| Allodesmus | |
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| An artist's illustration of Allodesmus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Caniformia |
| Superfamily: | Pinnipedia |
| Family: | †Desmatophocidae |
| Genus: | †Allodesmus Kellogg, 1922 |
| Referred species | |
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Allodesmus is an extinct genus of pinniped from the Miocene and related to the genus Desmatophoca. It measured about 8 feet (2.4 meters) long and weighed 800 pounds (360 kilograms). Allodesmus had the specific anatomical features found in modern polygynous pinnipeds: sexual dimorphism, strong canines for fights between bulls and teeth with well-defined growth zones, a result from periodic fasting (in order to defend their harem, males would not take to the sea to feed during the breeding season).
Description and biology[]
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