We all know sloths as slow-moving, gentle animals that only eat leaves; such is not the case with the ancient Megatherium, a massive and dangerous beast with vicious claws and chainmail-like skin. Megatherium was avoided by almost all animals that lived in their area, knowing better than to anger these giants. Despite being a herbivore, Megatherium was arguably the most dangerous animal around.

Basic info

Meaning of name: Megatherium means "great beast".

Time of existence: Megatherium lived from the early Pliocene to the early Holocene, 5 million to 12,000 years ago.

Diet: Megatherium was primarily a herbivore, browsing the trees for the freshest of leaves and tearing down branches. However, Megatherium would occasionally feed on carrion, which would help supplement its diet.

A Megatherium browsing a tree

Threats: Megatherium was virtually indestructable, meaning very few animals would dare attack it. However, there is some evidence that humans may have hunted them at some point.

Size: Megatherium grew to a length of 20 feet long.

Attributes: What was easily Megatherium's most important attributes was its insanely robust skeleton, with bones placed together almost like a suit of armor, giving these great beasts almost impenetrable. However, if something was foolish enough to try to attack it, Megatherium's giant claws were a fatal weapon, being able to humble even the mighty Smilodon.

With a skeleton almost like chainmail, Megatherium was virtually indestructable

Appearances in the Walking with... series

Walking with Beasts

Episode 1-New Dawn

Megatherium appears in the opening synopsis, where it is seen roaring while standing on two legs before preparing to walk.

Episode 4-Next of Kin

Megatherium makes a single appearance in the credits, where it is seen roaring.

Episode 5-Sabre Tooth

Megatherium plays a pivotal role in the episode despite its minimal screentime. Megatherium is first seen when Half-Tooth wanders through the scrub forest, where we first see the clawed hand of the giant sloth as it brings a branch down to it and eats some leaves. The sloth than stands on its hind legs to get to some higher branches, using its claws tear down branches. In the background, a second Megatherium can be seen also feeding.

The clawed hand of Megatherium

Half-Tooth watches the giants feed from a distance, and after tearing down a branch, one of the Megatherium smells him and looks over to him, as we are told that small bones under its skin act as chainmail, and they are virtually indestructible. The other sloth continues browsing as the first begins to walk towards Half-Tooth, who wisely gives them a wide berth and walks away, leaving the Megatherium to their own devices.

One of the Megatherium notices Half-Tooth watching them

Megatherium appears again later, where as Half-Tooth stalks a male Macrauchenia, a giant ground sloth crashes from the undergrowth and begins browsing one of the trees, startling the Macrauchenia. As Half-Tooth begins his chase, the Megatherium continues feeding with no care.

A browsing Megatherium startles a Macrauchenia

As Half-Tooth's old clan feeds on the carcass of a Macrauchenia, a Megatherium arrives, with one of the Smilodon brothers noticing it. Despite being a herbivore, he will ocassionally go for carrion to supplement his diet. One of the Smilodon brothers approaches to challenge the sloth, who rears up and roars. The cat made a fatal mistake, however; he got in the Megatherium's way. Within seconds, the sloth swings his arms and smashes its claws directly into the cat, killing it immediately as it throws it away, roaring.

The Megatherium roars after killing one of the Smilodon

The Megatherium returns to four legs and growls as it approaches the other Smilodon, who quickly abandon the carcass to the giant. The Megatherium then growls and begins to feed. Although the Megatherium does not appear again, it has changed everything in the blink of an eye, as his killing of the brother allows Half-Tooth to retake his territory.

A Megatherium prepares to feed on the carcass of a Macrauchenia it stole from the Smilodon clan