''Oligobuninae'' is an extinct

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

of the family

Mustelidae The Mustelidae (; from Latin ''mustela'', weasel) are a family of carnivorous mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, ferrets, martens, minks and wolverines, among others. Mustelids () are a diverse group and form the largest family in ...

known from Miocene deposits in North America. The subfamily was described by J. A. Baskin in 1998; of the genera that he assigned to this clade, seven are recognized today - ''

Brachypsalis ''Brachypsalis'' is an extinct genus of mustelids, which existed during the Miocene period. The genus was first described by E. D. Cope in 1890. A similar genus, ''Brachypsaloides'', was later identified as synonymous with ''Brachypsalis''. Co ...

'', ''

Megalictis ''Megalictis'' 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 ferret, with a body mass of up to . ...

'', ''

Oligobunis ''Oligobunis'' is an extinct genus of mustelids, which existed during the Miocene epoch. The genus was first described by E. D. Cope in 1881. Cope assigned the genus to the family Mustelidae, and J. A. Baskin assigned it to the subfamily Oligo ...

'', ''

Promartes ''Promartes'' is a genus of mustelids, now extinct, which existed during the Miocene period. Taxonomy The genus was first described in 1942, by E. S. Riggs, who identified the sister genus '' Zodiolestes'' at the same time, and assigned to the ...

'', ''

Zodiolestes ''Zodiolestes'' is a genus of mustelids, now extinct, which existed during the Miocene period. The genus was first described in 1942, by E. S. Riggs, who identified the sister genus ''Promartes'' at the same time, and assigned to the family P ...

'', '' Floridictis'' and '' Parabrachypsalis'' - representing thirteen separate species. ''

Potamotherium ''Potamotherium'' ('river beast') an extinct genus of caniform carnivoran from the Miocene epoch of France and Germany. It has been previously assigned to the mustelid family, but recent work suggests that it represents a primitive relative of p ...

'', usually considered to belong to Oligobuninae, has been reclassified as a basal pinnipedomorph in the family Semantoridae, which also includes '' Puijila'' and '' Semantor''.Berta, A., Morgan, C., & Boessenecker, R.W. (2018). "The Origin and Evolutionary Biology of Pinnipeds: Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses". Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 0. doi:10.1146/annurev-earth-082517-010009.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7086805 Prehistoric mustelids Miocene carnivorans