''Italosiren'' is an extinct genus of early
dugong
The dugong (; ''Dugong dugon'') is a marine mammal. It is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest m ...
from the
Early Miocene
The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages.
The sub-epoch lasted from 23.03 ± 0.05 Ma to 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma (million years ago). It was prece ...
(
Aquitanian)
Libano Formation in northern Italy.
Classification
It was originally classified as a species of ''
Halitherium
''Halitherium'' is an extinct dugongid sea cow that arose in the late Eocene, then became extinct during the early Oligocene. Its fossils are common in European shales. Inside its flippers were finger bones that did not stick out. ''Halitherium' ...
'', ''H. bellunense'', but was eventually recognized as closer to the
dugong
The dugong (; ''Dugong dugon'') is a marine mammal. It is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest m ...
than to ''Halitherium schinzii'', necessitating erection of the new generic name ''Italosiren''.
See also
*
Evolution of sirenians
Sirenia is the order of placental mammals which comprises modern "sea cows" (manatees and the Dugong) and their extinct relatives. They are the only extant herbivorous marine mammals and the only group of herbivorous mammals to have become com ...
References
Miocene sirenians
Prehistoric placental genera
Aquitanian (stage)
Miocene mammals of Europe
Neogene Italy
Fossils of Italy
Fossil taxa described in 2017
{{Paleo-sirenian-stub