Sthenictis is an extinct genus in the weasel family (mustelids) endemic to North America and Asia during the Miocene epoch living from ~15.97—5.33 Ma (AEO) existing for approximately 11 million years.

Sthenictis
Temporal range: Miocene,
~15.97–5.33 Ma
Sthenictis sp. (American Museum of Natural History
Sthenictis campestris jaw
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Guloninae
Tribe: Ischyrictini
Genus: Sthenictis
Peterson, 1910
Species
  • Sthenictis bellus Matthew, 1932
  • Sthenictis campestris Gregory, 1942
  • Sthenictis dolichops Matthew, 1924
  • Sthenictis junturensis Shotwell & Russell, 1963
  • Sthenictis lacota (Matthew & Gidley, 1904)
  • Sthenictis neimengguensis Tseng et al. 2009
  • Sthenictis robustus (Cope, 1890)
Synonyms

Brachygale Peterson, 1910

Fossil distribution edit

The oldest specimen was uncovered at Black Butte, Malheur County, Oregon.[1] Other locations are: Quatal Canyon, Ventura County, California, Kleinfelder Farm, Saskatchewan, Canada, Nebraska, Texas, Florida and in Inner Mongolia, in China.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ PaleoDB collection 18825: authorized by John Alroy, entered by J. Alroy on February 18, 1993 [1]
  2. ^ Tseng Z. J., O’Connor J. K., Wang X. & Prothero D. R. 2009. — The first Old World occurrence of the North American mustelid Sthenictis (Mammalia, Carnivora). Geodiversitas 31 (4) : 743-751.