19. CARNIVORES: MUSTELIDS AND MEPHITIDS

Mustelids (which comprise the family of modern-day weasels and badgers) and skunks are small- to medium-sized carnivores.

They are more closely related to dogs, bears, and seals than to cats and hyenas. They originated 34–30 million years ago in North America and Europe. The group has very common modern-day representatives, such as weasels and badgers.

At Cerro de los Batallones, in addition to the smaller forms, there is a very large species, Eomellivora piveteaui, which reached 65 kg in weight. The skull and mandible were very robust, and the dentition (teeth development and their arrangement) was adapted for crushing bones.

Today's skunks (weasel family) are native to the Americas, but during the Miocene they were also found in Europe and Asia.

Genus: Eomellivora
Species: Eomellivora piveteaui
Height at shoulders: 60 cm
Period: Upper Miocene

Genus: Martes
Species: Martes mellibula
Height at shoulders: 20 cm
Period: Upper Miocene

Genus: Promephitis
Species: Promephitis nov. sp.
Height at shoulders: 10-15 cm
Period: Upper Miocene