Basic info Taxonomic history Classification Included Taxa
Morphology Ecology and taphonomy External Literature Search Age range and collections

Afrophoca libyca

Osteichthyes - Carnivora - Phocidae

Taxonomy
Afrophoca libyca was named by Koretsky and Domning (2014). Its type specimen is ELNRP 2Z131, a mandible (partial right mandible with p3–m1 teeth), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Jabal Zalatan Z131, which is in a Burdigalian/Langhian lagoonal/restricted shallow subtidal horizon in the Marada Formation of Libya. It is the type species of Afrophoca.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2014Afrophoca libyca Koretsky and Domning p. 224
2015Afrophoca libyca Berta et al. p. 3 figs. Table 1
2018Afrophoca libyca Berta et al. p. 210 figs. Fig. 4
2022Afrophoca libyca Berta et al. p. 6 figs. Table 1.1
2024Afrophoca libyca Rule and Park p. 10 figs. Table 2

Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data

RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
subclassSynapsida
—Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
—Mammaliamorpha
—Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
—Cladotheria
RankNameAuthor
—Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
—Eutheria()
—Placentalia
—Boreoeutheria
—Laurasiatheria
—Scrotifera
—Ferae()
—Pancarnivora
—CarnivoramorphaWyss and Flynn 1993
—CarnivoraformesFlynn et al.
orderCarnivora
suborderCaniformiaKretzoi 1943
infraorderCanoidea(Simpson 1931)
superfamilyArctoideaFlower 1869
—PanpinnipediaWolsan et al. 2020
—Pinnipedimorpha
—Pinnipedia()
familyPhocidae()
subfamilyMonachinae
genusAfrophoca
specieslibyca

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

†Afrophoca libyca Koretsky and Domning 2014
show all | hide all
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
I. A. Koretsky and D. P. Domning 2014Seal of medium size, with extremely short and deep mandible, differing from all other fossil and extant monachines in that (1) supplementary cheek tooth cusps are weakly developed; (2) metaconid and basal cingulum are weakly developed; and (3) teeth are square and relatively large.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: hydroxyapatiteuc
Ontogeny: modification of partsuc
Environment: marineuc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: amphibiousuc
Diet: piscivoref
Diet 2: carnivoref
Reproduction: viviparousuc
Created: 2005-06-08 10:11:09
Modified: 2005-06-08 12:11:09
Source: f = family, c = class, uc = unranked clade
References: Carreño and Cronin 1993, Hendy et al. 2009, Nowak 1991, Gingerich 2003

Age range: base of the Burdigalian to the top of the Langhian or 20.45000 to 13.82000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Burdigalian - Langhian20.45 - 13.82Libya Afrophoca libyca (type locality: 153675)