Megatheriums, also known as ground sloths[6] or giant ground sloths[1], were ancient massive land-based mammals related to Tree Sloths.[2]
Description[]
Megatheriums were giant sloths, and like their much smaller cousins, they were covered in long, coarse fur.[2] They were capable of walking on their hind legs, but generally preferred to travel on all fours.[5]
Behavior[]
Megatheriums were known to be peaceful animals, [2] but became aggressive during their mating season.[1]
Combat[]
Despite their slow movements, megatheriums were incredibly powerful. The paws on their forearms sported 3‑foot-long (91‑centimeter) claws. They used these claws to gather food but they also made for effective defensive weapons.[2] Their thick hide protected them from harm.[1]
Ecology[]
Once a year, a female megatherium could birth a litter of up to two cubs. A juvenile megatherium reached maturity in four years.[2]
Diet[]
Megatheriums were a herbivorous species, but were also known to eat meat to supplement their diets when needed.[1]
Habitats[]
In interior Faerûn, megatherium could be found in the Shining Plains.[7]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The 2nd edition alignment given in the original source is "Nil", which should be read as Neutral according to this Sage Advice answer by Skip Williams in Dragon Magazine Issue #155: "The nil alignment rating is a holdover from an early draft of the Monstrous Compendium material. Originally, a rating of nil indicated that a creature was not intelligent enough to have an alignment at all. However, the nil rating was dropped during rewriting and should have been replaced with the neutral alignment."
Gallery[]
External Links[]
Megatherium article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Eric Cagle, Jesse Decker, James Jacobs, Erik Mona, Matthew Sernett, Chris Thomasson, and James Wyatt (April 2003). Fiend Folio. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 124. ISBN 0-7869-2780-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 David Cook, Steve Winter, and Jon Pickens (November 1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Three Forgotten Realms Appendix (MC3). (TSR, Inc), p. 50. ISBN 0-88038-769-6.
- ↑ Jon Pickens ed. (1995). Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two. (TSR, Inc.), p. 97. ISBN 0-7869-0199-3.
- ↑ Skip Williams (March 1990). “Sage Advice”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #155 (TSR, Inc.), p. 86.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jim Bambra et al (1986). Creature Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 17. ISBN 0-88038-315-1.
- ↑ David Howery (September 1988). “Into the Age of Mammals”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #137 (TSR, Inc.), p. 47.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), A Grand Tour of the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 125. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.