Thalassoleon ("sea lion"[1]) is an extinct genus of large fur seal. Thalassoleon inhabited the Northern Pacific Ocean in latest Miocene and early Pliocene. Fossils of T. mexicanus are known from Baja California and southern California. T. macnallyae is known from central California, and T. inouei (which may be a synonym of T. macnallyae) is known from Japan. Thalassoleon could be the ancestor of the modern northern fur seal.
T. mexicanus was comparable in size to the largest modern fur seals, with an old-male skull length of 272 mm and an estimated minimal weight of 295–318 kg (650-700 lb).[1] Holotype of T. macnallyae, UCMP 112809, is a male equal in size to T. mexicanus.[1]
References
^ abc Charles A. Repenning, Richard H. Tedford (1977). Otarioid seals of the Neogene. Geological Survey Professional Paper, Volume 992. Geological Survey (U.S.). p. 60-69. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
thalassoleon, lion, extinct, genus, large, seal, inhabited, northern, pacific, ocean, latest, miocene, early, pliocene, fossils, mexicanus, known, from, baja, california, southern, california, macnallyae, known, from, central, california, inouei, which, synony. Thalassoleon sea lion 1 is an extinct genus of large fur seal Thalassoleon inhabited the Northern Pacific Ocean in latest Miocene and early Pliocene Fossils of T mexicanus are known from Baja California and southern California T macnallyae is known from central California and T inouei which may be a synonym of T macnallyae is known from Japan Thalassoleon could be the ancestor of the modern northern fur seal ThalassoleonTemporal range Late MioceneThalassoleon mexicanusScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder CarnivoraClade PinnipediaFamily OtariidaeGray 1825Genus ThalassoleonRepenning and Tedford 1977Type speciesThalassoleon mexicanusRepenning and Tedford 1977SpeciesT mexicanus T macnallyae T inouei Artist s Reconstruction of Thalassoleon mexicanus T mexicanus was comparable in size to the largest modern fur seals with an old male skull length of 272 mm and an estimated minimal weight of 295 318 kg 650 700 lb 1 Holotype of T macnallyae UCMP 112809 is a male equal in size to T mexicanus 1 References Edit a b c Charles A Repenning Richard H Tedford 1977 Otarioid seals of the Neogene Geological Survey Professional Paper Volume 992 Geological Survey U S p 60 69 Retrieved 2022 08 21 Paleontology portal This article related to prehistoric animals from order Carnivora is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thalassoleon amp oldid 1117362112, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
