艾克猛獾(學名:Ekorus ekakeran)為生存於中新世晚期肯亞的大型鼬科物種[1]。牠們的體型與現存的鼬科十分不同,現存鼬科多半具有較短的四肢且僅能進行短距離的奔跑;而艾克猛獾四肢則較修長,類似於豹,肩高可達60厘米(2英尺)[2]。艾克猛獾在大型貓科興起前為當地的頂級掠食者,以寬頜三趾馬與尼亞薩豬為食。在東非大裂谷形成之前,肯亞被濃密的森林所覆蓋[3],然而隨著裂谷的形成,當地的植披也逐漸由森林被疏林草原所取代,也因此導致較適合於林間生存的艾克猛獾滅絕。
其他大型鼬科物種化石也曾在北美洲[4]、歐洲[5]、亞洲[6]及非洲[7]。
參考文獻
- ^ Howell F. C. & García N. 2007. — Carnivora (Mammalia) from Lemudong’o (late Miocene: Narok District, Kenya). Kirtlandia 56: 121-139.
- ^ Werdelin L. 2003. — Mio-Pliocene Carnivora from Lothagam, Kenya, in Leakey M. G. & Harris J. D. (eds), Lothagam: Dawn of Humanity in Eastern Africa. Columbia University Press, New York: 261-328.
- ^ Werdelin L. & Simpson S. W. 2009. — The last amphicyonid (Mammalia, Carnivora) in Africa. Geodiversitas 31 (4) : 775-787.
- ^ Berta, A.; Morgan, G.S. A new sea otter (Carnivora: Mustelidae) from the Late Miocene and Early Pliocene (Hemphillian) of North America. Journal of Paleontology. 1985, 59 (4): 809–819. JSTOR 1304931.
- ^ Willemsen, G.F. A revision of the Pliocene and Quaternary Lutrinae from Europe. Geologica Scripta. 1992, 101 (1): 1–115 [21 June 2020]. (原始内容存档于2020-06-22).
- ^ Pickford, M. Revision de los mamíferos bunodontos de tipo nutria del Mio-Plioceno del Subcontinente Indio. Estudios Geologicos. 2007, 63 (1): 85–127. doi:10.3989/egeol.07631192
.
- ^ Valenciano, A.; Govender, R. New insights into the giant mustelids (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg fossil site (West Coast Fossil Park, South Africa, early Pliocene). PeerJ. June 2020: 9221 [21 June 2020]. (原始内容存档于2022-01-10).