Enhydrictis

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Enhydrictis
Temporal range: Early - Late Pleistocene
Enhydrictis galictoides.JPG
Fossil of Enhydrictis galictoides
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Ictonychinae
Genus: †Enhydrictis
Forsyth-Major, 1902[1]
Type species
†Enhydrictis galictoides

Enhydrictis is a genus of extinct mustelids. The type species, and best known, is Enhydrictis galictoides from the Pleistocene of Sardinia.

Taxonomy[]

The exact number of species of Enhydrictis has been a matter of debate. It is believed to have evolved from a related genus from mainland Europe known as Pannonictis.[2] One species, P. Pilgrimi has been classified as a belonging to Enhydictis (as Enydrictis ardea), although this is unlikely.[3][4] A 2019 study also suggests that the genus of Asia should be considered a synonym of Enhydrictis as well.[5] In 2016, a new species from Algeria was described. Known as Enhydrictis hoffstetteri, it is the first member of the genus known from Africa.[6]

Enhydrictis and its relatives are classified as belonging to the subfamily Galictinae.[7]

Description[]

Enhydrictis galictoides was a fairly large, robust terrestrial mustelid.[8] When first described, it was considered to be an otter-like species adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, but studies on the limb bones do not support such claims.[9]

Related species[]

During the Pleistocene, Sardinia was home to several other mustelids, such as the otters Megalenhydris and Sardolutra.

References[]

  1. ^ "Enhydrictis". GBIF.
  2. ^ Rook, L. (January 1995). "Pannonictis nestii (Carnivora, Mammalia) from the late Villafranchian of Pietrafitta (Umbria, Italy). Preliminary note". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Kurten, Bjorn (2007). Pleistocene Mammals of Europe. AldineTransaction. p. 97. ISBN 9780202309538.
  4. ^ Colombero, S.; Pavia, M.; Rook, L. (September 2012). "Pannonictis nestii (Galictinae, Mustelidae), a new element in the vertebrate association of the human site of Pirro Nord (Italy, Early Pleistocene)". Geodiversitas. 34 (3): 665–681. doi:10.5252/g2012n3a11. hdl:2318/126812. S2CID 55597076.
  5. ^ Quigao, J. (April 2019). "Discovery of Enhydrictis (Mustelidae, Carnivora, Mammalia) cranium in Puwan, Dalian, Northeast China demonstrates repeated intracontinental migration during the Pleistocene". Quaternary International. 513: 18–29. Bibcode:2019QuInt.513...18J. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2019.01.024.
  6. ^ Geraads, D. (2016). "Pleistocene Carnivora (Mammalia) from Tighennif (Ternifine), Algeria" (PDF). Geobios. 49 (6): 445–458. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2016.09.001.
  7. ^ Lucenti, S. (2018). "Revising the species "Mustela" ardea Gervais, 1848–1852 (Mammalia, Mustelidae): Martellictis gen. nov. and the systematics of the fossil "Galictinae" of Eurasia". Comptes Rendus Palevol. 17 (8): 522–535. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2018.02.003.
  8. ^ van der Geer, Alexandra; Lyras, George; de Vos, John (2011). Evolution of Island Mammals: Adaptation and Extinction of Placental Mammals on Islands. Wiley. p. 129. ISBN 9781119675747.
  9. ^ Bate, Dorothea M. A. (July 1935). "17. Note on the Habits of Enhydrictis galictoides, with Description of some Limb-bones of this Mustelid from the Pleistocene of Sardinia". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 105 (2): 241–245. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1935.tb06247.x.
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