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[1]
Species
  • †A. taylori Harrison, 1979[1]

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.[2]

Taxonomy

Alforjas was named by Harrison (1979). Its type is Alforjas taylori. It was assigned to Camelidae by Harrison (1979) and Carroll (1988).[3] 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. [1]

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.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Harrison, J. A (1979). "Revision of the Camelinae (Artiodactyla, Tylopoda) and description of the new genus Alforjas". University of Kansas Paleontological Contributions. 95 (4): 1–28. hdl:1808/3664.
  2. ↑ PaleoBiology Database: Alforjas, basic info
  3. ↑ R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York 1-698
  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
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