Wikipedia

Sea mink

Thesea mink(Neogale macrodon) is arecently extinctspecies ofminkthat lived on the eastern coast of North America around theGulf of Maineon theNew Englandseaboard. It was most closely related to theAmerican mink(Neogale vison), with continuing debate about whether or not the sea mink should be considered a subspecies of the American mink (asNeogale vison macrodon) or a species of its own. The main justification for a separate species designation is the size difference between the two minks, but other distinctions have been made, such as its redder fur. The only known remains are bone fragments unearthed in Native Americanshell middens.Its actual size is speculative, based largely on tooth remains.

Sea mink
Temporal range: LateHolocene
A pen-and-ink drawing of the upper portion of the mouth (inside view) of a sea mink. The left side of the drawing (i.e., the right side of the mouth) has teeth drawn in, whereas the right side of the drawing (i.e., the left side of its mouth) has teeth sockets drawn in. The front teeth in between the canines are all drawn in
Palatalaspect of the skull from thetype specimen

PresumedExtinct(1894)(NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Genus: Neogale
Species:
†N. macrodon
Binomial name
†Neogale macrodon
(Prentiss,1903)
A topographical map depicting the Gulf of Maine region, with the land being colored green. Visible are the Northeastern United States, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and southeastern Quebec.
The sea mink was found in the hubGulf of Mainearea.
Synonyms[3][4]
List
    • †Lutreola vison antiquus
      Loomis,1911
    • †Mustela macrodon
    • †Mustela vison macrodon
    • †Neovison vison macrodon
    • †Neovison macrodon

The sea mink was firstdescribedin 1903, after itsextinction;information regarding its external appearance and habits stem from speculation and from accounts made byfur tradersand Native Americans. It may have exhibited behavior similar to the American mink, in that it probably maintainedhome ranges,waspolygynandrous,and had a similar diet, though more seaward-oriented. It was probably found on theNew Englandcoast and theMaritime Provinces,though its range may have stretched further south during thelast glacial period.Conversely, its range may have been restricted solely to the New England coast, specifically theGulf of Maine,or just to the nearby islands. The largest of the minks, the sea mink was more desirable to fur traders and became extinct in the late 19th or early 20th century.

Taxonomy and etymology

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The closely related American mink (Neogale vison)

The sea mink was firstdescribedasLutreola macrodon,distinctfrom the American mink, byDaniel Webster Prentiss,a medical doctor andornithologist,in 1903, after it becameextinct.Prentiss based his description on skull fragments recovered from Native Americanshell middensinNew England.Most sea mink remains, nearly all of them skull fragments, have come from shell middens, but a complete specimen has never been found.[5][6]

Debate has occurred regarding whether the sea mink was its ownspecies,or another subspecies of theAmerican mink.Those who argue that the sea mink was a subspecies often refer to it asNeovison vison macrodon.[7][8]A study in 1911 byFrederic Brewster Loomis,an Americanpaleontologist,concluded that the differences between the American mink and the sea mink were too minute to justify the latter's classification as a separate species, and he named itLutreola vison antiquus.[9]A study conducted in 2000 by Mead et al. refuted Loomis by claiming that the size range for the largest sea mink specimen was beyond that of the American mink, thereby making it a separate species.[10]But a 2001 study by Graham concluded that this size difference was insufficient evidence to classify the sea mink as its own species and that it should be considered a subspecies. Graham supposed that the size difference was caused by environmental factors. Furthermore, Graham reported that Mead assumed the smaller mink specimens to be the American mink, and the larger mink specimens outside the range of the American mink to be sea minks; this may have been a case ofsexual dimorphismwherein all specimens were sea minks, the larger ones being males and the smaller ones being females.[7]A 2007 study compared the dental makeup of the sea mink to the American mink, and concluded that they were distinct enough to be considered two separate species.[5]

New World weasels
Mustelinae
Relations of the sea mink withinMustelinae[11]

The taxonomy of the minks was revised in 2000, resulting in the formation of a newgenus,Neovison,which includes only the sea mink and the American mink. Formerly, both minks were classified in the genusMustela.[12]The species namemacrodontranslates to "large teeth".[13]According to Richard Manville, a naturalist who maintains that the sea mink is not a separate species, its closest relative is the common mink (N. v. mink), which also inhabits the New England area.[14]A 2021 study intoNew Worldweasels found that the sea mink, along with four other extant species, should be classified into a new genus,Neogale.[15]

