Macrauchenia patagonica. Illustration and photo-reconstruction of an alarmed South American Macrauchenia listening closely to the rustle of mountain vegetation. Macrauchenia patagonica is a representative of the order litopterna, which were South American ungulates. Most of the litopterna were extinct by the end of the Pliocene, after a land connection to North America brought new predators and competition from new prey. However, Macrauchenia patachonica only became extinct 10 thousand years ago. This ungulate reached 1.8 metres height at the shoulders, which corresponds to the modern camel, and weighed a tonne. Long and very strong legs ended with three fingers. The remains of Macrauchenias were found firstly in the south-eastern Pampas, but have also been found in Venezuela. | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / ROMAN UCHYTEL |
Taille de l’image : | 6496 px × 4328 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |