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Article
Skeleton of Extinct North American Sea Mink (Mustela macrodon)
Quaternary Research
  • Jim I. Mead
  • Arthur E. Spiess
  • Kristin D. Sobolik, Wright State University - Main Campus
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2000
Abstract

Mustela macrodon (extinct sea mink) is known only from prehistoric and historic Native American shell middens dating less than 5100 years old along coastal islands of the Gulf of Maine, northeastern North America. The species is distinct from all known extant subspecies of M. vison (American mink) but still belongs to the North American subgenus Vison. Metric comparisons between M. macrodon and five subspecies of M. vison, using skull, mandible, humerus, radius, femur, and tibia skeletal elements, show that M. macrodon is larger in overall size and robustness and is proportionately larger in the dental region. Many habitat-related parallels exist between coastal island mink of the Gulf of Maine and those of the Alexander Archipelago, southeastern Alaska, where the overall largest living subspecies of mink is found (M. v. nesolestes).

DOI
10.1006/qres.1999.2109
Citation Information
Jim I. Mead, Arthur E. Spiess and Kristin D. Sobolik. "Skeleton of Extinct North American Sea Mink (Mustela macrodon)" Quaternary Research Vol. 53 Iss. 2 (2000) p. 247 - 262 ISSN: 1096-0287
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kristin_sobolik/3/