Hammastahnaa

Hammastahnaa is a genus of extinct marine mammals belonging to the order Sirenia, which includes modern-day manatees and dugongs. These animals lived during the Miocene epoch, approximately 16 to 6 million years ago, and are known primarily from fossil records found in regions that are now part of North and South America.

Hammastahnaa species exhibited adaptations characteristic of aquatic herbivores. They had robust, fusiform bodies that facilitated swimming, and their limb bones suggest they were well-suited for an aquatic environment. Compared to modern sirenians, fossil evidence suggests they may have had larger skulls and more pronounced dental features, which are thought to reflect differences in diet and feeding strategies.

The genus is significant for its role in understanding sirenian evolution and paleoecology. Fossils of Hammastahnaa have contributed insights into the diversification of marine herbivores, their dietary adaptations, and their responses to Miocene oceanic conditions. Their presence indicates the existence of warm, shallow seas with abundant seagrass beds, which formed the primary habitat for these animals.

Hammastahnaa went extinct approximately 6 million years ago, likely due to changing climatic conditions, oceanic shifts, and the decline of seagrass habitats. Their extinction marked a reduction in sirenian diversity during the late Miocene. Despite their extinction, Hammastahnaa remains an important subject of paleontological research, providing valuable information on the evolution of marine mammals and the history of marine ecosystems.