Protolabis

Protolabis
Temporal range: Pliocene–Early Pleistocene
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Suborder: Ruminantia
Family: Camelidae
Genus: Protolabis
Cope (1876)
Species
  • P. barstowensis
  • P. coartatus
  • P. gracilis
  • P. heterodontus
  • P. inaequidens
  • P. saxeus

Protolabis is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore the family Camelidae, endemic to North America from the Oligocene through Miocene 30.8—10.3 mya, existing for approximately 20.5 million years.[1]

Taxonomy

Protolabis was named by Cope (1876). It was assigned to Camelidae by Cope (1876) 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:

Fossil distribution

Fossil distribution is widespread from Nicaragua, Central America to Montana and throughout the western U.S.

References

  1. PaleoBiology Database: Protolabis, basic info
  2. R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York 1-698
  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