Macrauchenia (Long Llama) is a large prehistoric mammal from South America. It is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon.
Description[]
Macrauchenia is a Litoptern, an order of odd-toed ungulates that evolved in South America, which at the time was an isolated island continent. Like many island animals, it evolved to fill the niches that animals such as camels and giraffes filled elsewhere. Macrauchenia bared a passing resemblance to a Llama, with a long neck and comparatively small head, but was quite stocky, with sturdy legs. Adults could have weighed over 1000kg, making it comparable to a Black Rhinoceros. Macrauchenia, like many other members of its family, featured large retracted nasal openings on top of its skull. Popular explanations for these nasal openings include the presence of a large moose-like nose, a flexible upper lip or a short trunk, although it is unclear which of these Macrauchenia possessed.
Macrauchenia lived across South America, in a wide range of habitats. Evidence suggests it may have lived in small herds. It was a herbivore and likely ate leaves and grasses. It was likely a fast runner, and it is believed to have been highly mobile, being able to make sharp turns whilst running to escape predators, which would have included saber-toothed cats. One of the last of its kind, Macrauchenia lived from seven million years ago to around 10,000 years ago.
Zoo Tycoon[]
Macrauchenia is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon. It is a downloadable animal that was included as part of the Endangered Species Theme Pack and is classed as a Dinosaur Digs animal.
Macrauchenia is a Grassland animal, but also requires some Brown Stone and Snow. Its favourite foliage is the Monkey Puzzle Tree. Like most Ice Age animals, it requires a shelter, but can use modern shelters such as lean-tos and concrete shelters. It features similar exhibit requirements to the Giant Ground Sloth and the two species are compatible.
Trivia[]
- A glitch in the downloaded version of the Endangered Species Theme Pack is present where Macrauchenia cannot be killed by Tyrannosaurus rex and the two are able to co-exist. The glitch is fixed in Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection.
- Macrauchenia is portrayed in-game with a short trunk, based on information speculated at the time. As a result, it also looks similar to its appearance in the 2001 BBC documentary Walking with Beasts.
- A study done in 2018 found that the likelihood of Macrauchenia having a trunk was not likely, instead it is much more likely that Macrauchenia had a more moose-like or saiga-like nose. Although, there is rock art that debatably may depict that at least one close relative (Xenorhinotherium) might've had a trunk, however this could also be a misinterpretation of the art and further study needs to be done.
Gallery[]
