Small camel cannon bone

Small camel cannon bone

P-27102

Camel, cloven-hooved ungulate

West of Rio Rancho, Sandoval County

Middle Miocene, 14 million years ago

Metacarpal (wrist bone)

The metapodial or cannon bone from the front limb consists of fused metacarpals 3 and 4. Toes attach to the bottom (distal end), wrist attaches to the top (proximal end). This is the smallest species of Miocene camel from New Mexico; smaller than a modern pronghorn or mule deer. Along with the previous species of camel, Michenia helps to demonstrate the incredible diversity of camels in New Mexico during the Miocene, with as many as 12 species living at the same time (called sympatric species). Camels are common and diverse in New Mexico in the middle Miocene, whereas three-toed horses are more dominant in faunas of similar age from the northern Great Plains (for example, Nebraska) and Florida. It has been suggested that camels were better adapted for the warm, dry climate that characterized New Mexico during the middle Miocene.