Steneofiber
Encyclopedia
Steneofiber is an extinct genus
of beaver
from Eurasia
.
This small, 30 cm (1 ft) long creature probably lived in large fresh water
lake
s, like present day beavers. A semiaquatic lifestyle is indicated by the presence of a combing-claw, which living beavers use to waterproof their fur. Most likely, it was incapable of bringing down trees like its modern relatives. Steneofiber was more terrestrial than modern beavers, living in burrow
s. The finding of a possible family group of Steneofiber skeletons in France
has been used to infer that the genus employed a K-selected
reproductive strategy like modern beavers, in which extensive parental care is given to a small number of offspring. Steneofiber is among earliest known members of the subfamily Castorinae, which includes beavers more closely related to the two living species than to the recently extinct Giant Beaver
. It is probably descended from the earliest castorine, Propalaeocastor
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of beaver
Castoridae
The family Castoridae contains the two living species of beaver and their fossil relatives. This was once a highly diverse group of rodents, but is now restricted to a single genus, Castor.- Characteristics :...
from Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
.
This small, 30 cm (1 ft) long creature probably lived in large fresh water
Fresh Water
Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...
lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s, like present day beavers. A semiaquatic lifestyle is indicated by the presence of a combing-claw, which living beavers use to waterproof their fur. Most likely, it was incapable of bringing down trees like its modern relatives. Steneofiber was more terrestrial than modern beavers, living in burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
s. The finding of a possible family group of Steneofiber skeletons in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
has been used to infer that the genus employed a K-selected
R/K selection theory
In ecology, r/K selection theory relates to the selection of combinations of traits in an organism that trade off between quantity or quality of offspring...
reproductive strategy like modern beavers, in which extensive parental care is given to a small number of offspring. Steneofiber is among earliest known members of the subfamily Castorinae, which includes beavers more closely related to the two living species than to the recently extinct Giant Beaver
Giant Beaver
Castoroides ohioensis was a species of giant beaver, huge members of the family Castoridae , endemic to North America during the Pleistocene epoch .-Morphology:...
. It is probably descended from the earliest castorine, Propalaeocastor
Propalaeocastor
Propalaeocastor is a poorly-known extinct genus of beaver from the early Oligocene of Europe and Asia. Recently described material of a new species of Propalaeocastor, P...
.