The osteology and paleoecology of the giant otterEnhydritherium terraenovae

摘要: ABSTRACT The giant otter Enhydritherium terraenovae, a New World taxon thought to be related both the Old Enhydriodon and extant sea Enhydra, was originally described on basis of relatively limited material, mostly dental. However, an incomplete skeleton E. terraenovae recovered from early Hemphillian Moss Acres Racetrack site in northern Florida includes skull, mandible, part axial skeleton, most fore- hindlimbs, adding greatly knowledge this animal. On new osteology species is detail for first time, with its diagnosis revised accordingly. This osteological information, along information about nature site, allows such paleoecological functional aspects as habitat preference, mode swimming, diet inferred or interpreted previously impossible. terraenovae: 1) generalist rather t...