Desmatophocidae

Desmatophocidae

Desmatophocidae

Family of mammals

Desmatophocidae is an extinct family of pinnipeds closely related to the eared seals and walruses.[1] These animals were the first group of large-bodied pinnipeds to evolve, first appearing in the Early Miocene, with no direct modern descendants.[2] Desmatophocids have only been found to live in the North Pacific, with fossils being found in Baja California, California, Oregon, Washington, and Japan.[3]

Quick Facts Desmatophocidae Temporal range: Early to Late Miocene, Scientific classification ...

The group is generally known for having large orbits, bulbous cheek teeth, and forelimbs similar to extant eared seals.[2]

Genera

References

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  1. [1]
    Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, ed. William F. Perrin, Bernd Würsig, J.G.M. Thewissen
  2. [2]
    Boessenecker, Robert W; Churchill, Morgan (2018-09-01). "The last of the desmatophocid seals: a new species of Allodesmus from the upper Miocene of Washington, USA, and a revision of the taxonomy of Desmatophocidae". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 184 (1): 211–235. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx098. ISSN 0024-4082.
  3. [3]
    Barnes, Lawrence G.; Hirota, Kiyoharu (1995). "Miocene pinnipeds of the otariid subfamily Allodesminae in the North Pacific Ocean: Systematics and relationships". The Island Arc. 3 (4): 329–360. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1738.1994.tb00119.x. ISSN 1038-4871.


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