Kingdom Animalia Family Dugongidae Phylum Chordata Order Manatee | Class Mammalia Subfamily Hydrodamalinae Rank Genus | |
Similar Manatee, Rytiodus, Eosiren, Prototherium, Metaxytherium | ||
Dusisiren is an extinct genus of dugong related to the Steller's Sea Cow that lived in the North Pacific during the Neogene.
Contents
Paleobiology
Dusisiren is a sirenian exemplar of the evolutionary theory of punctuated equilibrium. It evolved from a mangrove-eating ancestor to adapt to cold climates in the North Pacific by developing the capability to feed on kelp beds out on the open coast. The incipient modifications to the cervicals suggest that it was capable of maneuvering and feeding in high-energy environments of surf-swept coasts with deep, cold water.
Species
There are four recognized species of Dusisiren:
References
Dusisiren Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA