Enhydra
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (July 2021) |
Enhydra | |
---|---|
Sea otter (Enhydra lutris) | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Family: | Mustelidae |
Subfamily: | Lutrinae |
Genus: | Enhydra Fleming, 1828 |
Species | |
Enhydra lutris - Sea otter |
Enhydra is a genus of mustelid that contains the sea otter and two extinct relatives.
Sea otters probably diverged from other otters during the Pliocene, approximately 5 mya.[1] They probably arose from the closely related Enhydritherium.
, the oldest known species, has its origins in the Atlantic, suggesting this may have been where sea otters originated.[1] Fossil evidence indicates the Enhydra lineage became isolated in the North Pacific approximately 2 million years ago, giving rise to the now-extinct Enhydra macrodonta and the modern sea otter.
References[]
Categories:
- Mammal genera
- Mammal genera with one living species
- Mustelidae
- Otters
- Carnivora stubs