Protylopus

Protylopus is an extinct genus of camel that lived during middle to late Eocene some 50-40 million years ago in North America.

Protylopus
Temporal range:
Protylopus petersoni skull
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: †Oromerycidae
Genus: †Protylopus
Wortman, 1898
Species
  • †P. petersoni (type)
  • †P. annectens
  • †P. pearsonensis
  • †P. robustus
  • †P. stocki

Along with being the oldest camel known, it was also the smallest, reaching a length of 80 centimetres (2.6 ft), and probably weighing around 26 kilograms (57 lb). Based on its teeth, it probably fed on the soft leaves of forest plants. Protylopus's front legs were shorter than the hind legs, and ended in four-toed feet. The hind legs also ended in four toes, but most of the weight was carried by the third and fourth, so it may have raised itself up on its back legs like the modern day gerenuk antelope to feed. The shape of the toes suggests that the animal possessed hooves, rather than the foot-pads of modern camels.[1]

References
  1. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 275. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.


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