Enhydra macrodonta, the large-toothed sea otter, is an extinct mustelid known from the middle Pleistocene in California.[2]
Enhydra macrodonta Temporal range: Mid Pleistocene
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Family: | Mustelidae |
Genus: | Enhydra |
Species: | †E. macrodonta
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Binomial name | |
†Enhydra macrodonta (Kilmer, 1972)[1]
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The large-toothed sea otter is a close relative of the living sea otter. As its name implies, it is distinguishable from the modern sea otter by its larger, more robust teeth.[3]
Fossils of the large-toothed sea otter are dated to between 700 and 500 ka.[4]