Fur traderswho hunted it gave the sea mink various names, including water marten, red otter, and fisher cat. Possibly the first description of this species was made by SirHumphrey Gilbert in the late 1500s as "a fish like agreyhound",which was a reference to its affinity for the sea and its body shape and gait, which were apparently similar to that of a greyhound. It is possible that thefisher(Pekania pennanti) got its name from being mistakenly identified as the sea mink, which was also known as the fisher by fur traders.[16]TheAbenakiIndians referred to it as the "mousebeysoo", which means "wet thing".[14]It was named "sea mink" because it was always found near the coast by fur traders, and subsequently the American mink was often referred to as the "woods mink".[14][17]

Range

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The sea mink was amarine mammalthat lived around the rocky coasts of New England and the southernmostMaritime Provincesuntil it was hunted to extinction in the late 19th or early 20th century. Most sea mink remains are unearthed on the coast of Maine.[18]Though it is speculated that they at one point inhabitedConnecticutandRhode Island,they were commonly trapped along the coast of theBay of Fundy(in theGulf of Maine), and it is said that they formerly existed on the southwestern coast ofNova Scotia.[14]There were reports of unusually large mink furs being collected from Nova Scotia regularly.[16][17]The bones of a specimen unearthed inMiddleboro, Massachusetts,weredatedto be around 4,300±300 years old, 19 kilometers (12 mi) from salt water.[18]The sea mink may have reached that area by traveling up rivers, or may have been brought there by Native Americans. The latter is most likely, as no other mink remains have been discovered betweenCasco Bayin Maine and southeasternMassachusetts.[19]Sea mink bones have been unearthed in Canada, although these may have been carried there by Native Americans from the Gulf of Maine. The rugged shorelines of theDown Eastregion of Maine may have represented a northernmost barrier in their range.[18]Mead concluded that only American minks inhabited the mainland and that sea minks were restricted to islands off the coast. If this is the case, then all remains found on the mainland were carried there.[10]Graham challenged that hypothesis, stating that it is unlikely that all sea mink specimens originate from one population.[7]

During thelast glacial period,ending 12,000 years ago, the sea mink's range may have extended south of the Gulf of Maine. It may have even evolved there, as Maine at that time would have been covered in glaciers, although the oldest known specimen only dates back to around 5,000 years; this could be due to therising sea levels—older sea mink remains may be submerged underwater. Alternately, the sea mink may have evolved after the last glacial period and filled a newecological niche.[5]

Description

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Dentition from the upper jaw of the sea mink (left) and the American mink (right)

Since the sea mink has only been described by fragmentary remains, its appearance and behaviors are not well-documented. Its relatives, as well as descriptions by fur traders and Native Americans, give a general idea of this animal's appearance and its ecological roles. Accounts from Native Americans in the New England/Atlantic Canadian regions reported that the sea mink had a fatter body than the American mink. The sea mink produced a distinctive fishy odor, and had fur that was said to be coarser and redder than that of the American mink.[5][20][21]It is thought thatnaturalistJoseph Banksencountered this animal in 1776 in theStrait of Belle Isle,and he described it as being slightly larger than a fox, having long legs, and a tail that was long and tapered toward the end, similar to a greyhound.[16]

The sea mink was the largest of the minks. As only fragmentary skeletal remains of the sea mink exist, most of its external measurements are speculative and rely only on dental measurements.[5][14][22]In 1929,Ernest Thompson Seton,a wildlife artist, concluded that the probable dimensions for this animal are 91.4 centimeters (36 in) from head to tail, with the tail being 25.4 centimeters (10 in) long.[23]A possible mounted sea mink specimen collected in 1894 in Connecticut measured 72 centimeters (28 in) from head to tail and the tail was 25.4 centimeters (10 in) in length; a 1966 study found this to be either a large American mink or possibly ahybrid.The specimen was described as having coarse fur that was reddish-tan in color, though much of it was likely faded from age. It was darkest at the tail and the hind limbs, with a 5-by-1.5-centimeter (2 by 0.6 in) white patch between the forearms. There were also white spots on the left forearm and the groin region.[14]

Thetype specimenwas collected by Prentiss andFrederick True,a biologist, in 1897 inBrooklin, Maine,the remains of which consist of amaxilla,parts of thenasal bone,and thepalate.The teeth are all present on the right side of the palate, and the left side consists of the incisors and one premolar. Other than a chipped canine, all the teeth are in good condition. The specimen is apparently larger than the Alaskan mink (N. v. nesolestes), as the average distance between the last incisor to the first molar is 2.8 centimeters (1.1 in) in the Alaskan mink, whereas that distance is 3 centimeters (1.2 in) in the type specimen. The nasal bone has an abrupter ascension, and thecarnassialteeth make a more acute angle with the gums than those of the common mink (N. v. mink).[6][14]

