Megacamelus

Megacamelus
Megacamelus
Temporal range: Miocene–Pliocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Suborder: Tylopoda
Family: Camelidae
Genus: Megacamelus
Frick (1929)
Species
  • M. merriami

Megacamelus is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore in the family Camelidae, endemic to North America from the Miocene through Pliocene 10.3—4.9 mya, existing for approximately 5.4 million years.[1]

This was the largest species of Camelid to roam the Earth.

Contents

Taxonomy

Megacamelus was named by Frick (1929). It was assigned to Camelidae by Frick (1929) and Honey et al. (1998).[2]

Morphology

Four specimens were examined for estimated body mass by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist. These specimens were estimated to weigh:

  • 3,695.7 kg (8,100 lb)
  • 3,059.8 kg (6,700 lb)
  • 2,246.8 kg (5,000 lb)
  • 1,747.9 kg (3,900 lb) [3]

Fossil distribution

Fossil distribution ranged from Nebraska to Idaho to Southern California.

References

  1. ^ PaleoBiology Database: Megacamelus, basic info
  2. ^ J. G. Honey, J. A. Harrison, D. R. Prothero and M. S. Stevens. 1998. Camelidae. In C. M. Janis, K. M. Scott, and L. L. Jacobs (eds.), Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America 1:439-462
  3. ^ M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist. 2006. Estimating the body mass of extinct ungulates: a study on the use of multiple regression. Journal of Zoology 270(1):90-101
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