†P. aequatorialis (Hoffstetter, 1952)
†P. brevirostris (Rusconi, 1930)
†P. crassa (Hoffstetter, 1952)
†P. crequii (Boule & Thévenin, 1920)
†P. leptognata (Ameghino, 1889)
†P. major (Liais, 1872)
†P. mirifica (Simpson, 1929)
†P. niedae (Guérin & Faure, 1999)
†P. paradoxa (Cabrera, 1935)
†P. promesolithica (Ameghino, 1889)
†P. reissi (Branco, 1883)
†P. weddelli (Gervais, 1855)[1]
Palaeolama (lit. 'ancient llama') is an extinct genus of laminoid camelid that existed from the Late Pliocene to the Early Holocene (1.8 to 0.011 Ma).[2][3][4] Their range extended from North America to the intertropical region of South America.
Palaeolama were relatives of modern camelids that lived in the New World from the Late Pliocene to the Late Pleistocene or Early Holocene.[2][3][4] Fossil evidence suggests that it had a slender head, elongate snout, and stocky legs.[5][6] They likely weighed around 200 kilograms (440 lb)[7] or up to 300 kilograms (660 lb), surpassing the weight of modern llamas.[6] They were specialized forest browsers and are often found in association with early equids, tapirs, deer, and mammoth.[2][4][8][9]
Palaeolama had a long, slender skull with an elongated rostrum and robust jaw. This morphology more closely resembles the cranial morphology of Hemiauchenia than that of modern llamas.[5]
The jaw and dental morphology of Palaeolama distinguish it from other laminae. Palaeolama tend to have a comparatively more dorsoventrally gracile mandible.[5][10] Like Hemiauchenia, Palaeolama lack their second deciduous premolars and can further be differentiated by the distinct size and shape of their third deciduous premolars. Their dentition has also been described as more brachyodont-like (short crowns, well developed roots).[10]
Analyses of their limb elements reveal that they had shorter, stockier metapodials, and longer epipodials giving them a short, stocky appearance.[5] Limbs such as these are typically associated with organisms adapted to walking on uneven and rugged terrains. This is also suggestive of being well adapted to avoiding predators in forested areas.[4][5]