description Desmatophoca oregonensis Overview
Desmatophoca oregonensis is an extinct species of pinniped that lived during the Miocene epoch, with fossils primarily discovered in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It belongs to the extinct family Desmatophocidae, which displayed a unique mosaic of physical traits bridging modern earless seals and eared seals. As an early marine mammal, its anatomy suggests it was well-adapted to coastal marine environments, preying on fish and squid in the North Pacific.
help Desmatophoca oregonensis FAQ
When did Desmatophoca oregonensis live?
Desmatophoca oregonensis lived during the Miocene epoch. Its fossils have been found mainly in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
What kind of animal was Desmatophoca oregonensis?
It was an extinct pinniped, meaning it belonged to the broader group that includes seals, sea lions, and walruses. It belonged specifically to the extinct family Desmatophocidae.
Where have fossils of Desmatophoca oregonensis been found?
Fossils are primarily known from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Those finds help document the early diversity of pinnipeds in the North Pacific.
How was Desmatophoca different from modern seals?
Desmatophocids had a distinctive mosaic of physical traits that does not map neatly onto one modern pinniped group. Desmatophoca oregonensis therefore helps show that Miocene pinniped evolution included forms unlike living seals.
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Similar to Desmatophoca oregonensis
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