Siamogale melilutra
Extinct species of carnivore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Siamogale melilutra is an extinct species of giant otter from the late Miocene from Yunnan province, China.
| Siamogale melilutra Temporal range: Late Miocene, | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Genus: | †Siamogale |
| Species: | †S. melilutra |
| Binomial name | |
| †Siamogale melilutra Wang, Grohé, Su, White, Ji, Kelley, You & Yang, 2017 | |
Ranking among the largest fossil otters, Siamogale represents a feeding ecomorphology with no living analog. Its giant size and high mandibular strength confer shell-crushing capability matched only by other extinct molluscivores, such as the bear-like marine stem-pinniped Kolponomos.[1]
Taxonomy
The skull reveals a combination of otter-like and badger-like cranial and dental characteristics. The new species belongs to the Lutrinae because of its possession of a large infraorbital canal and ventral expansion of the mastoid process, among other traits.[2] Siamogale melilutra was about 1.9 m (6.25 ft) in overall length and weighed at least 40 kg (88 pounds).[3][4] The remains of the skull were found in China and were re-created with a CT scan which enabled the skeleton to be reconstructed without damaging it.
