POSTNATAL ALLOMETRIC LIMB GROWTH IN JUVENILE CAMELS FROM THE PLEISTOCENE OF RANCHO LA BREA TAR PITS

Cursorial mammals, especially the long-limbed artiodactyls, are well known for their lengthened distal limb segments (radius-ulna, tibia, metapodials). Studies of the allometry of juvenile limbs in many cursorial artiodactyls suggest a faster rate of longitudinal growth. A large sample of juvenile limb bones of the extinct lamine camel, Camelops hesternus from the late Pleistocene of Rancho La Brea were measured to see what growth trends they may exhibit and if they are consistent with patterns associated with cursorial adaptations. Analysis of the measurements revealed that the allometry trend towards gracile longer, more slender limbs, especially the more distal elements like the radius-ulna and tibia. In fact, Camelops grows with a gracile trend more consistently than any other artiodactyl that has been studied.