Comments: | Reviewed by Pocock (1921b, d), Muizon (1982a), Van Zyll de Jong (1987), Bryant et al. (1993), Masuda and Yoshida (1994a, b), Abramov and Baryshnikov (1995), Dragoo and Honeycutt (1997), Baryshnikov and Abramov (1997, 1998), Koepfli and Wayne (1998), Bininda-Emonds et al. (1999), Ginsburg and Morales (2000), and Kurose et al. (2000). Traditionally consisted of four subfamilies (Mephitinae, Melinae, Mustelinae, and Lutrinae), but McKenna and Bell (1997) also recognized Mellivorinae and Guloninae. The Mephitinae are separated here (see Mephitidae) following Dragoo and Honeycutt (1997). Few have questioned the distinctiveness of the Lutrinae, but the traditionally recognized Melinae and Mustelinae appear to be paraphyletic (Bininda-Emonds et al., 1999; Bryant et al., 1993). For these reasons, only two subfamilies are recognized here, the Lutrinae and the Mustelinae (provisionally including taxa traditionally placed in Melinae, Guloninae, Taxidiinae, and Mellivorinae). Bryant et al. (1993) argued that Melogale may be ancestral to Lutrinae and Mustelinae. |