Organism · Placental mammals
Satherium piscinarium
Fossil record age bounds · ≈ 5.33–0.21 Ma
Inferred life reconstruction
Satherium piscinarium
Overview
Satherium piscinarium is an ancient otter with a large head, strong jaws, and a long tail. It is known from North American fossils. The shapes of its bones provide clues for studying swimming and diet.[1]
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Key facts
A short, robust thighbone, a long shinbone, and a powerful tail are known together. A synthesis of the research interprets this combination as a body suited to powerful swimming. It shows how otter movement can be studied through internal proportions as well as outward appearance.[1]
Time and place
Material is known from Pliocene North America in the Cenozoic. The Pliocene spans roughly 5.3–2.6 million years ago. The Glenns Ferry Formation at the Hagerman fossil sites in present-day Idaho, USA, preserves important material.[1]
The time range describes source context, not the complete duration of this species.
Size, form and skeleton
The skull is described as long, broad, and flattened. The lower jaw is robust, the teeth are large, and the tail is studied as long and powerful. A short thigh relative to a long lower leg is another characteristic.[1]
A model based on dental data in the 2021 CarniFOSS study estimated a body mass of approximately 13 kg.[3]
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Habitat and reproduction
A synthesis of the literature discusses the possibility that shellfish formed a large part of its diet, based on its broad teeth and strong jaws. The ancient Hagerman environment has been interpreted as warm, open wetlands. This animal brings together research on waterside habitats, diet, and a body adapted for swimming.[1]
Fossil discovery
A reassessment of the diverse mammals from Hagerman included lower-jaw material of Satherium. HAFO3665 is identified as a right lower jaw and HAFO4930 as a left lower jaw. Several specimens were compared side by side to study the jaws of this large otter.[2]
References
- UC Merced — Study of environmental adaptation in North American otters
- Ruez2009 — Reassessment of Pliocene mammals from Hagerman
- Faurby·Morlo·Werdelin(2021) — CarniFOSS fossil carnivorous mammal body-mass data
- Faurby·Morlo·Werdelin(2021) — CarniFOSS fossil carnivorous mammal body-mass data
- International Commission on Stratigraphy (2024) — Geological time chart
- Carnivorous mammal study comparing the limbs and feet of Ekorus
- Paleobiology Database — Age records of Ekorus
- Ki Andersson (2003) — Study of carnivoran elbows and locomotion
Research questions
What foods might strong jaws and broad teeth have been suited to handling? Researchers compare tooth shape and the proportions of the legs and tail with those of other otters. Several body regions can help illuminate the life of a waterside predator.[1]
Observation
Move your gaze from the long, broad head to the strong jaws and long tail. Thinking also about the proportions of the thigh and lower leg helps build a fuller picture of the otter’s body.[1]
Related organisms
Ekorus ekakeranPlacental mammalsFossil record age bounds · ≈ 11.6–5.33 MaDifferent limbs among members of the weasel family
Explore the different records of bodies and time preserved by these two animals. Satherium piscinarium: an ancient otter with a large head, strong jaws, and a long tail, known from North American fossils. Its material comes from Pliocene North America in the Cenozoic; the Pliocene spans roughly 5.3–2.6 million years ago. Ekorus ekakeran: a member of the weasel family from late Miocene Africa, with short, robust feet at the ends of relatively long legs. It is known from Lothagam in present-day Kenya. The broad background interval of the late Miocene spans roughly 11.6–5.3 million years ago.