These minks were large and heavily built, with a lowsagittal crestand short, widepostorbital processes(projectionson thefrontal bonebehind theeye sockets).[14]In fact, the most notable characteristic of the skull was its size, in that it was clearly larger than that of other mink species, having a widerostrum,largenostril openings,largeantorbital foramina(openings in the skull in front of the eye socket), and large teeth.[17]Their large size was probably in response to their coastal environment, as the largest extant subspecies of American mink, the Alaskan mink (N. v. nesolestes), inhabits theAlexander Archipelagoin Alaska, an area with ahabitatsimilar to the Gulf of Maine. Mead, concluding that the mink was restricted to nearshore islands, suggested that the large size was due toinsular gigantism.[10]Since almost all members of the subfamilyMustelinaeexhibit sexual dimorphism, male sea minks were probably larger than female sea minks. The sea mink's wider carnassial teeth and blunter carnassial blades suggest that they crushed hard shells more often than did the teeth of the American mink.[5]

Behavior

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The sea mink was anintertidalpredator of theGulf of Maine.

Although not a truly marine species, being confined to coastal waters, the sea mink was unusually aquatic compared to other members ofMusteloidea,being, next tootters,the most aquatic member of thetaxon.[5]As marine mammal species often play a large part in their ecosystems, the sea mink could have been an importantintertidalpredator. It may have had a similar diet to the American mink, consuming seabirds, seabird eggs, and hard-bodied marine invertebrates, though in greater proportions.[5]Its seafood-oriented diet may have increased its size.[7]Remains oftoad sculpinsandocean poutwere the most common around their dens, andgarden banded snailswere also reported to have been part of their diet.[14]

According to fur traders, the sea mink wasnocturnaland resided in caves and rock crevices during the day.[16]It reportedly made a den with two entrances in the rocks piled up by thewaves.[14]Like other minks, individual sea minks may have maintainedhome ranges,and since the males were larger and required more food, males would have had larger territorial claims. Likewise, their larger size may have allowed the males to target larger prey than the females, and they may have had to defend females during mating seasons. Like other weasels, the sea mink was probablypolygynandrous,with both sexes mating with multiple individuals.[5]Due to the overlap of American mink and sea mink ranges, it is possible that they hybridized with each other.[5]

Exploitation and extinction

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Ashell middenin Maine

The sea mink was pursued by fur traders due to its large size; this made it more desirable than other mink species further inland. The unregulated fur trade eventually led to its extinction, which is thought to have occurred between 1860 and 1920.[16][18]The sea mink was seldom sighted after 1860. The last two recorded kills of a sea mink were made in Maine in 1880 nearJonesport, Maine,andCampobello Island, New Brunswick,in 1894,[16]although the 1894 kill is speculated to be of large American minks.[14]Fur traders made traps to catch sea minks and also pursued them with dogs, although they were rarely trapped. If a sea mink escaped into a small hole on the rocky ledges, it was dug out by hunters using shovels and crowbars. If it was out of reach of the hunters, it was shot and then retrieved using an iron rod with a screw on the far end. If it was hiding, it was smoked out and suffocated.[14][17][21]The minks' nocturnal behavior may have been caused from pressure by fur traders who hunted them in daylight.[16]

Since the remains of brain cases found in shell middens are broken and many of the bones found exhibit cut marks, it is assumed that the sea mink was hunted by Native Americans for food, and possibly for exchange and ceremonial purposes.[9][14][18]One study looking at the remains in shell middens inPenobscot Bayreported that sea mink craniums were intact, more so than that of other animals found, implying that they were specifically placed there.[24]Males were more often collected than females.[5]

