Megacamelus
Temporal range:
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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