Semantoridae

Semantoridae
Temporal range: Late Oligocene - Late Miocene, 24–7.25 Ma
Restored skeleton of Puijila darwini
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Clade: Pan-Pinnipedia
Family: †Semantoridae
Orlov, 1931
Genera

Semantoridae is an extinct family of stem-pinnipeds with fossils found in France, Kazakhstan, and Canada that date back to various times in the Miocene epoch. Based on their overall anatomy, semantorids were not marine specialists, as their elongated bodies, a long tail and robust limbs suggest they were freshwater animals not unlike otters. Indeed, at least some taxa, such as Semantor and Potamotherium, were initially classified as mustelids closely related to otters.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Berta, A.; Churchill, M. & Boessenecker, R.W. (2018). "The Origin and Evolutionary Biology of Pinnipeds: Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses". Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 46: 203–228. Bibcode:2018AREPS..46..203B. doi:10.1146/annurev-earth-082517-010009.
  2. ↑ Rybczynski, N.; Dawson, M.R. & Tedford, R.H. (2009). "A semi-aquatic Arctic mammalian carnivore from the Miocene epoch and origin of Pinnipedia". Nature. 458 (7241): 1021–24. Bibcode:2009Natur.458.1021R. doi:10.1038/nature07985. PMID 19396145. S2CID 4371413.