Journal Article
Skeleton of the Oldest Known Pinniped, Enaliarctos mealsi
Annalisa Berta, Clayton E. Ray and Andŕe R. Wyss
Science
New Series, Vol. 244, No. 4900 (Apr. 7, 1989), pp. 60-62
Published
by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
https://www.jstor.org/stable/1703439
Page Count: 3
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Topics: Skeleton, Forelimbs, Femur, Taxa, Humerus, Phalanges, Seals, Land, Lumbar vertebrae, Natural history
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Abstract
A nearly complete skeleton of the archaic pinniped Enaliarctos, found in late Oligocene or early Miocene rocks (approximately 23 million years old) of California, provides new evidence on the origin of pinnipeds. Enaliarctos retains many primitive features expected in the hypothesized common ancestor of pinnipeds. Skeletal modifications seen in Enaliarctos document swimming adaptations and indicate that pinnipeds primitively used the axial skeleton and both fore and hindflippers as sources of propulsion. Elongate hindlimbs with prominent bony processes (reflecting powerful musculature) suggest that Enaliarctos was more active on land than modern pinnipeds.
Science © 1989 American Association for the Advancement of Science
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