Megalictis

Megalictis
Temporal range: Early Miocene, 22.7–18.5 Ma
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Skull AM 25430 of M. ferox
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: †Oligobuninae
Genus: †Megalictis
Species
  • M. ferox Matthew, 1907
  • M. frazieri
  • M. petersoni
Synonyms
  • Aelurocyon
  • Paroligobunis

Megalictis (meaning "great weasel") is an extinct genus of large predatory mustelids that existed in North America during the "cat gap" from the Late Arikareean (Ar4) in the Miocene epoch. It is thought to have resembled a huge, jaguar-sized ferret, weighing up to 60–100 kilograms (130–220 lb).[1]

  1. ^ Macdonald, David W.; Newman, Chris (2017). "6 – Musteloid sociality: the grass-roots of society". In Macdonald, David W.; Newman, Chris; Harrington, Lauren A. (eds.). Biology and Conservation of Musteloids. Oxford University Press. pp. 167–188. doi:10.1093/oso/9780198759805.001.0006.