Aepycamelus

***Aepycamelus*** is an extinct genus of camelid, formerly called *Alticamelus*, which lived during the Miocene North America. It was a member of the camel family.

*Aepycamelus* walked on its toes only. Unlike earlier species of camelid, they possessed cushioned pads like those of modern camels.

## Description

The camelid that lived during the Miocene 20.6–4.9 million years ago, existing for about 15.7 million years. Its name is derived from the Greek word αἰπύc: for "high and steep" and κάμηλος: simply means; "camel"; thus the combination: "high camel".

 Unlike earlier species of camelids, they possessed cushioned pads like those of modern camels.

## Biology

*Aepycamelus giraffinus* was a prairie dweller of North America; Colorado and other midwestern states. Its head was relatively small compared with the rest of its body, its neck was long, as a result of giraffe-like lengthening of the cervical vertebrae, and its legs were long and stilt-like, with the elbow and knee joints on the same level. The top of its head was about 3 m (9.8 ft) above the ground.

Its unique body structure gives information on its life and dietary habits. *Aepycamelus* inhabited dry grasslands with groups of trees. The animal presumed to have moved about solitarily or in very small groups, like today's giraffes, browsed high up in the trees.

In this ecological role, it had no known competitors. It survived a relatively long time, through most of the Miocene epoch, and died out prior to the start of the Pliocene, possibly due to climatic changes.

## Morphology

*Aepycamelus* was a prairie dweller of North America (Colorado, etc.). It was a highly specialized animal. Its head was relatively small compared with the rest of its body, its neck was long, as a result of giraffe-like lengthening of the cervical vertebrae, and its legs were long and stilt-like, with the elbow and knee joints on the same level. The top of its head would have been about 3 metres (9.8 ft) above the ground.

### Body mass

Four fossil specimens were examined to determine body mass by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist.[3] The findings are:

* Specimen 1: 721.3 kg (1,600 lb)
* Specimen 2: 621 kg (1,400 lb)
* Specimen 3: 574.7 kg (1,300 lb)
* Specimen 4: 363.5 kg (800 lb)

Its strange body structure gives us plenty of information on its mode of life and habits. *Aepycamelus* obviously inhabited dry grasslands with groups of trees. It is presumed to have moved about singly or in small groups, like today's giraffes, and like them, browsed high up in the trees. In this respect it had no competitors. It survived a relatively long time, through most of the Miocene epoch, and died out prior to the start of the Pliocene, possibly due to climatic changes.

## Fossil distribution

Its fossils are distributed widely, from Montana to Florida to California.

## Appearance in other media

### *Jurassic Park*

* Aepycamelus appeared in the video game Jurassic Park Builder.

## References

1. ↑ http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=ai)pu/s
2. ↑ *The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals*
3. ↑ *The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals*. p: 277
4. ↑ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17971.The\_Eternal\_Frontier