Fauna

Ice
Age
Camel

Ice Age Camel

Camelops (unidentified species)

Height: 7.5 ft
Weight: 1,800 lb
Closest living relative: Asian Camels of the genus Camulus
Status: Extinct due to changing climate and possible human pressure 10,000 years ago.

Description
Ice Age camels had two-toed hooves and a long neck. Given that soft tissues are not preserved well, it has been unclear whether the camels had humps like modern camels. With more modern molecular data, scientists believe Ice Age camels may have had one hump illustrating their relation to modern day Asian Camels.

Diet
The Camelops was an herbivore browser and grazer, eating both woody vegetation and grasses. Data from fossil tooth specimens show that leaves were a large part of these camels’ diets.

Behavior
It is believed that Camelops lived in smaller herds. They had long legs that were well adapted to walking long distances.

Distribution and Habitat
Ice Age camel fossils have been discovered as far north as Alaska and the Yukon and as far south as Mexico. It is thought to have existed in varied habitats, from open grasslands to woodlands and even wetlands.

Fun Facts

Camels originated in the area now known as the Americas...

And, much of their evolution actually occurred in the Americas before they crossed the Bering Strait and further evolved into the camels of Asia today. Camels eventually became extinct in the Americas.
Camelops are one of a few ancient animals to demonstrate a connection with human hunting...

One fossil site showed that camels were hunted by humans and has contributed to ongoing discussions about the Pleistocene extinction in North America.