SCIENCE BRIEFING
Scientists in Canada’s Arctic have discovered the fossil of a previously unknown web-footed carnivore that helps explain how seals developed from land-based mammals, a member of the team said Wednesday.
The very primitive animal was about 43 inches long and had a body similar to that of an otter, with a skull more closely related to a seal’s. It lived in and around freshwater lakes 20 million to 24 million years ago and could move easily on both land and water.
The animal was a member of the pinniped family, which includes seals, sea lions and walruses.
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