A review of Camelops (Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Camelidae), a giant llama from the Middle and Late Pleistocene (Irvingtonian and Rancholabrean) of North America

Abstract

Camelops is a giant llama from the Pliocene and Pleistocene of western North America. Of the 17 species (most, if not all, from the Irvingtonian and Rancholabrean North American Land Mammal Ages) that have been referred to Camelops, only 6 are currently recognised as valid. This review examines Camelops from the Irvingtonian and Rancholabrean (Middle and Late Pleistocene) and describes for the first time material from the latest Wisconsinan of the Nueces River valley of South Texas. During this interval, there are two valid previously named species: the smaller mainly Irvingtonian Camelops minidokae and the larger, mainly Rancholabrean Camelopshesternus. Camelops hesternus, Camelops sulcatus, Camelops huerfanensis and Camelopstraviswhitei are junior synonyms of Camelopshesternus. In addition, there are possibly two additional species: one with short, broad metapodials and one with short, slender metapodials.

Keywords::

• Camelops
• Camelidae
• Pleistocene

Acknowledgements

We thank Mrs Ruth Wright, Mr Larry Wright, Mr M.P. Wright IV, Mr Mark Truesdale, Mr Greg Truesdale and the many employees of Wright Materials, Inc., Sand and Gravel Quarries for access and assistance in collecting the fossils from the Wright Quarries. Dr. E. Lundelius and the late Dr. W. Dalquest educated the senior author about Camelops systematics. Dr. Mark Goodwin provided measurements of the Camelops metapodials from Irvington. Jonathan Reichel, formerly of Exxon Co., USA, collected and donated the jaw of Camelops (TMM 43059-378) that initiated the senior author's interest in this project. E. Lundelius and G. Morgan provided constructive comments that improved the manuscript. Dedicated to the memory of Jon Baskin's and Dr. Tomida's fellow University of Arizona graduate student James Honey, well respected for his research and publications on North American Camelidae.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, the Corpus Christi Geological Society, the Coastal Bend Geophysical Society, Core Lab and Frank Cornish of Imagine Resources provided financial support of fossil recovery efforts in South Texas.