Have You Herd About Seals?

The earliest known fossil earless seal is Noriphoca gaudini from the late Oligocene or earliest Miocene (Aquitanian) of Italy.[1] Other early fossil phocids date from the mid-Miocene, 15 million years ago in the north Atlantic.[1][3] Until recently, many researchers believed that phocids evolved separately from otariids and odobenids; and that they evolved from otter-like animals, such as Potamotherium, which inhabited European freshwater lakes. Recent evidence strongly suggests a monophyletic origin for all pinnipeds from a single ancestor, possibly Enaliarctos, most closely related to the mustelids and bears.[4]

Monk seals and elephant seals were previously believed to have first entered the Pacific through the open straits between North and South America,[5] with the Antarctic true seals either using the same route or travelled down the west coast of Africa.[6] It is now thought that the monk seals, elephant seals, and Antarctic seals all evolved in the southern hemisphere, and likely dispersed to their current distributions from more southern latitudes.[7]

Creators and Guests

Host

Sam Solkovitz

Co Founder of Have You Herd About Animals?

Host

Tyler Inhofe

Co Founder of Have You Herd About Animals?

Editor

Hugo Escobar

Head Editor of Have You Herd About Animals?

What is Have You Herd About Animals??

Tyler and Sam bring a fun and diverse range to the topics of animals, with witty puns and fun antics. Hop on in with them and into the diverse world of animals.

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