Weddell's Ancient Llama
Palaeolama weddelli
🦙
Chordata
Mammalia
Artiodactyla
Camelidae
Paleolama
Palaeolama weddelli
The Andean Camel of the Ice Age, Palaeolama weddelli, was a tall, long-necked relative of the modern llama and alpaca that roamed South America’s highlands and open plains during the late Pleistocene. Known for its graceful stance and cold-climate adaptations, it bridged the lineage between extinct North American camels and modern South American camelids.
Description
Palaeolama weddelli had long, slender legs and a narrow, elongated skull—traits suggesting it was a fast-moving grazer or browser adapted to both highland and lowland environments. Fossil remains indicate it ranged widely across South America, from Argentina and Peru to Bolivia and Brazil. It was likely covered in a dense coat of woolly fur for cold tolerance, much like modern llamas.
Quick Facts
Max Mass
Shoulder Height
Standing Height
Length
Diet
Trophic Level
200
1.3
1.95
2.4
kg
m
m
m
Mixed Feeder
Herbivores – Grazers
Hunt History
Early human settlers of the Andes and Pampas regions likely hunted Palaeolama weddelli for food, hides, and bone tools. Evidence of human interaction includes butchery marks and association with stone tools. As humans expanded and climate shifts reduced grassland habitats, these camelids declined, unable to adapt to both hunting pressure and changing ecosystems.
Archaeological Evidence:
Ayacucho Basin, Peru (~12,000 years ago): Fossil bones found with stone tools and cut marks.
Pampa Grande, Argentina (~11,500 years ago): Camelid bones showing clear signs of human butchery.
Toca da Boa Vista, Brazil (~10,000 years ago): Remains of Palaeolama species associated with hearths and lithic artifacts, suggesting human predation.
Time & Range
Extinction Status
Globally Extinct
Extinction Date
Temporal Range
Region
11000
BP
Late Pleistocene
South America
Wiki Link
Fat Analysis
Fatness Profile:
Medium
Fat %
5
Est. Renderable Fat
15
kg
Targeted Organs
Hump/backfat, marrow
Adipose Depots
Hump/backfat (when present), visceral; marrow
Preferred Cuts
Hump/backfat
Hunt Difficulty (x/5)
3