Hemiauchenia is a genus of laminoid camelids that evolved in North America in the Miocene period about 10 million years ago. This genus diversified and moved to South America in the Early Pleistocene, as part of the Great American Biotic Interchange, giving rise to modern lamines. The genus became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene. Broad features of genus Hemiauchenia The genus name is derived from the (, "half"-) and αὐχήν (, "neck"). Species are specified using Latin adjectives or Latinised names from other languages. North American fossils Remains of these species have been found in assorted locations around North America, including Florida, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Arizona, Mexico, California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington. The "large-headed llama", H. macrocephala, was widely distributed in North and Central America, with H. vera being known from the western United States and northern Mexico. H. minima has been found in Florida, and H. guanajuatensis in Mexico. South American fossils Fossils of Hemiauchenia in South America are restricted to the Pleistocene and have been found in the Luján and Agua Blanca Formations of Buenos Aires Province and Córdoba Province, Argentina, the Tarija Formation of Bolivia, Pilauco of Osorno, Los Lagos, Chile and Paraíba, Ceará, and the Touro Passo Formation of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Distinguishing characteristics of members of Hemiauchenia H. vera ( "true hemiauchenia") Relatively low-crowned teeth (part of visible teeth ends close to gums) Large caniniform (canine-like) upper first premolar Retention of lower third premolar H. blancoensis ("Blancan hemiauchenia") Named for Blancan Age stratum where typically found Shorter mandibular diastema (teeth-spacing between incisors and molars) than H. macrocephala and H. vera Caniniform upper first premolar Absent second premolar Upper third premolar present or absent Lower crowned molars H. macrocephala ("great-headed hemiauchenia") Possesses a larger skull relative to other species Long, robust limbs Large skeletal size Presence of a deciduous upper second premolar Fully molariform deciduous second premolar (its infant bicuspids were like molars) High-crowned molars Thick layer of cementum on the teeth Broad mandibular symphysis (line where the bones of the jaw join together) with incisors in a vertical fashion H. minima ("least hemiauchenia") Despite being the earliest recognized species, general distinguishing characteristics for H. minima are little known. Other species Also, a few lesser known species, such as H. paradoxa, H. seymourensis, H. edensis and H. guanajuatensis, have been found. According to which source is consulted, these may