Siamogale melilutra Temporal range: Late Miocene, | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
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 | |
Siamogale melilutra is an extinct species of giant otter from the late Miocene from Yunnan province, China.
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]
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.