h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Those camels walked a lot of miles to get to South America!

No, they didn't:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pangaea_continents.png

Hiya PaulH and Dmitri! Actually camels went to South America just a million years or so ago - practically yesterday, geologically speaking. North and South America were practically in the exact position they're in today, with the newest development having been the consolidation of the whole landmass of Central America, linking the two continents together so llamas and other things could move from the one to the other.

Pangaea was much, much earlier. This stuff will, I hope, make more sense if I can get it all into one book in the proper order, with maps, timelines, chosen reconstructed faunas of different times and places, and family trees.

Of course here you have a chance to discuss with me, which you won't be able to do with a book.

Anyways, actually the major walking feet those camels accomplished was making it to Africa! They had to cross from America into Asia over the Bering Land Bridge, and then march over the entire width of that continent to land themselves on mine.

Should be walking feat of course!

That's a great story, Willem! Thanks for explaining that. I really misjudged that timeline.

Camels really are good at migrating.

I consider myself lucky to have the chance to discuss these marvelous animals with you, Willem.

And I appreciate the discussion too!

Another story behind this article. I've lots of books about prehistoric life, and one of the best is about the evolution of artiodactyls (even-toed hoofed mammals). But the quality of the articles varies since each was written by a different scientist. Some really go into details, listing large numbers of species and fossils and with ample illustration of the skulls and bones, the chapter on camels was most disappointing. It said pretty much nothing about camalian evolution and diversifying, instead focusing on just 2 genera, and trends in parallel evolution between them. Meanwhile there were all these weird and big and unusual prehistoric camels that it completely ignored! I was quite furious about that.

The book also has precious few 'life restorations' of the fossils, those present having been borrowed from Bruce Horsfall, and a few others far less talented.

The camels themselves must be disappointed at being left out.