Reappraisal of the extinct seal “<i>Phoca</i>”<i>vitulinoides</i>from the Neogene of the North Sea Basin, with bearing on its geological age, phylogenetic affinities, and locomotion

Dewaele, Leonard; Amson, Eli; Lambert, Olivier; Louwye, Stephen

doi:10.7717/peerj.3316

Cited by 24 publications

(62 citation statements)

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“…While the deltopectoral crest of extant Phocinae terminates abruptly, distally ( Fig. 3H ), recent studies of extinct Phocinae suggest that also some extinct Phocinae have a deltopectoral crest that relatively smoothly contacts the diaphysis, distally (e.g., Koretsky, 2001 ; Dewaele et al, 2017 ; Dewaele, Lambert & Louwye, 2017 ). Indeed, the deltopectoral crest is rather rounded in the presumed fossil Phocinae Cryptophoca maeotica , Kawas benegasorum Cozzuol, 2001, and Sarmatonectes sintsovi , and the deltopectoral crest of Leptophoca proxima and Prophoca rousseaui Van Beneden, 1876 terminates close to the distal epiphysis of the humerus ( Dewaele, Lambert & Louwye, 2017 ; and references therein).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…This condition varies between extant and extinct Phocidae (e.g. De Muizon, 1981 ; Koretsky, 2001 ; Dewaele, Lambert & Louwye, 2017 ; Dewaele, Lambert & Louwye, 2018 ; Dewaele et al, 2017 ; Dewaele et al, 2018 ). Apart from M. monachus , all extant Monachinae have a lesser tubercle that is well-developed, exceeding the proximal level of the humeral head; while in extinct Monachinae, the lesser tubercle usually does not exceed the proximal level of the humeral head, except in Callophoca obscura , Homiphoca sp.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among Phocinae, all extant taxa have a lesser tubercle that exceeds the humeral head proximally. However, as with Monachinae, this condition varies among extinct Phocinae: Batavipusa neerlandica Koretsky & Peters, 2008, Frisiphoca sp., Leptophoca proxima , Phocanella pumila , Praepusa sp., and Sarmatonectes sintsovi Koretsky, 2001 are characterized by a lesser tubercle that does not reach the level of the humeral head proximally ( Koretsky, 2001 ; Koretsky & Peters, 2008 ; Koretsky & Ray, 2008 ; Dewaele et al, 2017 ; Dewaele, Lambert & Louwye, 2017 ; Dewaele, Lambert & Louwye, 2018 ); Cryptophoca maeotica and Nanophoca vitulinoides (Van Beneden, 1871) have a lesser tubercle that reaches the level of the humeral head ( Koretsky, 2001 ; Dewaele et al, 2017 ); and Monachopsis pontica (Eichwald, 1850) has a lesser tubercle that exceeds the level of the humeral head, proximally ( Koretsky, 2001 ). A greater tubercle exceeding the humeral head has been observed in B. neerlandica and Praepusa sp.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A strongly-curving deltopectoral crest is indicative for Monachinae. Drawings after photographs from Koretsky (2001) (N, O, Q), Berta et al (2015) (I), Valenzuela-Toro et al (2015) (B, J, K), Dewaele, Lambert & Louwye (2017) , Dewaele, Lambert & Louwye (2018) (L, M), Dewaele et al (2017) , Dewaele et al (2018) , (A, C, F, P), and personal observations (L Dewaele, pers. obs., 2018; D, E, G, H, R, S).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Koretsky & Holec (2002) erected a fourth subfamily of Phocidae, only represented by the extinct genus Devinophoca Koretsky & Holec, 2002. However, a recent phylogenetic analysis by Dewaele et al (2017) suggested that the genus Devinophoca may represent a stem Phocinae. Both subfamilies of Monachinae and Phocinae are characterized by different biogeographic ranges for the extant taxa ( King, 1964 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A late surviving Pliocene seal from high latitudes of the North Atlantic realm: the latest monachine seal on the southern margin of the North Sea

