# Paleontologists describe Vampyrocamelus welshi, a 13-million-year-old camel with nearly 5 cm canines

- Published: 2026-11-15 11:27 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Biology & biochemistry
- Tags: Vampyrocamelus welshi, vampire camel, ancient camels, North American camels, camel canines, Megacamelus, Catherine Marriott, Nebraska fossils
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-2663df1eb66858437f15b8f9_paleontologists_describe_vampyrocamelus/

**A previously unknown genus of long-necked camels lived in North America about 13 million years ago. What its canines were used for is still debated.**

![Paleontologists describe Vampyrocamelus welshi, a 13-million-year-old camel with nearly 5 cm canines](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/b97ce8d21ce74682.png)
*wtftime.ru*

Paleontologists have described a previously unknown genus of ancient camels that lived in North America about 13 million years ago, according to wtftime.ru. [1] The animals had long necks, slender legs and sharp curved canines almost 5 centimeters long. [1] For its unusual appearance the new genus was named Vampyrocamelus welshi, or "vampire camel." [1]

## What the canines were for

One hypothesis holds that the canines served as protection against large cats that inhabited North American savannas 7–15 million years ago. [1] Paleontologist Catherine Marriott of the American Museum of Natural History considers it more likely that they were used in mating fights: modern male camels also bite rivals in competition for females. [1] More information on the function of the canines could come from a microscopic study of wear on the tooth enamel, but no such data exist yet. [1]

## Body plan and the camel family

In build, Vampyrocamelus resembled a giraffe. Scientists suggest that the long neck let it feed on leaves and other vegetation at a height out of reach of short herbivores. [1] Such specialization was typical of ancient North American camels in general. [1]

Some species resembled small fast antelopes less than a meter tall, while others reached gigantic sizes. For example, members of the genus Megacamelus could stand about 4 meters at the withers, like an elephant. [1]

North America is considered the homeland of camels. The first members of the family appeared there about 46 million years ago and later spread to other continents. [1] Fossil finds indicate that several species could coexist in one area: at excavation sites in Nebraska, researchers often find remains of 7–8 camel varieties within a single site. [1]

## Sources

1. [wtftime.ru](https://wtftime.ru/science/170692/verbljudy-vampiry-brodili-po-severnoj-amerike-milliony-let-nazad)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-2663df1eb66858437f15b8f9_paleontologists_describe_vampyrocamelus/