Cynogale, the ‘otter civet’, is a basal pinniped in the LRT
I wondered if there was such a thing as as an aquatic civet.
Cynogale bennettii (Gray 1836), the extant ‘otter civet’ (Figs 1–4), is indeed aquatic, but it is not an otter – nor a civet. Instead…
Cynogale enters the large reptile tree (LRT, 2319 taxa) basal to pinnipeds.
Figure 1. Cynogale museum mount.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cynogale_bennettii_588invivo.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cynogale_bennettii_588invivo.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-86432″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cynogale_bennettii_588invivo.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Cynogale museum mount. ” width=”584″ height=”307″ />
Figure 1. Cynogale museum mount.
Cynogale is rarely seen,
perhaps nearing extinction. Considering its phylogenetic placement, Cynogale is a living fossil – an unchanged late survivor of a Paleocene radiation.
Figure 2. Cynogale skeleton.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cynogale_bennettii-skeleton588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cynogale_bennettii-skeleton588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-86434″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cynogale_bennettii-skeleton588.jpg” alt=”Figure 2. Cynogale skeleton.” width=”584″ height=”271″ />
Figure 2. Cynogale skeleton.
According to Wikipedia – Cynogale
“The otter civet (Cynogale bennettii) is a semiaquatic viverrid native to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.The otter civet possesses webbed feet, which is an adaptation to its aquatic habitat. Its long, stiff whiskers may be used for foraging. The otter civet is a nocturnal species that obtains most of its food from the water, feeding on fish, crabs and freshwater mollusks. It can also climb to feed on birds and fruit. Given its rarity and secretive nature it is a very poorly known species.”
Figure 3. Cynogale skull compared to the tiny Palaeogale skull (basal to seals). Incomplete Paleocene Protictis shares many traits, including similar teeth, but currently nests with civets and skunks.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cynogale_bennettii_skull-diagram588.jpg?w=179″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cynogale_bennettii_skull-diagram588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-86439″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cynogale_bennettii_skull-diagram588.jpg” alt=”Figure 3. Cynogale skull compared to the tiny Palaeogale skull (basal to seals). Incomplete Paleocene Protictis shares many traits, including similar teeth, but currently nests with civets and skunks. ” width=”584″ height=”978″ />
Figure 3. Cynogale skull compared to the tiny Palaeogale skull (basal to seals). Incomplete Paleocene Protictis shares many traits, including similar teeth, but currently nests with civets and skunks.
Like odontocetes,
seals and sea lions = pinnipeds simplify their teeth, reducing cusps. In Cynogale (Fig 3) this transitional evolutionary process is at an early stage.
Figure 4. Cynogale skull compared to Neotherium, a basal sea lion from the Middle Miocene.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cynogale_neotherium_skulls588.jpg?w=147″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cynogale_neotherium_skulls588.jpg?w=502″ class=”size-full wp-image-86441″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cynogale_neotherium_skulls588.jpg” alt=”Figure 4. Cynogale skull compared to Neotherium, a basal sea lion from the Middle Miocene.” width=”584″ height=”1192″ />
Figure 4. Cynogale skull compared to Neotherium, a basal sea lion from the Middle Miocene.
Cynogale bennettii
(Gray 1936, snout-rump length 70-80cm) is the extant otter civet. This nocturnal web-footed swimmer can also climb trees.
This appears to be a novel hypothesis of interrelationships.
If not, please provide a citation so I can promote it here. Housekeeping proceed among the basalmost placentals.
References
Gray JE 1836. Characters of some new species of Mammalia in the Society’s collection. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. Part IV (October): 87–88.
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2024/06/05/cynogale-the-otter-civet-is-a-basal-pinniped-in-the-lrt/
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