North American fossils

Restoration of Hemiauchenia (right) and other animals of the Rattlesnake Formation fleeing a volcanic eruption

Skull of Hemiauchenia macrocephala

Remains of these species have been found in assorted locations around North America, including Florida, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Arizona, Mexico, California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington.^[7][8] The "large-headed llama", H. macrocephala, was widely distributed in North and Central America, with H. vera being known from the western United States and northern Mexico. H. minima has been found in Florida, and H. guanajuatensis in Mexico.^[9]

South American fossils

Fossils of Hemiauchenia in South America are restricted to the Pleistocene and have been found in the Luján and Agua Blanca Formations of Buenos Aires Province and Córdoba Province, Argentina, the Tarija Formation of Bolivia, Pilauco of Osorno, Los Lagos, Chile and Paraíba, Ceará, and the Touro Passo Formation of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.^[10] Hemiauchenia paradoxa is suggested to have been a browser.^[11]

H. vera

• Relatively low-crowned teeth (part of visible teeth ends close to gums)
• Large caniniform (canine-like) upper first premolar
• Retention of lower third premolar

H. blancoensis

• Named for Blancan Age stratum where typically found
• Shorter mandibular diastema (teeth-spacing between incisors and molars) than H. macrocephala and H. vera
• Caniniform upper first premolar
• Absent second premolar
• Upper third premolar present or absent
• Lower crowned molars

H. macrocephala

• Possesses a larger skull relative to other species
• Long, robust limbs
• Large skeletal size
• Presence of a deciduous upper second premolar
• Fully molariform deciduous second premolar (its infant bicuspids were like molars)
• High-crowned molars
• Thick layer of cementum on the teeth
• Broad mandibular symphysis (line where the bones of the jaw join together) with incisors in a vertical fashion

Thought to have been browsers^[12] and mixed feeders.^[13] Suggested to be less closely related to modern Lama and Vicugna than H. paradoxa is.^[3]

Native to the southern United States, spanning from California to Florida,^[14] and as far north as Nebraska.^[13] Also present in Mexico.^[12]

H. minima

• Despite being the earliest recognized species, general distinguishing characteristics for H. minima are little known.

Other species

Also, a few lesser known species, such as H. paradoxa, H. seymourensis, H. edensis and H. guanajuatensis, have been found. Depending on which source is consulted, these may or may not be considered legitimate taxa.