Megacamelus
Temporal range: Miocene – Pliocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Camelidae
Tribe: Camelini
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 one of the largest genera of camelid to roam the Earth together with Megatylopus, Gigantocamelus, Camelus moreli, Camelus knoblochi, Aepycamelus, and Paracamelus.[2] It reached approximately 3.4 m (11 ft) in height.[3]

Taxonomy

Megacamelus was named by Frick (1929). It was assigned to Camelidae by Frick (1929) and Honey et al. (1998).[4]

Fossil distribution

Fossils have been found from Nebraska to Idaho to Southern California.

References

  1. ^ PaleoBiology Database: Megacamelus, basic info
  2. ^ Zazula, G. D.; Macphee, R. D.; Hall, E.; Hewitson, S. (2016). "Osteological Assessment of Pleistocene Camelops hesternus (Camelidae: Camelinae: Camelini) from Alaska and Yukon" (PDF). American Museum Novitates (3866): 1–46. doi:10.1206/3866.1. S2CID 59357054. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  3. ^ Prothero, Donald R.; Scoch, Robert M. (2002). Horns, Tusks, and Flippers: The Evolution of Hoofed Mammals. Baltimore: Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9780801871351.
  4. ^ 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


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