Dewaele

Lambert

Louwye

2018

PeerJ

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BackgroundThe family of true seals, the Phocidae, is subdivided into two subfamilies: the southern Monachinae, and the northern Phocinae, following the subfamilies’ current distribution: extant Monachinae are largely restricted to the (sub-)Antarctic and the eastern Pacific, with historical distributions of the monk seals of the genus Monachus in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and around Hawaii; and Phocinae to the northern temperate and Arctic zones. However, the fossil record shows that Monachinae were common in the North Atlantic realm during the late Miocene and early Pliocene. Until now, only one late Pliocene record is known from the Mediterranean, Pliophoca etrusca from Tuscany, Italy, but none from farther north in the North Atlantic.MethodsWe present the description of one partial phocid humerus collected in the early 20th century from the Antwerp area (Belgium), with an assessment of its stratigraphic origin using data from the literature.ResultsThe studied humerus was recovered during construction works at the former Lefèvre dock in the Antwerp harbour (currently part of the America dock). Combining the information associated to the specimen with data from the literature and from local boreholes, the upper Pliocene Lillo Formation is ascertained as the lithological unit from which the specimen originates. Morphologically, among other features the shape of the deltopectoral crest and the poor development of the supinator crest indicates a monachine attribution for this specimen. The development of the deltopectoral crest is closer to the condition in extant Monachinae than in extinct Monachinae.DiscussionThe presented specimen most likely represents a monachine seal and a literature study clearly shows that it came from the latest early to late Pliocene Lillo Formation. This would be the first known monachine specimen from the latest early to late Pliocene of the North Sea, and more broadly from the northern part of the North Atlantic realm. This humerus differs from the humerus of P. etrusca and suggests a higher diversity of Monachinae in the latest early to late Pliocene than previously assumed.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A late surviving Pliocene seal from high latitudes of the North Atlantic realm: the latest monachine seal on the southern margin of the North Sea

Dewaele

Lambert

Louwye

2018

PeerJ

Self Cite

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Quantifying morphological adaptations using direct measurements: The carnivoran appendicular skeleton as a case study

Gálvez-López

2020

The Anatomical Record

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Here, I study whether locomotor adaptations can be detected in limb bones using a univariate approach, and whether those results are affected by size and/or shared evolutionary history. Ultimately, it tests whether classical papers on locomotor adaptations should be trusted. To do that, I analyzed the effect of several factors (size, taxonomic group, and locomotor habit) on limb bone morphology using a set of 43 measurements of the scapula, long bones, and calcaneus, of 435 specimens belonging to 143 carnivoran species. Size was the main factor affecting limb morphology. Size-corrected analyses revealed artifactual differences between various locomotion-related categories in the analyses of raw data. Additionally, several between-group differences were new to the size-corrected analyses, suggesting that they were masked by the size-effect. Phylogeny had also an important effect, although it only became apparent after removing the effect of size, probably due to the strong covariation of both factors. Regarding locomotor adaptations, locomotor type was used to represent locomotor specialization, and utilized habitat as an indicator of the capacity to adopt different modes of locomotion (running, swimming, climbing, and digging) and thus maximize resource exploitation by being capable of navigating all the substrates in the habitat they use. Locomotor type produced better results than utilized habitat, suggesting that carnivorans use locomotor specialization to minimize locomotion costs. The characteristic limb bone morphology for each locomotor type studied is described, including several adaptations and trends that are novel to the present study. Finally, the results presented here support the hypothesis of a "viverrid-like", forestdwelling carnivoran ancestor, either arboreal or terrestrial.

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The Origin of Phocid Seals and Evolution of Key Behavioral Character Traits

Berta

Churchill

Boessenecker

2022

Ethology and Behavioral Ecology of Marine Mammals

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Reappraisal of the extinct seal “Phoca”vitulinoidesfrom the Neogene of the North Sea Basin, with bearing on its geological age, phylogenetic affinities, and locomotion

Cited by 24 publications

References 67 publications

A late surviving Pliocene seal from high latitudes of the North Atlantic realm: the latest monachine seal on the southern margin of the North Sea

A late surviving Pliocene seal from high latitudes of the North Atlantic realm: the latest monachine seal on the southern margin of the North Sea

Quantifying morphological adaptations using direct measurements: The carnivoran appendicular skeleton as a case study

The Origin of Phocid Seals and Evolution of Key Behavioral Character Traits

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