Mellivora benfieldi is considered a likely ancestor of the living honey badger.[2] The genus Mellivora probably evolved from the more primitive Promellivora punjabiensis of India. The two genera are grouped together in the tribe Eomellivorini together with the extinct giant mustelids Eomellivora and Ekorus.[3]
Distributionedit
Fossils of Mellivora benfieldi were first recovered from Langebaanweg in South Africa. Additional material probably from this species has also been found in the Middle Awash in Ethiopia. Fossils attributed to this species have also been found in southern Europe dated to the end of the Messinian; a migration of African mammals into mediterranean Europe has been noted at that time.[4]
Descriptionedit
Mellivora benfieldi was similar to the modern honey badger, but slightly smaller in size. Like its living relative, it had adaptations for digging and probably was an opportunistic predator.[3][5]
Referencesedit
^Avery, D. Margaret (2019). A Fossil History of Southern African Land Mammals. Cambridge University Press. p. 60. ISBN9781108480888.
^Haile-Selassie, Yohannes (2009). Ardipithecus Kadabba: Late Miocene Evidence from the Middle Awash, Ethiopia. University of California Press. pp. 243–244. ISBN9780520254404.
^ abValenciano, A.; Govender, R. (July 2020). "New fossils of Mellivora benfieldi (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg, 'E' Quarry (South Africa, Early Pliocene) : re-evaluation of the African Neogene Mellivorines". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 40 (4): e1817754. Bibcode:2020JVPal..40E7754V. doi:10.1080/02724634.2020.1817754. S2CID 227249176.
^Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie: Abhandlungen - Volume 252. E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. 2009. p. 49.
^Taylor & Francis Group (November 2, 2020). "5-Million-Year-Old Honey Badger-Like Animal Discovered". SciTechDaily.
April 08, 2024
mellivora, benfieldi, benfield, honey, badger, extinct, species, mustelid, from, late, miocene, early, pliocene, africa, possibly, europe, temporal, range, late, miocene, early, pliocene5, preꞒ, mandiblescientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, anima. Mellivora benfieldi or Benfield s honey badger is an extinct species of mustelid from the Late Miocene and Early Pliocene of Africa and possibly Europe Mellivora benfieldiTemporal range Late Miocene Early Pliocene5 3 3 6 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Mellivora benfieldi mandibleScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder CarnivoraFamily MustelidaeGenus MellivoraSpecies M benfieldiBinomial name Mellivora benfieldiHendey 1978 1 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Distribution 3 Description 4 ReferencesTaxonomy editMellivora benfieldi is considered a likely ancestor of the living honey badger 2 The genus Mellivora probably evolved from the more primitive Promellivora punjabiensis of India The two genera are grouped together in the tribe Eomellivorini together with the extinct giant mustelids Eomellivora and Ekorus 3 Distribution editFossils of Mellivora benfieldi were first recovered from Langebaanweg in South Africa Additional material probably from this species has also been found in the Middle Awash in Ethiopia Fossils attributed to this species have also been found in southern Europe dated to the end of the Messinian a migration of African mammals into mediterranean Europe has been noted at that time 4 Description editMellivora benfieldi was similar to the modern honey badger but slightly smaller in size Like its living relative it had adaptations for digging and probably was an opportunistic predator 3 5 References edit Avery D Margaret 2019 A Fossil History of Southern African Land Mammals Cambridge University Press p 60 ISBN 9781108480888 Haile Selassie Yohannes 2009 Ardipithecus Kadabba Late Miocene Evidence from the Middle Awash Ethiopia University of California Press pp 243 244 ISBN 9780520254404 a b Valenciano A Govender R July 2020 New fossils of Mellivora benfieldi Mammalia Carnivora Mustelidae from Langebaanweg E Quarry South Africa Early Pliocene re evaluation of the African Neogene Mellivorines Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 40 4 e1817754 Bibcode 2020JVPal 40E7754V doi 10 1080 02724634 2020 1817754 S2CID 227249176 Neues Jahrbuch fur Geologie und Palaontologie Abhandlungen Volume 252 E Schweizerbart sche Verlagsbuchhandlung 2009 p 49 Taylor amp Francis Group November 2 2020 5 Million Year Old Honey Badger Like Animal Discovered SciTechDaily Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mellivora benfieldi amp oldid 1210882242, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
