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 | |
| |
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:
- 451.7 kg (1,000 lb)
- 231.4 kg (510 lb)
- 342.7 kg (760 lb)
- 511.5 kg (1,100 lb) [3]
Fossil distribution
Fossil distribution is widespread from Nicaragua, Central America to Montana and throughout the western U.S.
References
- ↑ PaleoBiology Database: Protolabis, 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