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Feeding capability in the extinct giant Siamogale melilutra (Lutrinae, Mustelidae, Carnivora, Mammalia) Project ID: 00000C343 Public
28 Media · 10 Specimens · Managed by: Jack Tseng

At 50 kg in estimated weight, the extinct lutrine Siamogale melilutra is larger than all living otters, and ranks among the largest fossil otters. The biomechanical capability of S. melilutra jaws as related to their large size is unknown but crucial to reconstructing the species’ potentially unique ecological niche. Here we compare the mandibular biomechanics of S. melilutra using engineering-based performance measures against ten extant otter biomechanical models. Despite a wide range of feeding preferences from durophagy to piscivory, living otter species exhibit a significant linear relationship between mandibular stiffness and volume, as expected in isometry. In contrast, S. melilutra models exhibit a six-fold increase in stiffness from expected isometric relationships calculated from living species. Unlike stiffness, mechanical efficiency of biting is conserved among living otters and in S. melilutra. These findings indicate that although similar to living bunodont otters in morphology and biting efficiency, jaw strength in S. melilutra far surpasses living molluscivores such as sea otters and Cape clawless otters, even after accounting for size. Therefore, Siamogale represents a feeding ecomorphology with no living analog, and its giant size and high mandibular strength confer shell-crushing capability matched only by other extinct molluscivores such as the marine bear Kolponomos.

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  ID Part Object Taxonomy Type Date Added Publication Status  
000413543 Skull YICRA:ZT:10-03-064b Siamogale melilutra Mesh 2022-01-13 Open Download  
000413248 Skull YICRA:ZT:10-03-064b Siamogale melilutra Volumetric Image Series 2022-01-13 Open Download  
000026368 Cranium amnh:mammals:M-98594 Pteronura brasiliensis Mesh 2017-05-19 Open Download  
000026369 mandible amnh:mammals:M-98594 Pteronura brasiliensis Mesh 2017-05-19 Open Download  
000026350 Skull amnh:mammals:M-98594 Pteronura brasiliensis Volumetric Image Series 2017-05-18 Open Download  
000026375 mandible amnh:mammals:M-204747 Lutrogale perspicillata Mesh 2017-05-19 Open Download  
000026374 Cranium amnh:mammals:M-204747 Lutrogale perspicillata Mesh 2017-05-19 Open Download  
000026349 Skull amnh:mammals:M-204747 Lutrogale perspicillata Volumetric Image Series 2017-05-18 Open Download  
000026373 mandible amnh:mammals:M-206592 Lutra lutra Mesh 2017-05-19 Open Download  
000026372 Cranium amnh:mammals:M-206592 Lutra lutra Mesh 2017-05-19 Open Download  
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