Martinogale, as happens with most fossil skunks, has been solely described off of fragmentary craneal remains. The genus is mainly characterized by its jaws: in the upper jaw there's an absent upper Molar^2, and greatly enlarged but thin upper Premolar^4 and Molar^1; while the lower jaw has a small and forward P^2, the absence of a lingual or labial cingulum around the P^4 and a well developed M^1; neither jaw has a present Premolar^1. In regards to skull morphology, it is smoother and narrower than in living skunks, with a large, flask-shaped
basicranial bulla. The species name,
alveodens, hails from
Latin alveus, “a hollow, cavity or channel" and
dens, "tooth"
Martinogale chisoensis The largest species,
M. chisoensis hails from the early Hemphillian Crew Bean Local, it was described in 2003 based on a rather complete skull. Due to the cranial similarities with
Buisnictis it was named
"Buisnictis" chisoensis. uncertain of this association, a year later Cope moved it to
Mustela nambiana. When Hall erected
Martinogale, he moved
M. nambiana into his new genus, where it has since remained. In 2005, Wang et. al. argued that the few characteristics present in these teeth were too non-specific, arguing that they simply represent the basal mustelid condition and that
M? nambiana should not be considered a part of
Martinogale; that the specimen can't be ascribed to a concrete genus. == Phylogeny ==