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: Pliocene–Pleistocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Genus: Trigonictis
Species:
T. macrodon
Binomial name
Trigonictis macrodon
Cope, 1868

Morphology and diet

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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

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  1. ^ Alroy, John, PaleoDB collection 20308, March 26, 1995, De Soto Shell Pit, Caloosahatchee Formation, DeSoto County, Florida
  2. ^ John Alroy, February 18, 1993. PaleoDB collection 19651.
  3. ^ Journal of the Idaho Academy of Science, Vol. 45, 2009.
  4. ^ 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