Evolution of Camels Early Ancestor-ProtylopusIntermediate Ancestor= Poebrotherium

1. Presented by: Rabia shehzadi
17130814-012

2. •Evolutionary history of camels

3. Evolution of Camels Early Ancestor-Protylopus
Ancestral Camel= Protylopus
Characteristics
Very small-size of a rabbit
Height: 2’
Weight: less than 50lbs.
No hump
Front limbs shorter than hind legs
low-crowned teeth along the jaw
Habitat:
Forested areas in N. America
Niche:
Herbivore-Ate leafy vegetation primarily

4. Protylopus
1. Scientists search on the camels in long term they also
search on its ancestral genus.
2. They search on camels from modern camels to the
Protylopus ancestor camel.
3. It is estimated that the Protylopus is the ancestor of the
modern camel.
4. It is found that the Protylopus present on the earth about
50 million years ago in North America during Eocene
period.
5. In modern day South Dakota like they founded in the
dense forested area and they comprised the size of rabbit.
6. If we want to describe its body figure and weight then it is
estimate that it comprised a weight of 50 pounds with no
hump on its back and the height is about less than two feet
and they also have low-crowned teeth along with jaws.
7. From the crowned structure of the teeth the food is
estimated soft and leafy green vegetation

6. • Ancestral Camel= Protylopus
Adaptations:
Front limbs shorter than hind legs- allowed them to stand on hind legs
to reach leaves
low-crowned teeth along the jaw- helps breakdown leafy vegetation
Fur was longer and thicker than modern camels-lived in colder
environment
Hooves- better for navigating terrain than 3 toed ancestors
Causes for Change in Population
Climate changed in this location.
Went from forest to more of a grassland
Saw a change in allele frequency favoring this new environment
(Natural Selection)

7. Intermediate Ancestor= Poebrotherium
Characteristics
Longer neck
Larger body size
Softer, padded foot- less bony
Habitat:
Steppe grasslands
Open plains to more hill
Temp. and precipitation vary
Summer- 100° semi arid
Winter- 40°
N. America to Asia
Niche:
Changes in Tooth structure allowed for more varied diet- especially grasses

8. Poebrotherium-Oligocene
• Formation of dry savanna due to open area and dense woodlands and a
new creation is appeared due to wide ecological area of the Protylopus
which has more resemblance with the modern camels. It is another
phase in the evolutionary history of family camelidae called
Poebrotherium.
• It was found about 35 million years ago. It is the Oligocene epoch
when it is found. It lives in the plain areas of North America. And the
size is about three feet. It resemble with the modern goat with size and
shape. Its weight is about 1500 pounds.

9. • Its snout and neck is like the modern Llama having narrow snout and
long neck. Front teeth are larger and at forward angle for vegetation
shearing. Their legs and toes modified than Protylopus and the speed
is more than Protylopus. Their toes modified into hoofs and bore
weight centrally and these hooves after it separated into two.
Poebrotherium is the ancestor of many camellias.

10. Intermediate Ancestor= Poebrotherium
Causes of Evolution
Poebrotherium migrated across the land bridge that existed between N. America & Asia
during this time
Once in Asia, varieties of ancestral camels (Poebrotherium) moved to various locations
depending on resources
Overtime, various camel subspecies saw changes in allesle frequency (versions of traits)
due to natural selection driven by resources
Adaptations
Length of legs increased (longer)
Increased in size
Teeth and jaw structure changing to allow for a more varied diet
Went from 4 toes to 2 (lost the side toes)- better suited for grasslands that existed in N.
America during this time

11. Procamelus-Miocene
• That is the time after Poebrotherium almost 20-5 million years ago.
That is the time when earth starts cooling and there is a big change in
species. They start to migrate in other areas. That environmental
change cause the Miocene to enter into the Pliocene.

12. Procamelus-Miocene
That is the time after Poebrotherium
almost 20-5 million years ago. That is the
time when earth starts cooling and there
is a big change in species. They start to
migrate in other areas. That
environmental change cause the Miocene
to enter into the Pliocene.

13. Paracamelus-Pliocene
• Miocene enter into the Pliocene by environmental changes. They
began to grow longer and to grow longer with long necks. Physical
features are developed changes like tooth and jaws and soft pedal foot.
In Pliocene many species of camelids are developed and sharply
extinct later. The examples are Ocydactylus, Gazzle, and Stenomylus
etc.(www.IASzoology.com).

14. • It is developed about 2.5 Million years ago it developed when north
and South America gathered and they form a bridge. Through that
bridge many species migrating towards north and became the early
ancestors of Llama and Alpaca. Some of them move along the Bering
Straits and migrate into the Asia and finally developed into the modern
camels Bactrian and Dromedaries. Scientists believe that the Bactrian
with two humped evolved later in comparison to the Dromedaries with
one humped camels.

15. • A recently fossil record on Ellesmere Island in arctic region of Canada
and explain the evolutionary history from Poebrotherium to modern
camels. This also shows that the modern camels resemble with a
specie which five about 5 million years ago in the middle of Pliocene
and some camelids move out of the north America into the Asia and
finally developed into the modern camels. It shows that the size of
those camels are twice than modern camels and they also have some
adaptations to develop in Asia. (www.startravel.com)

16. Paracamelus

17. Evolutionary steps of camels.

18. Camelus-Pleistocene
• About 11,700 years ago and one humped developed from dromedaries
and live in desserts and 6 feet height. Larger fatty acids containing the
rope like tail. At the time Bactrian entered in Asia along variations.
The Bactrian is thought to have evolved into the dromedary because
modern dromedary camel’s fetus, during prenatal development, have
two humps, and also a vestigial hind hump in adult dromedaries.
Given this evidence, it has been speculated. (www.fao.org)

19. Evolution of a Camel- Modern
Characteristics:
Height-6’
Weight- 1500lb.
Brown to beige fur
Hump- fatty tissue
Rope like tail
Long, thin powerful legs
Large “doe-like” eyes
Long neck
Habitat:
Hot, dry, desert conditions
Low precipitation
Little vegetation
Niche:
Herbivores- eat

20. Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Mammalia
Family
Genus
Species
Animalia
Chordata
Vertebrata
Camelidae
Camelus
Dromedarius

21. Evolution of a Camel- Modern
• Adaptations
• Hump- fatty tissue used for energy reserve (does not store water)
• Double row of eyelashes-protect eye from sand
• Unique internal thermostat- body temp. lower than air temp which
helps them conserve water
• Domesticated-assists survival in harsh environment
• Variations of the Genus & Distribution