Nanodobenus

Nanodobenus is an extinct genus of pinniped that lived approximately 15.97 to 7.246 mya[1] during the Miocene in what is now Baja California Sur, Mexico. It belonged to the family Odobenidae, the only extant species of which is the walrus.

A map of the area where Nanodobenus fossils were discovered

Nanodobenus
Temporal range: Early Miocene, 15.97–7.246 Ma
The left mandibular fossil of N. arandai, including articulated teeth
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Clade: Pinnipediformes
Clade: Pinnipedia
Family: Odobenidae
Genus: †Nanodobenus
Velez & Salinas-Marquez, 2018
Species:
†N. arandai
Binomial name
†Nanodobenus arandai
Velez & Salinas-Marquez, 2018

Discovery

N. arandai is known from a partially complete left mandible and a right calcaneum bone, discovered in the Torgugas Formation in Mexico.[2]

Description

Nanodobenus were more similar in appearance to modern fur seals and sea lions than walruses. They lacked the long tusks of walruses, and were more slender and smaller than their modern relatives.

Despite the general increase in body size of odobenids from the Miocene to Pliocene, Nanodobenus were the smallest members of Odobenidae. Individuals were likely around 1.65 metres (5.4 ft) long, indicating the possibility that this genus occupied a different niche from contemporary odobenids.

Taxonomy

Nanodobenus is a relatively basal species of odobenid.

A right calcaneum bone referred to N. arandai

References
  1. "†Nanodobenus arandai Velez and Salinas-Marquez 2018". Fossilworks. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  2. Velez-Juarbe, J.; Salinas-Marquez, F. (August 2018). "A dwarf walrus from the Miocene of Baja California Sur, Mexico". Royal Society Open Science. 5 (8): 180423. doi:10.1098/rsos.180423. PMC 6124023. PMID 30225030.
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