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A semi-aquatic Arctic mammalian carnivore from the Miocene epoch and origin of Pinnipedia

Author

Listed:
  • Natalia Rybczynski

    (Canadian Museum of Nature, PO Box 3443 STN D, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6P4, Canada)

  • Mary R. Dawson

    (Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA)

  • Richard H. Tedford

    (American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York 10024, USA)

Abstract

Out of the Arctic Seals, sealions and walruses (collectively the pinnipeds) evolved from land-living carnivores, but the earliest known pinniped, Enaliarctos, already had flippers. Now a new fossil find from the Canadian Arctic provides a view of an earlier stage in pinniped evolution, documenting an otter-like transition between land and water. The fossil is a nearly complete skeleton adapted for a semiaquatic life, including possibly webbing between the phalanges. The find supports suggestions of an Arctic origin for pinnipeds.

Suggested Citation

  • Natalia Rybczynski & Mary R. Dawson & Richard H. Tedford, 2009. "A semi-aquatic Arctic mammalian carnivore from the Miocene epoch and origin of Pinnipedia," Nature, Nature, vol. 458(7241), pages 1021-1024, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:458:y:2009:i:7241:d:10.1038_nature07985
    DOI: 10.1038/nature07985
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