Acrophoca (Swan-necked seal)

Swan-necked seal (†Acrophoca (Muizon, 1981))

 

Order: Carnivora

Suborder: Caniformia

Superfamily: Pinnipedia

Family: Phocidae

Temporal range: from the late Miocene of South American cost (~7.246–5.332 Ma) 

Dimensions: length - 1,5 m, weight - 40-90 kg

 

 

Acrophoca is an extinct genus of Late Miocene pinniped, was around 1.5 metres long, and was not as well-adapted to swimming as its descendants, possessing less developed flippers and a less streamlined neck. This may indicate that it spent a lot of time near the coast. Its teeth were built for piercing, implying a diet consisted primarily of fish. However, it also had interdigitated tooth cusps causing the teeth on the upper jaw to fit with the teeth of the lower jaw, which is consistent with filter feeders. Unlike other earless seals, Acrophoca had a long and flexible neck, with an elongated body. The orientation of the pelvis, which in comparison to modern earless seals is everted, as well as adaptations to the hind limbs suggest that swimming was mainly powered by the back flippers.

It was thought to have been the ancestor of the modern leopard seal; however, it is now thought to be a species of monk seal.