In 2010, the remains of an otter were discovered from a geological site in Yunnan province, China. After 6 years of their study, researchers have published their findings on these creatures, suggesting that they were giant, wolf-sized otters which used to roam China about 6.6 million years ago.
According to scientists, this animal, Siamogale melilutra, lived in southwestern China, and belonged to one of the otter’s most primitive lineages. It was a “wolf-like” creature, about twice the size of today’s otters. They weighed about 100 Ibs and had big, powerful jaws and enlarged teeth.
According to researchers, the otter family goes back at least 18 million years.
“From the beginning of the discovery, we realized that it could be a new species because of its huge size,” Professor Ji Xueping told CNN.
Professor Ji Xueping was the lead researcher of the Chinese field team which worked in this joint project of the Yunnan Cultural Relics and Archaeological Institute and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
“I’m not an expert in carnivores, but I knew, when it was taken out of the ground, that this was something new,” Ji added.
Archeologists had discovered a cranium and lower jaw from the excavation site. These fossils then underwent CT technology in Beijing for their virtual reconstruction.
Researchers discovered some traits in the creature similar to those found in modern-day badger. The species’ name: “Melilutra” refers to meles, which is Latin for badger.
“It’s a funny, semi-aquatic creature, that would be between 1.5 to 2 meters in length,” said Ji.
“This finding is significant because it tells us something new about the otter family. But why it’s so big? We just don’t know — that’s a big question for further study,” Ji said.
Ji also thinks that more creatures of such proportions could be discovered across China and Asia through further excavation projects.
The detailed findings of the study have been published in Journal of Systematic Paleontology.
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