Alforjas

Alforjas
Temporal range: Miocene–Early Pliocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Camelidae
Tribe: Camelini
Genus: †Alforjas
Harrison (1979)
Species
  • A. taylori

Alforjas is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore the family Camelidae, endemic to North America during the Miocene through Pliocene 10.30—5.3 mya existing for approximately 5 million years.[1]

Taxonomy

Alforjas was named by Harrison (1979). Its type is Alforjas taylori. It was assigned to Camelidae by Harrison (1979) and Carroll (1988).[2] They are most closely related to Camelops.

Etymology

Alfrojas is Spanish for the saddle bags used on domestic llamas. The name has a regional association with the meaning of humps or lumps. [3]

Morphology

A single specimen was examined for estimated body mass by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist. The specimen was estimated to weigh 623.3 kg (1,400 lb).[4]

Alforjas differs from Pliauchenia, Hemiauchenia, Palaeolama, and Lama in its greater height of crown, larger size, and longer rostrum.[5]

References

  1. ↑ PaleoBiology Database: Alforjas, basic info
  2. ↑ R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York 1-698
  3. ↑ http://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/dspace/bitstream/1808/3664/3/paleo.paper.095op.pdf
  4. ↑ M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist. 2006. Estimating the body mass of extinct ungulates: a study on the use of multiple regression. Journal of Zoology 270(1):90-101
  5. ↑ http://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/dspace/bitstream/1808/3664/3/paleo.paper.095op.pdf
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