Sea Mink

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Sea Mink
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Genus: Neovison
Species: N. macrodon
Binomial name
†Neovison macrodon
(Prentiss, 1903)

The Sea Mink, Neovison macrodon, is an extinct North American member of the Mustelidae family. It is the only mustelid, and one of two mammalian carnivore species to have gone extinct in historic times, along with the Falkland Island Fox. It was significantly longer than the closely related American Mink (N. vison), and also larger and fatter, leading to a pelt that was around twice the size. The longest specimen recorded was said to be 82.6cm (32.5 in). The fur of the Sea Mink was said to be coarser and redder than the American Mink's, and give off a distinctive odour.[1]

It was found along the rocky coasts of New England and Atlantic Canada, as far north as Nova Scotia. It was not a truly marine species, being confined to coastal waters. The Labrador Duck, with which it co-existed, may have been a prey item; the extinction of the duck may have in turn contributed to the mink's.[citation needed]

Due to its highly-prized fur, it was hunted to extinction. The animal's remains are often found in Native American shell-heaps on the coasts of the islands of Maine, but while indigenous hunting may have had some contribution to the Sea Mink's decline, it was the competitive European fur trade that led to its extinction.[1]

The last known member of the species was said to have been captured in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1894, although there is some debate if this was a specimen of N. macrodon or N. vison. The last substantiated report has led to an estimated extinction date of around 1860,[2] although a specimen was reported as sold to a fur-buyer in Maine in 1880.[1]

Although well known to fur hunters, it became extinct before being scientifically described, and therefore little is known about its habits. Existing data suggests it was nocturnal and solitary.[2]

The Sea Mink is sometimes considered to have been a subspecies of the American Mink, in which case the name Neovison vison macrodon is used.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Day, David (1981). The Encyclopedia of Vanished Species. London: Universal Books Ltd, p220. ISBN 0-947889-30-2. 
  2. ^ a b Maas, Peter (2007). Sea Mink. The Extinction Website. Retrieved on 2007-10-14.

[edit] External links