Prehistoric Models: Litopterna

(macrauchenia)

Mammals are a class animals defined as warm-blooded vertebrates, distinguished by the possession of hair or fur, the secretion of milk by females for the nourishment of the young, and (typically) the birth of live young (with only two modern exceptions).

Litopterna means “smooth heel” in Ancient Greek. They are unique South American ungulates (hoofed mammals) that look surficially similar to camels and lamas. Despit this Litopterna are more closely related to the odd toed ungulates Perissodactyla. Macrauchenia means “long llama” 

Kingdom: Animalia – Phylum: Chordata – Superclass: Tetrapoda – Class: Mammalia – Order: Litopterna – Family: Macraucheniidae

(South American ungulates)

 Late Paleocene to Late Pleistocene