Sea mink
| Sea mink Temporal range: Late to Holocene |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Palatal aspect of skull | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Subfamily: | Mustelinae |
| Genus: | Neovison |
| Species: | †N. macrodon |
| Binomial name | |
|
†Neovison macrodon (Prentiss, 1903) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The sea mink (Neovison macrodon) is an extinct North American member of the family Mustelidae. It is the only mustelid, and one of only two terrestrial mammal species in the order Carnivora known to have become extinct in historic times (the other being the Falkland Islands wolf). The body of the sea mink was significantly longer than that of the closely related American mink (N. vison), and also bulkier, leading to a pelt that was almost twice the size of the other species. The longest specimen recorded was said to be 82.6 cm (32.5 in). The sea mink produced a distinctive odor, and had fur that was said to be coarser and redder than the American mink's.
Debate has occurred regarding whether the sea mink is its own species, or a subspecies of the American mink. Those who argue that the sea mink is a subspecies often refer to it as Neovison vison macrodon. However, research has been conducted in which the teeth of the sea mink, dating back 5000 to 250 years ago, were compared with 158 other mink species. It found a substantial difference in dental proportions between N. macrodon and N. vison, comparable to the dental differences between pairs of related species. The sea minks' back teeth were broader than those of the American mink, suggesting the sea mink had adapted over time to eating harder-bodied prey. This suggests reproductive isolation, an independent evolutionary direction, and ultimately, support for the hypothesis that sea minks are their own species Neovison macrodon.
Lutra lutra (European otter)
Lutra sumatrana (hairy-nosed otter)
Enhydra lutris (sea otter)
Hydrictis maculicollis (spotted-necked otter)
Lontra canadensis (North American river otter)
Lontra felina (marine otter)
Lontra longicaudis (Neotropical river otter)
...
Wikipedia