Hemiauchenia

Hemiauchenia,Paleobiology Database - Hemiauchenia basic info is a genus of lamine camelids that evolved in North America in the Miocene period about 10 million years ago. This genus diversified and moved to South America in the Early Pleistocene, as part of the Great American Biotic Interchange, giving rise to modern lamines. The genus became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene.
== Broad features of genus Hemiauchenia ==
The genus name is derived from the (, "half"-) and αὐχήν (, "neck"). Species are specified using Latin adjectives or Latinised names from other languages.
=== North American fossils ===
Remains of these species have been found in assorted locations around North America, including Florida, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Arizona, Mexico, California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington. The "large-headed llama", H. macrocephala, was widely distributed in North and Central America, with H. vera being known from the western United States and northern Mexico. H. minima has been found in Florida, and H. guanajuatensis in Mexico.
=== South American fossils ===
Fossils of Hemiauchenia in South America are restricted to the Pleistocene and have been found in the Luján and Agua Blanca Formations of Buenos Aires Province and Córdoba Province, Argentina, the Tarija Formation of Bolivia, Pilauco of Osorno, Los Lagos, Chile and Paraíba, Ceará, and the Touro Passo Formation of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.Hemiauchenia at Fossilworks.org
== Distinguishing characteristics of members of Hemiauchenia==
=== H. vera ( "true hemiauchenia") ===
* Relatively low-crowned teeth (part of visible teeth ends close to gums)
* Large caniniform (canine-like) upper first premolar
* Retention of lower third premolar
=== H. blancoensis ("Blancan hemiauchenia") ===
* Named for Blancan Age stratum where typically found
* Shorter mandibular diastema (teeth-spacing between incisors and molars) than H. macrocephala and H. vera
* Caniniform upper first premolar
* Absent second premolar
* Upper third premolar present or absent
* Lower crowned molars
=== H. macrocephala ("great-headed hemiauchenia") ===
* Possesses a larger skull relative to other species
* Long, robust limbs
* Large skeletal size
* Presence of a deciduous upper second premolar
* Fully molariform deciduous second premolar (its infant bicuspids were like molars)
* High-crowned molars
* Thick layer of cementum on the teeth
* Broad mandibular symphysis (line where the bones of the jaw join together) with incisors in a vertical fashion
=== H. minima ("least hemiauchenia") ===
* Despite being the earliest recognized species, general distinguishing characteristics for H. minima are little known.
=== Other species ===
Also, a few lesser known species, such as H. paradoxa, H. seymourensis, H. edensis and H. guanajuatensis, have been found. According to which source is consulted, these may or may not be considered legitimate taxa.
== Classification history ==
Prior to 1974, fossil specimens now thought to be Hemiauchenia were classified as Holomeniscus, Lama, and Tanupolama, until S. David Webb proposed that these North and South American fossil species were part of a single genus. This has been accepted by all subsequent researchers, although in 2013, Carolina Saldanha Scherer questioned the inclusion of a certain North American species and suggested that Hemiauchenia is paraphyletic. 
== Notes ==
== References ==
== Further reading ==
* Honey, J. H., J. A. Harrison, D. R. Prothero, and M. S. Stevens. 1998. Camelidae. pp. 439–462. In: Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America, Eds: C. M. Janis, K. M. Scott, and L. L. Jacobs, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 691 pp.
* Hulbert, R. C. 1992. A checklist of the fossil vertebrates of Florida. Papers in Florida Paleontology, no. 6:25-26.
* Kurtén, B. and E. Anderson. 1980. Pleistocene Mammals of North America. Columbia University Press, NY, 442 pp. (camels - 301, 306-307).
* Meachen, Julie A. "A New Species of Hemiauchenia (Camelidae; Lamini)" Diss. University of Florida, 2003. Abstract
* McKenna, M. C. and S. K. Bell. 1997. Classification of Mammals above the Species Level. Columbia University Press, NY, 631 pp. (camels - pp. 413–416). 
* Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Book of Mammals, vol. 1. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, pp. 837 – 1936. (camels - pp. 1072–1081)
Category:Prehistoric camelids
Category:Prehistoric even-toed ungulate genera
Category:Miocene even-toed ungulates
Category:Pleistocene even-toed ungulates
Category:Miocene mammals of North America
Category:Pliocene mammals of North America
Category:Pleistocene mammals of North America
Category:Neogene Mexico
Category:Neogene United States
Category:Pleistocene El Salvador
Category:Pleistocene Mexico
Category:Pleistocene United States
Category:Fossils of Canada
Category:Fossils of El Salvador
Category:Fossils of Mexico
Category:Fossils of the United States
Category:Pleistocene mammals of South America
Category:Lujanian
Category:Ensenadan
Category:Uquian
Category:Pleistocene Argentina
Category:Fossils of Argentina
Category:Pleistocene Bolivia
Category:Fossils of Bolivia
Category:Pleistocene Brazil
Category:Fossils of Brazil
Category:Fossil taxa described in 1880
Category:Taxa named by Florentino Ameghino
Category:Ringold Formation Miocene Fauna