Megacamelus Explained

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 .^[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 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.

Notes and References

1. http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=42531&is_real_user=1 PaleoBiology Database: Megacamelus, basic info
2. Zazula . G. D. . Macphee . R. D. . Hall . E. . Hewitson . S. . Osteological Assessment of Pleistocene Camelops hesternus (Camelidae: Camelinae: Camelini) from Alaska and Yukon . 2016 . American Museum Novitates . 3866 . 1–46 . 22 September 2019 . 10.1206/3866.1 . 59357054 .
3. Book: Prothero. Donald R.. Scoch. Robert M.. Horns, Tusks, and Flippers: The Evolution of Hoofed Mammals. 2002. Hopkins University Press. Baltimore. 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