PROTYLOPUS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 80 cm Weight: 26 kg Feeding: Herbivore Period: Early Eocene to late Eocene Possible habitat: Plains and sparsely wooded areas Discovery: North America, 1898 Species: 5

HISTORY

Protylopus is an extinct species of camelid that lived in North America during the mid to late Eocene, about 50-40 million years ago. It is considered the ancestor of all modern camelids and is the oldest known species.

CHARACTERISTICS

The Protylopus is characterised by its unique size, as it stood only 80cm tall and averaged 26kg. From the arrangement and size of their teeth, it is possible that they fed on tender leaves. Their hind legs had four toes, on which they supported most of their weight, probably to lift themselves up to forage.