Fossil Phocidae in some Dutch collections (Mammalia, Carnivora)

• Main Authors: Bree, P.J.H. van, Bosscha Erdbrink, D.P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1987
• Subjects: bearded seal; Erignathus barbatus; harbour seal; Phoca vitulina
• Online Access: http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/record/505006; http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/548663

Three cranial and seventy postcranial fossils are briefly described and identified as remains of Phocidae. Three of these are ascribed to the Bearded Seal Erignathus barbatus (Erxleben, 1777), nineteen to the Grey or Atlantic Seal Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius, 1791), and the remainder to the Common or Harbour Seal Phoca vitulina (Linnaeus, 1758). Five specimens were collected on the Meuse levels, an artificial plain South of the Hook of Holland formed from sand sucked up at the locality. All other material comes from the North Sea bottom and was found by fishermen trawling for flat-fish.