The Fossil Monk Seal <i>Pontophoca sarmatica</i> (Alekseev) (Mammalia: Phocidae: Monachinae) from the Miocene of Eastern Europe

Abstract

We present a phylogenetic analysis of the middle Miocene European seal <i>Pontophoca sarmatica </i>(Alekseev) based upon characters of the mandible, humerus (both described herein for the first time), and femur. The diagnoses of the subfamily Monachinae and the genus <i>Pontophoca</i> are emended to include the postcranial characters. <i>Pontophoca</i>, as revised, is proposed as the sister group of the modem <i>Monachus</i> and is included in the monophyletic subfamily Monachinae. We also include in this subfamily two extinct taxa that occur in both the eastern United States and western Europe: <i>Callophoca</i> and <i>Pliophoca</i>.