Megalenhydris
| Megalenhydris barbaricina | |
|---|---|
 |
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| photo of holotype in situ | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Subfamily: | Lutrinae |
| Tribe: | Lutrini |
| Genus: |
Megalenhydris Willemsen & Maletesta, 1987 |
| Species: | M. barbaricina |
| Binomial name | |
|
Megalenhydris barbaricina Willemsen & Maletesta, 1987 |
|
Megalenhydris barbaricina is a giant otter from Sardinia. It is known from a single skeleton, discovered in the Grotta di Ispinigoli near Dorgali, and was described in 1987. The species is one of four extinct otter species from Sardinia. The others are Algarolutra majori, Cyrnolutra castiglionis and Sardolutra ichnusae. This otter was large, much larger than the other species. The structure of the teeth points to a diet of shellfish and/or crustaceans. A special characteristic of the species is the flattening of the first few caudal vertebrae (the remainder of the caudal vertebrae are not known). This might point to a slightly flattened tail.
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