Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
346 / Recently extinct
Sea mink
Neogale macrodon
It was hunted out for fur before scientists could describe a living animal.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- Prehistory–late 19th century
- Final stage
- 19th century
- Geographic range
- Rocky coasts and islands · Northeastern North America
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Sea mink?
Sea mink (Neogale macrodon) was an extinct organism known from Prehistory–late 19th century, with a range in Rocky coasts and islands · Northeastern North America.
Life and ecology
The larger coastal relative of the American mink probably ate fish, crustaceans and seabirds.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Sea mink disappear?
Intensive commercial trapping eliminated every population.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Sea mink?
Shell-midden jaws and teeth, a few skulls and hunters' accounts distinguish it.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS