal "attacking" them.