Phylogeny Steller's sea cow
steller s sea cow member of genus hydrodamalis, group of large sirenians, sister taxon dusisiren. of steller s sea cow, ancestors of dusisiren lived in tropical mangroves before adapting cold climates of north pacific. hydrodamalis , dusisiren classified in subfamily hydrodamalinae, diverged other sirenians around 4 8 mya. steller s sea cow member of family dugongidae, sole surviving member, , steller s sea cow s closest living relative, dugong (dugong dugon).
steller s sea cow direct descendant of cuesta sea cow (h. cuestae), extinct tropical sea cow lived off coast of western north america, particularly california. cuesta sea cow thought have gone extinct due onset of quaternary glaciation , subsequent cooling of oceans. many populations died out, lineage of steller s sea cow able adapt colder temperatures. takikawa sea cow (h. spissa) of japan thought of researchers taxonomic synonym of cuesta sea cow, based on comparison of endocasts, takikawa , steller s sea cows more derived cuesta sea cow. has led believe takikawa sea cow own species. evolution of hydrodamalis genus characterized increased size , loss of teeth , phalanges response onset of quaternary glaciation.
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