Lutra castiglionis

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Lutra castiglionis
Temporal range: Mid Pleistocene
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Genus: Lutra
Species:
†L. castiglionis
Binomial name
†Lutra castiglionis
Pereira & Salotti, 2000
Synonyms

Cyrnolutra castiglionis

Lutra castiglionis, the Castiglione otter or Corsican otter, is an extinct species of otter that was endemic to Corsica during the Pleistocene.

Taxonomy[]

Lutra castiglionis was described in 2000, originally under a new genus, Cyrnolutra.[1] In 2006, it was transferred into the genus Lutra.[2] A possible ancestor of this species is , known from mainland Europe.

Description[]

The Castiglione otter was probably very well adapted to a riverine aquatic way of life. Remains show a flattening of the sacrum, indicating it had a much stronger tail than most other otters, which would allow it to propel itself more efficiently in aquatic environments.[2]

Remains of the Castiglione otter are known from Castiglione Cave in Corsica. These fossils have been dated to the Mid Pleistocene, approximately 157,500 BP (+22,200/-17,300).

References[]

  1. ^ Pereira, E.; Salotti, M. (2000). "Cyrnolutra castiglionis, une nouvelle forme de loutre (Mustelidae, Lutrinae), dans un dépôt du Pléistocène moyen " Castiglione 3CG "(Oletta, Haute-Corse)". Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, Série IIA. 331 (1): 45–52. doi:10.1016/S1251-8050(00)00212-3.
  2. ^ a b Willemsen, Gerard F. (2006). "Megalenhydris and its relationship to Lutra Reconsidered". Hellenic Journal of Geosciences. 41: 83–87.
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