Siamogale melilutra facts for kids

Siamogale melilutra was a huge, ancient otter that lived a long, long time ago. It's now extinct, meaning it no longer exists on Earth. This amazing animal lived during the late Miocene epoch in what is now Yunnan province, China.

Meet the Giant Otter

Siamogale melilutra was not your average otter! It was about the size of a wolf. Imagine an otter weighing around 50 kilograms (about 110 pounds). That's two to three times bigger than any otter you see today.

What Made It Special?

Its skull was quite unique. It had features that looked like both an otter and a badger. This mix of features made it stand out from other animals. Scientists believe it belonged to the Lutrinae subfamily, which is the group that includes all otters.

When and Where Did It Live?

This giant otter lived during the late Miocene epoch. This was a time period that ended about 5.3 million years ago. Its fossils have been found in Yunnan province, China. This tells us where these incredible creatures once roamed.

Images for kids

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  A nearly complete skull of a young adult Siamogale melilutra. You can see it from the side and from above.

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  This image represents the fascinating world of ancient animals.