Semantoridae

Semantoridae is an extinct family of stem-pinnipeds with fossils found in France, Kazakhstan, and Canada, dating back to various points in time in the Miocene epoch.^[1][2] Based on their overall anatomy semantorids were not marine specialists, as their elongated bodies, a long tail and robust limbs suggest they were freshwater animals not unlike otters.^[1] Indeed, at least some taxa such as Semantor and Potamotherium were initially classified as mustelids closely related to otters.^[1]

Semantoridae Temporal range: Late Oligocene - Late Miocene, 24–7.25 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Restored skeleton of Puijila darwini
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Clade:	Pan-Pinnipedia
Family:	†Semantoridae Orlov, 1931
Genera
Semantor Orlov, 1931; type Necromites V. V. Bogachev. 1940 Potamotherium Geoffroy, 1833 Puijila Rybczynski et al., 2009