| Sea mink | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Subfamily: | Mustelinae |
| Genus: | Neovison |
| Species: | †N. macrodon |
| Binomial name | |
| †Neovison macrodon (Prentiss, 1903) |
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The Sea Mink, Neovison macrodon, is an extinct North American member of the family Mustelidae. It is the only mustelid, and one of only two terrestrial mammal species in the order Carnivora, to become extinct in historic times (along with the Falkland Islands Wolf). The body of the sea mink was significantly longer than that of the closely related American Mink (N. vison), and also bulkier, leading to a pelt that was almost twice the size of the other species. The longest specimen recorded was said to be 82.6 cm (32.5 in). The fur of the Sea Mink was said to be coarser and redder than the American Mink's, and produced a distinctive odor.[2]
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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.
Due to its highly prized fur, this mink was hunted to extinction. The animal's remains are often found in Native American shell-heaps around the coasts of the islands of Maine, but while indigenous hunting may have made some contribution to the Sea Mink's decline, it was the competitive European fur trade that led to its extinction.[2]
The last known member of the species was said to have been captured in New Brunswick, Canada, 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,[3] although a specimen was reported as sold to a fur-buyer in Maine in 1880.[2]
Although well known to fur hunters, it became extinct before being scientifically described, and therefore little is known about its habits. Existing data suggest it was nocturnal and solitary.[3]
The Sea Mink is sometimes considered a subspecies of the American Mink, in which case the name Neovison vison macrodon is used.