Protolabis

Protolabis Temporal range: Pliocene–Early Pleistocene PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Suborder:	Ruminantia
Family:	Camelidae
Genus:	Protolabis Cope (1876)
Species
P. barstowensis P. coartatus P. gracilis P. heterodontus P. inaequidens P. saxeus

Protolabis is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore the family Camelidae, endemic to North America from the Oligocene through Miocene 30.8—10.3 mya, existing for approximately 20.5 million years.^[1]

Taxonomy

Protolabis was named by Cope (1876). It was assigned to Camelidae by Cope (1876) and Carroll (1988).^[2]

Morphology

Body mass

Four specimens were examined for estimated body mass by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist. These specimens were estimated to weigh:

• 451.7 kg (1,000 lb)
• 231.4 kg (510 lb)
• 342.7 kg (760 lb)
• 511.5 kg (1,100 lb) ^[3]

Fossil distribution

Fossil distribution is widespread from Nicaragua, Central America to Montana and throughout the western U.S.

References

1. PaleoBiology Database: Protolabis, basic info
2. R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York 1-698
3. 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