The origins of this genus are a topic of much debate as some of the earliest fossils occur during both the Irvingtonian in Florida and the Ensenadan in Uruguay. Despite this, agreement exists amongst paleobiologists on the dispersal of "Palaeolama" during the Great American Biotic Interchange. There is also evidence suggesting a move to northern South America during the second of two Pleistocene Camilidae migration events. Fossil evidence ranges from the southern extent of North America (including California, Florida, and Mexico) south through Central America and terminates in South America (Argentina and Uruguay).