| Callophoca | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Parvorder: | Pinnipedia |
| Family: | Phocidae |
| Subfamily: | Monachinae |
| Genus: | †Callophoca van Beneden, 1876 |
| Species | |
| |
Callophoca is an extinct genus ofearless seals from the late Miocene to early Pliocene of Belgium and the US Eastern Seaboard.
The type and only species ofCallophoca isC. obscura.[1]Mesotaria ambigua, based on the lectotype humerus IRSNB 1156-M177, is a synonym. Although numerous non-humeral bones have been assigned toCallophoca, they are best considered Monachinae indet. pending further study because they have been found, isolated, leaving theM. ambigua lectotype, IRSNB 1116-M188, IRSNB VERT-17172-301b, and USNM 186944 the only unambiguous referred specimens ofCallophoca.[2]