Tanupolama, a New Genus of Llama from the Pleistocene of California

Abstract

The presence of a slender-limbed camel in the mammalian fauna of the McKittrick Pleistocene has been noted by Merriam and Stock. In a later paper this form was recognized as certainly distinct from the genus Camelops and described as Lama stevensi. Further study of materials collected at McKittrick for the California Institute of Technology by Charles H. Sternberg has convinced the writer that while the form is undoubtedly closely related to the living llamas of South America, certain noteworthy characters serve to distinguish the Pleistocene type from the genus Lama. In view of studies now in progress on the relationships of Pleistocene mammalian faunas of California it seems desirable to publish a statement of the generic characters of the McKittrick llama, reserving a fuller description of the California Pleistocene Camelidae for a forthcoming paper. The illustrations shown on plates 1 to 6 have been prepared by Mr. John L. Ridgway.