Priscocamelus
| Priscocamelus Temporal range: Pliocene–Early Pleistocene | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Fossil | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Suborder: | Ruminantia |
| Family: | Camelidae |
| Genus: | Priscocamelus Gazin (1955) |
| Species | |
| |
Priscocamelus is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore in the family Camelidae, endemic to North America from the Oligocene through Miocene 24.8—20.6 mya, existing for approximately 4.2 million years.[1]
Taxonomy
Priscocamelus was named by Stevens (1969) [in Stevens et al.]. Its type is Priscocamelus wilsoni. It was assigned to Camelidae by Stevens (1969) and Carroll (1988).[2]
Morphology
Body mass
Four specimens were examined for estimated body mass by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist. These specimens were estimated to weigh:
- 106.3 kg (230 lb)
- 98.3 kg (220 lb)
- 91.4 kg (200 lb)
- 72.3 kg (160 lb) [3]
Fossil distribution
Fossil distribution is restricted to two sites in the Rio Grande valley of Texas.
References
- ↑ PaleoBiology Database: Priscocamelus, basic info
- ↑ R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York 1-698
- ↑ 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