Titanotylopus is distinguished from other early large camelids by its large upper canines amongst other distinguishing dental characteristics, and absence of lacrimal vacuities in the skull. Unlike the smaller, contemporaneous Camelops, Titanotylopus had relatively broad second phalanges, suggesting that it had true padded "cameltoes", like modern camels.[3]
Titanotylopus possessed long and massive limbs, a comparatively small braincase, and a convex slope between the eyes. It reached a shoulder height of 3–3.5 m (9.8–11.5 ft) and a weight of 2,500 kg (5,500 lb).[4][5]
Like modern camels, it possessed a hump for fat storage; evidence for this is provided by the long neural spines on its thoracicvertebrae.[3]
While some authors have considered Gigantocamelus and Titanotylopus to be congeneric, others have maintained them separately. Voorhies and Corner, based on previously unreported material, documented that the two are indeed worthy of separate generic status. Harrison (1985) followed Voorhies and Corner in advocating the use of Titanotylopus for only T. nebraskensis, based on a lower jaw, and Gigantocamelus for G. spatulus, which includes G. fricki. There is a clear difference between the proximal phalanx of specimens assigned to Gigantocamelus and to Titanotylopus, based on skeletons associated with skull material.[citation needed]
^ abBjörn Kurtén and Elaine Anderson Pleistoceone Mammals of North America (New York : Columbia University Press, 1980), pp. 301–302 ISBN0-231-03733-3
^Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 277. ISBN1-84028-152-9.
^Prothero, Donald R. (2016). The Princeton Field Guide to Prehistoric Mammals. Princeton University Press. p. 172. ISBN978-0-691-15682-8.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Titanotylopus.
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