Trigonictis macrodon is an extinct species of mammal related to the living grison (genus Galictis). It lived in North America during the Pliocene to Pleistocene epochs, from ~4.1–1.6 Ma. (AEO),[1] existing for approximately 2.5 million years. Fossil specimens have been found across the United States, from Washington and Oregon in the northwest to California and Florida in the south.[2]
| Trigonictis macrodon Temporal range:
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|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Genus: | †Trigonictis |
| Species: | †T. macrodon
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| Binomial name | |
| †Trigonictis macrodon Cope, 1868
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Morphology and diet edit
Trigonictis is most closely related to the modern neotropical galictines, Sminthosinis and possibly Canimartes.[3] According to Kurtén and Anderson, Trigonictis macrodon was about the size of the modern fisher, quickly moving and very capable of swimming. It was closely related to a group of galictine mustelids and reached the New World in the Middle Pliocene. Its diet was probably the rabbit Hypolagus, ground squirrels, and young beavers.[4]
References edit
- ^ Alroy, John, PaleoDB collection 20308, March 26, 1995, De Soto Shell Pit, Caloosahatchee Formation, DeSoto County, Florida
- ^ John Alroy, February 18, 1993. PaleoDB collection 19651.
- ^ Journal of the Idaho Academy of Science, Vol. 45, 2009.
- ^ Kurten, Bjorn and Anderson, Elaine; Pleistocene mammals of North America, Columbia University Press, 1980. ISBN 0-231-03733-3.
- Y. Tomida. 1987. Small mammal fossils and correlation of continental deposits, Safford and Duncan basins, Arizona. National Science Museum 1-141.PaloDB