Post by Infinity Blade on May 20, 2015 0:09:41 GMT 5
Aepycamelus spp.
A life restoration of A. giraffinus. © @ Roman Uchytel
Temporal range: Middle to terminal Miocene (Langhian-Messinian: 15.97-5.33Ma[1])
Scientific classification:
Life
Clade: Neomura
Domain: Eukarya
(unranked): Unikonta
(unranked): Opisthokonta
(unranked): Holozoa
(unranked): Filozoa
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
Clade: Bilateria
Clade: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Cephalochordata
Clade: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Clade: Eugnathostomata
Clade: Teleostomi
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Clade: Reptiliomorpha
Clade: Amniota
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Eupelycosauria
Clade: Sphenacodontia
Clade: Sphenacodontoidea
Clade/Order: Therapsida
Clade: Neotherapsida
Clade: Theriodontia
Clade: Eutheriodontia
Clade/Suborder: Cynodontia
Clade: Epicyonodontia
Infraorder: Eucynodontia
Clade: Probainognathia
Superfamily: Chiniquodontoidea
Clade: Prozostrodontia
Clade: Mammaliformes
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Placentalia
Subcohort: Exafroplacentalia
Magnorder: Boreoeutheria
Clade: Ungulata
(unranked): Cetartiodactyla
Suborder: Tylopoda
Family: Camelidae
Subfamily: Camelinae
Tribe: Camelini
Genus: †Aepycamelus
Species: †A. alexandrae
†Aepycamelus bradyi
†Aepycamelus elrodi
†Aepycamelus giraffinus
†Aepycamelus latus
†Aepycamelus major
†Aepycamelus priscus
†Aepycamelus proceras
†Aepycamelus robustus
†Aepycamelus stocki
Aepycamelus (“high camel”) is an extinct genus of giraffe-like camel that lived in the Miocene of North America from 15.97-5.33 million years ago.[1]
Description:
Aepycamelus was a browser.[1] Like extant camels it walked on soft pads underneath its toes (digitigrade); this is different from many other terrestrial artiodactyls (where they're unguligrade; ie., they only bear their weight/move on pedal unguals) and even earlier camelids. However, Aepycamelus had a neck that was longer than any other member of its family and it likewise had particularly long legs (which also allow for fast running). Both of these features suggest a browser that fed from trees. Aepycamelus was indeed rather tall; it was ~2 meters tall at the shoulder (with the upright neck posture adding to its height).[2]
Extinction:
Aepycamelus likely inhabited open woodlands and grasslands with randomly distributed trees. Hence it’s been suggested that Aepycamelus went extinct when its habitat became more devoid of trees.[2]
References:
[1] fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?action=taxonInfo&taxon_no=42514&is_real_user=1
[2] David Lambert, Darren Naish, & Elizabeth Wyse (2001). Dinosaur Encyclopedia: From Dinosaurs to the Dawn of Man. pp. 266-267.
A life restoration of A. giraffinus. © @ Roman Uchytel
Temporal range: Middle to terminal Miocene (Langhian-Messinian: 15.97-5.33Ma[1])
Scientific classification:
Life
Clade: Neomura
Domain: Eukarya
(unranked): Unikonta
(unranked): Opisthokonta
(unranked): Holozoa
(unranked): Filozoa
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
Clade: Bilateria
Clade: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Cephalochordata
Clade: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Clade: Eugnathostomata
Clade: Teleostomi
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Clade: Reptiliomorpha
Clade: Amniota
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Eupelycosauria
Clade: Sphenacodontia
Clade: Sphenacodontoidea
Clade/Order: Therapsida
Clade: Neotherapsida
Clade: Theriodontia
Clade: Eutheriodontia
Clade/Suborder: Cynodontia
Clade: Epicyonodontia
Infraorder: Eucynodontia
Clade: Probainognathia
Superfamily: Chiniquodontoidea
Clade: Prozostrodontia
Clade: Mammaliformes
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Placentalia
Subcohort: Exafroplacentalia
Magnorder: Boreoeutheria
Clade: Ungulata
(unranked): Cetartiodactyla
Suborder: Tylopoda
Family: Camelidae
Subfamily: Camelinae
Tribe: Camelini
Genus: †Aepycamelus
Species: †A. alexandrae
†Aepycamelus bradyi
†Aepycamelus elrodi
†Aepycamelus giraffinus
†Aepycamelus latus
†Aepycamelus major
†Aepycamelus priscus
†Aepycamelus proceras
†Aepycamelus robustus
†Aepycamelus stocki
Aepycamelus (“high camel”) is an extinct genus of giraffe-like camel that lived in the Miocene of North America from 15.97-5.33 million years ago.[1]
Description:
Aepycamelus was a browser.[1] Like extant camels it walked on soft pads underneath its toes (digitigrade); this is different from many other terrestrial artiodactyls (where they're unguligrade; ie., they only bear their weight/move on pedal unguals) and even earlier camelids. However, Aepycamelus had a neck that was longer than any other member of its family and it likewise had particularly long legs (which also allow for fast running). Both of these features suggest a browser that fed from trees. Aepycamelus was indeed rather tall; it was ~2 meters tall at the shoulder (with the upright neck posture adding to its height).[2]
Extinction:
Aepycamelus likely inhabited open woodlands and grasslands with randomly distributed trees. Hence it’s been suggested that Aepycamelus went extinct when its habitat became more devoid of trees.[2]
References:
[1] fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?action=taxonInfo&taxon_no=42514&is_real_user=1
[2] David Lambert, Darren Naish, & Elizabeth Wyse (2001). Dinosaur Encyclopedia: From Dinosaurs to the Dawn of Man. pp. 266-267.
