An extinct genus of camel-like mammals that lived in North America during the Tertiary period, characterized by tall stature.
From Latin altus (high/tall) and camelus (camel), combining to mean 'tall camel.' The genus name describes the animal's elevated or lanky body proportions.
Alticamelus fossils show that camels originally evolved in North America before migrating to Asia and Africa—the very continent we associate with camels today has no native camels, only descendants of North American ancestors!
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