8 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Mustela macrodon was described from skull fragments only, and its 

 distinguishing traits relate to the large teeth, particularly the upper 

 canines. In table 2, tooth measurements of the Clark specimen are 

 similarly compared with those of other minks in the national coUec- 



Table 2. — Tooth measurements (mm) of various minks 



tion. These relationships are further illustrated in figure 1. Again, 

 this controversial specimen falls clearly within the limits of Mustela 

 vison. 



One is forced to conclude that the Clark specimen, rather than 

 representing the sea mink, M. macrodon, is actually an unusually 



II5I78 



188351 



88366 



6530 



Figure 1. — Lateral views of the right upper teeth in various minks: A, the Clark specimen; 

 115178, holotype of M. macrodon; 188351, M. v. mink, Connecticut; 188366, M. v. vison, 

 Quebec; 6530, holotype of M. v. ingens, Alaska. 



large (probably adult male) specimen of the present mink, M. vison. 

 The indications are that its affinity is closest to M. v. mink. There 

 is even the possibility that the large Clark specimen was an intergrade 

 between the sea mink and M. vison. 



