Macrauchenia was a very bizarre creature, having no living relatives and looking like a cross between a llama and a tapir. This bizarre creature was a good example of how bizarre and unique fauna in South America was at the time, as they could not be found anywhere else. Macrauchenia was a particular favorite prey animal of the famous sabre-tooth cats.

Basic info

Meaning of name: Macrauchenia means "long llama".

Time of existence: Macrauchenia lived from the late Miocene to the early Holocene, 23 million to 11,700 million years ago.

Diet: Macrauchenia was a herbivore, grazing in the plains as well as browsing from low hanging trees.

Threats: Macrauchenia was a prime target for Smilodon, which would have ambushed and preyed on them. Terror birds also may have been an issue for the youngsters.

Due to them being a favorite prey item for many creatures, Macrauchenia lived in herds

Attributes: Macrauchenia had three toed feet which would have given it impeccable balance and great maneuverability, being able to turn on a dime. It also had an odd trunk-like nose that gave a very good sense of smell, which would have truly been essential in detecting predators. They also would have lived in herds. They also had strange pointed teeth that helped them grind up rough food.

Some Macrauchenia rest in a dust field

Appearances in the Walking with... series

Walking with Beasts

Macrauchenia makes a single appearance in the opening, where a herd is seen running from a Smilodon.

Macrauchenia in the opening

Episode 1-New Dawn

Macrauchenia can be seen twice in the opening synopsis, where a trio can be seen running from the air, and a herd is seen fleeing from a Smilodon.

Episode 4-Next of Kin

Macrauchenia can be seen a couple times in the credits, all of them showing a herd running from Smilodon.

Episode 5-Sabre Tooth

Macrauchenia is a recurring sight throughout the episode. Their first appearance is in an aerial shot of Half-Tooth's territory, where a group of them can be seen running. We also see a large herd of Macrauchenia as we go over South America's unique wildlife, grazing and looking around as two Phorusrhacos stand nearby, not seeing them as a threat.

A herd of Macrauchenia

A huge herd of Macrauchenia is next seen grazing on the plains while being stalked by the Smilodon pack. We are told that the Macrauchenia are very skittish animals, and getting close enough to kill one takes great patience. The pack watches the herd from a distance as they move in, the herbivores unaware of their presence. The lead female then leaps from her hiding place, close enough to start the attack. As soon as the herd sees her, they begin to flee, though they are lead right into the other females, who join the chase.

The Macrauchenia herd flees from the Smilodon

The herd continues fleeing, being followed closely by the cats as they select a target and begin to surround her. However, the female makes a swift move that throws the cat off course, but is quickly caught by another cat, who brings her down. The herd continues fleeing, having no attatchment to this individual. The cats restrain the Macrauchenia and pin her down before severing her blood supply and strangling her windpipe with their sabres, killing her instantly. The Smilodon then begin to feed as some Phorusrhacos arrive to scavenge, one stealing a strip of meat from the carcass. Once the cats leave, the birds move in to eat the remains of what they could not eat.

The Smilodon feed bring down the Macrauchenia

Later, Half-Tooth spots a lone male Macrauchenia, as males do not live in the herds, and he begins to set up an ambush to hunt it as it browses the trees. However, a giant ground sloth arrives and startles the Macrauchenia, who begins to move away. Half-Tooth, desperate to get food, springs out and has a short chase with the Macrauchenia. However, due to his weakened state, he is unable to pursue it for long and the Macrauchenia escapes.

A lone male Macrauchenia being stalked by Half-Tooth

Later that same morning, Half-Tooth spots a mother Macrauchenia and her young feeding in the scrub forest. However, as he sets up an ambush, a Phorusrhacos arrives and strikes the youngster with its sharp beak as the mother flees. As the bird feeds, Half-Tooth scares it off and steals the kill, dragging it away. Later, Half-Tooth's old clan is seen feeding on a Macrauchenia before a Megatherium arrives and scares them off by killing one of the Smilodon brothers. Macrauchenia makes a final appearance at the end of the episode, seen in the background as the Smilodon set up an ambush to hunt them.