Stenomylus

Stenomylus
Temporal range: Oligocene - early Miocene
Skeletons
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Camelidae
Genus: Stenomylus
Peterson 1907
Type species
Stenomylus gracilis
Peterson, 1907
Other species
  • Stenomylus hitchcocki Loomis, 1910
  • Stenomylus keelinensis Frick & Taylor, 1968

Stenomylus is an extinct genus of miniature camelid native to North America that is known from the Oligocene and Miocene epochs(23.1~16.3Ma). Its name is derived from the Greek στενός (stenós, "narrow") and μύλος (mýlos, "molar").

Stenomylus was extremely diminutive compared to other ancient and modern camelids, standing only 2 feet (61 cm) tall on average. It was a slender animal with a long neck, having some resemblance to a modern gazelle. Based on theories about its biomechanics, unlike modern camelids, Stenomylus lacked padding on its hooves.