New Miocene Monachinae From The Western Shore Of The Chesapeake Bay (Maryland, Usa)
Author
Rahmat, S. J.
Author
Koretsky, I. A.
Author
Osborne, J. E.
Author
Alford, A. A.
text
Vestnik Zoologii
2017
Vestn. Zool.
2017-06-27
51
3
221
242
http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/vzoo-2017-0029
journal article
55967
10.1515/vzoo-2017-0029
1e5cdd48-48d2-4725-a68c-fe2225e087ea
2073-2333
6454233
Terranectes
gen. n.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:
2B7F666A-7524-4755-8215-C165407FAF90
Etymology.
Terra
(Latin word for “ground, Earth”) and
nectes
(Greek word for “swimmer”), implying a semi-aquatic animal adapted more for terrestrial movement than aquatic.
Type species.
Terranectes magnus
,
sp. n.
Included species. In the Upper Miocene of the Chesapeake Group two new monachine species are recorded:
T. magnus
and
T. parvus
.
Diagnosis. Monachine seals of medium to large size. Posterior border of glenoid fossa of skull forms deep, wide postglenoid groove in tympanic bone; postglenoid foramen located at end of postglenoid groove, not floored by tympanic bone; long axis of tympanic bulla parallel to midline of skull; carotid canal parallel to surface of basioccipital, its posterior aperture opens ventrally, medial side has fully formed margin.
Humeral deltoid crest strongly developed, short, terminates at middle of diaphysis (similar to
Piscophoca pacifica
and in contrast to
Acrophoca longirostris
,
Pontophoca sarmatica
,
Callophoca obscura
,
Pliophoca etrusca
); greater width of deltoid crest located on its proximal part (similar to
Pontophoca sarmatica
,
Pliophoca etrusca
; and opposite to both
Pis. pacifica
and
Acr. longirostris
, where entire deltoid crest approximately same width); in lateral view deltoid crest flattened and oval (similar to
Pis. pacifica
,
Pliophoca etrusca
; and opposite from
Acr. longirostris
, where deltoid crest significantly elongated; opposite to
Callophoca obscura
, with flattened and square-shape); proximal end of deltoid crest higher than head (similar to
Pliophoca etrusca
; opposite to both
Pis. pacifica
and
Acr. longirostris
, where they have same height; opposite to
Pontophoca sarmatica
, with lesser trochanter higher than head and deltoid crest; opposite to
Callophoca obscura
, with deltoid crest located below lesser tubercle and below or at same level as head).
Femoral greater trochanter extends proximally slightly higher than head (similar to
Pontophoca sarmatica
; and opposite to
Acr. longirostris
, where greater trochanter extends much higher; opposite to
Callophoca obscura
, with head extending higher than greater trochanter; opposite to
Pliophoca etrusca
, with head at same level as greater trochanter); greater trochanter proximal part wider than distal (similar to
Acr. longirostris
,
Pontophoca sarmatica
,
Callophoca obscura
); trochanteric fossa deep, wide, and open distally, reaching the distal border of head (similar to
Callophoca obscura
; opposite to
Acr. longirostris
,
Pontophoca sarmatica
and
Pliophoca etrusca
); intertrochanteric line disappears at middle of diaphysis (opposite to
Acr. longirostris
, with longer intertrochanteric line; opposite to
Callophoca obscura
, with very short intertrochanteric line; opposite to
Pliophoca etrusca
and
Pontophoca sarmatica
, with undeveloped line); supracondylar fossa shallow, slender, elongated, and located above lateral condyle (similar to
Callophoca obscura
; opposite to
Acr. longirostris
, with deeper and larger supracondylar fossa; opposite to
Pontophoca sarmatica
and
Pliophoca etrusca
, with more horizontally-directed supracondylar fossa); condyles unequal in size (similar to
Acr. longirostris
,
Callophoca obscura
,
Pliophoca etrusca
).
Innominate bone similar to typical monachines, without lateral excavation (same as
Pis. pacifica
,
Acr. longirostris
,
Callophoca obscura
); wide, flattened iliac crest (opposite to
Pis. pacifica
, with rounded and short iliac crest and opposite to
Acr. longirostris
, with rounded iliac crest that is less wider than
Terranectes
and more wider than
Pis. pacifica
; opposite to
Callophoca obscura
, with rounded, thick and wide iliac crest); thick specifically across acetabulum (similar to
Pis. pacifica
and opposite to
Acr. longirostris
); reduced iliopectineal eminence (opposite to both
Pis. pacifica
and
Acr. longirostris
); and shallow acetabulum (similar to
Callophoca obscura
;
opposite to
Pis. pacifica
and
Acr. longirostris
, which are deeper and more conical).
Tibia and fibula fused proximally (
Muizon and Hendey, 1980
).