References

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  1. ^Helgen, K.; Turvey, S.T. (2016)."Neovison macrodon".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2016:e.T40784A45204492.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T40784A45204492.en.Retrieved14 March2022.
  2. ^"Neogale macrodon.NatureServe Explorer 2.0 ".explorer.natureserve.org.Retrieved3 January2023.
  3. ^"Neovison macrodon".NatureServe Explorer.Retrieved13 July2017.
  4. ^Wozencraft, W. C.(2005)."Order Carnivora".InWilson, D. E.;Reeder, D. M. (eds.).Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference(3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 619.ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0.OCLC62265494.
  5. ^abcdefghijkSealfon, R. A. (2007)."Dental divergence supports species status of the extinct sea mink (Neovison macrodon) ".Journal of Mammalogy.88(#2):371–383.doi:10.1644/06-MMM-A-227R1.1.JSTOR4498666.
  6. ^abPrentiss, D. W. (1903)."Description of an extinct mink from the shell-heaps of the Maine coast"(PDF).Proceedings of the United States National Museum.26(#1336):887–888.doi:10.5479/si.00963801.26-1336.887.
  7. ^abcdGraham, R. (2001)."Comment on" Skeleton of extinct North American sea mink (Mustela macrodon) "byMead et al.".Quaternary Research.56(#3):419–421.Bibcode:2001QuRes..56..419G.doi:10.1006/qres.2001.2266.
  8. ^Kays, R. W.; Wilson, D. E. (2009).Mammals of North America(2nd ed.). Boston, Massachusetts: Princeton University Press. p. 180.ISBN978-0-6911-4092-6.OCLC880833145.
  9. ^abLoomis, F. B. (1911)."A new mink from the shell-heaps of Maine".American Journal of Science.31(#183):227–229.Bibcode:1911AmJS...31..227L.doi:10.2475/ajs.s4-31.183.227.
  10. ^abcMead, J.; Spiess, A. E.; Sobolik, K. D. (2000). "Skeleton of extinct North American sea mink (Mustela macrodon) ".Quaternary Research.53(#2):247–262.Bibcode:2000QuRes..53..247M.doi:10.1006/qres.1999.2109.S2CID128753557.
  11. ^Nyakatura, K.; Bininda-Emonds, O. R. P. (2012)."Updating the evolutionary history of Carnivora (Mammalia): a new species-level supertree complete with divergence time estimates".BMC Biology.10(#12): 12.doi:10.1186/1741-7007-10-12.PMC3307490.PMID22369503.
  12. ^Abramov, A. V. (2000)."A taxonomic review of the genusMustela(Mammalia, Carnivora) "(PDF).Zoosystematica Rossica.8:357–364.
  13. ^"Etymology pages" M "".www.scotcat.com.Retrieved16 August2017.
  14. ^abcdefghijklmManville, R. H. (1966)."The extinct sea mink, with taxonomic notes"(PDF).Proceedings of the United States National Museum.122(#3584):1–12.doi:10.5479/si.00963801.122-3584.1.
  15. ^Patterson, Bruce D.; Ramírez-Chaves, Héctor E.; Vilela, Júlio F.; Soares, André E. R.; Grewe, Felix (2021)."On the nomenclature of the American clade of weasels (Carnivora: Mustelidae)".Journal of Animal Diversity.3(2):1–8.doi:10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.1.ISSN2676-685X.S2CID236299740.
  16. ^abcdefgMowat, F. (2012) [1984].Sea of slaughter.Vancouver, British Columbia: Douglas and McIntyre. pp.160–164.ISBN978-1-77100-046-8.OCLC879632158.
  17. ^abcdHollister, N. (1965)."A synopsis of the American minks".Proceedings of the United States National Museum.44(#1965):478–479.doi:10.5479/si.00963801.44-1965.471.
  18. ^abcdeBlack, D. W.; Reading, J. E.; Savage, H. G. (1998)."Archaeological records of the extinct sea mink,Mustela macrodon(Carnivora: Mustelidae), from Canada "(PDF).Canadian Field-Naturalist.112(#1):45–49. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2017-10-11.Retrieved2017-07-13.
  19. ^Waters, J. H.; Ray, C. E. (1961). "Former range of the sea mink".Journal of Mammalogy.42(#3):380–383.doi:10.2307/1377035.JSTOR1377035.
  20. ^Day, David (1981).The encyclopedia of vanished species.London: Universal Books. p. 220.ISBN978-0-947889-30-2.
  21. ^abHardy, M. (1903)."The extinct mink from the Maine shell heaps".Forest and Stream.LXI(#I): 125.
  22. ^Mead, J. I.; Spiess, A. E. (2001). "Reply to Russell Graham aboutMustela macrodon".Quaternary Research.56(#3):422–423.Bibcode:2001QuRes..56..422M.doi:10.1006/qres.2001.2268.S2CID129877837.
  23. ^Seton, E. T. (1929).Lives of game animals.Vol. 2. Doubleday, Doran. p. 562.OCLC872457192.
  24. ^Bourque, B. J. (1995).Diversity and complexity in prehistoric maritime societies: a Gulf Of Maine perspective.New York, New York: Plenum Press. p. 341.ISBN978-0-306-44874-4.TheMustela macrodoncranium is much more complete than those from the rest of the midden, adding to the impression that these bones were placed especially in the cache.
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