Lutra

Genus of carnivores

Lutra
Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Lutrinae
Genus: Lutra
Brisson, 1762
Type species
Mustela lutra
Linnaeus, 1758
Species
  • Lutra lutra
  • Lutra sumatrana
  • Lutra nippon
Range of Lutra lutra (brown), Lutra sumatrana (green)

Lutra is a genus of otters, one of seven in the subfamily Lutrinae.

Taxonomy and evolution

The genus includes these species:

Extant species

Image Scientific name Common name Distribution
L. lutra Eurasian otter coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa
L. sumatrana Hairy-nosed otter Southeast Asia

Extinct species

Image Scientific name Common name Distribution
L. nippon Japanese otter Japan
  • Lutra affinis
  • Lutra bressana
  • Lutra bravardi
  • Lutra castiglionis
  • Lutra euxena
  • Lutra fatimazohrae
  • Lutra franconica
  • Lutra hearsti
  • Lutra palaeindica
  • Lutra simplicidens
  • Lutra trinacriae

The genus most likely evolved in Asia during the late Pliocene epoch;[1] the oldest fossil belonging to the genus is of the species L. palaeindica, and dates from the late Pliocene.[2]

Habitat

Lutra species are semiaquatic mammals, so they are well-adapted to both water and land. They prefer shallow, narrow areas of streams surrounded by mature trees and with rocks, especially where weirs reduce the flow of the water, as well as attract fishes. They seem to tolerate roads and residential and agricultural areas, but only moderate human interaction. They clearly avoid areas without vegetation cover and rocks.[3]

Diet

The otters' diets consist mainly of fish (hence, the aquatic environment). However, during the winter and in colder environments, fish consumption is significantly lower and the otters use other resources for their food supply. Their diets can consist of amphibians (mainly frogs and pond turtles), bird predation (mainly anserine species), small rodents, and invertebrates such as water beetles, snails, and crayfish. They have also feed on plants, specifically grasses. With this large diversity of prey and resources for their diets, otters are considered "opportunistic eaters".[4]

Behavior

Some otters live in solitude, while others live in groups.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to lutra.
Wikispecies has information related to lutra.
  1. ^ Koepfli, K.-P.; et al. (2008). "Multigene phylogeny of the Mustelidae: Resolving relationships, tempo and biogeographic history of a mammalian adaptive radiation". BMC Biology. 6 (10): 10. doi:10.1186/1741-7007-6-10. PMC 2276185. PMID 18275614.
  2. ^ Larivière, S. (2002). "Lutra maculicollis". Mammalian Species. 712: Number 712: pp. 1–6. doi:10.1644/1545-1410(2002)712<0001:LM>2.0.CO;2. S2CID 198968980.
  3. ^ Cho, Hee-Sun; Choi, Kwang-Hee; Lee, Sang-Don; Park, Young-Seuk (2009). "Characterizing habitat preference of Eurasian river otter (Lutra lutra) in streams using a self-organizing map". Limnology. 10 (3): 203. doi:10.1007/s10201-009-0275-7. S2CID 20000248.
  4. ^ Lanszki, József; Molnár, M. & Molnár, T. (2006). "Factors affecting the predation of otter (Lutra lutra) on European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)". Journal of Zoology. 270 (2): 219. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00132.x.
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Extant Carnivora species
Suborder Feliformia
Nandiniidae
Nandinia
  • African palm civet (N. binotata)
Herpestidae
(Mongooses)
Atilax
  • Marsh mongoose (A. paludinosus)
Bdeogale
  • Bushy-tailed mongoose (B. crassicauda)
  • Jackson's mongoose (B. jacksoni)
  • Black-footed mongoose (B. nigripes)
Crossarchus
  • Alexander's kusimanse (C. alexandri)
  • Angolan kusimanse (C. ansorgei)
  • Common kusimanse (C. obscurus)
  • Flat-headed kusimanse (C. platycephalus)
Cynictis
  • Yellow mongoose (C. penicillata)
Dologale
  • Pousargues's mongoose (D. dybowskii)
Helogale
  • Ethiopian dwarf mongoose (H. hirtula)
  • Common dwarf mongoose (H. parvula)
Herpestes
  • Angolan slender mongoose (H. flavescens)
  • Egyptian mongoose (H. ichneumon)
  • Somalian slender mongoose (H. ochracea)
  • Cape gray mongoose (H. pulverulenta)
  • Common slender mongoose (H. sanguinea)
Ichneumia
  • White-tailed mongoose (I. albicauda)
Liberiictus
  • Liberian mongoose (L. kuhni)
Mungos
  • Gambian mongoose (M. gambianus)
  • Banded mongoose (M. mungo)
Paracynictis
  • Selous's mongoose (P. selousi)
Rhynchogale
  • Meller's mongoose (R. melleri)
Suricata
  • Meerkat (S. suricatta)
Urva
  • Small Indian mongoose (U. auropunctata)
  • Short-tailed mongoose (U. brachyura)
  • Indian grey mongoose (U. edwardsii)
  • Indian brown mongoose (U. fusca)
  • Javan mongoose (U. javanica)
  • Collared mongoose (U. semitorquata)
  • Ruddy mongoose (U. smithii)
  • Crab-eating mongoose (U. urva)
  • Stripe-necked mongoose (U. vitticolla)
Xenogale
  • Long-nosed mongoose (X. naso)
Hyaenidae
(Hyenas)
Crocuta
  • Spotted hyena (C. crocuta)
Hyaena
  • Striped hyena (H. hyaena)
Parahyaena
  • Brown hyena (P. brunnea)
Proteles
  • Aardwolf (P. cristata)
Felidae
Large family listed below
Viverridae
Large family listed below
Eupleridae
Small family listed below
Family Felidae
Felinae
Acinonyx
  • Cheetah (A. jubatus)
Caracal
  • African golden cat (C. aurata)
  • Caracal (C. caracal)
Catopuma
  • Bay cat (C. badia)
  • Asian golden cat (C. temminckii)
Felis
  • Chinese mountain cat (F. bieti)
  • Domestic cat (F. catus)
  • Jungle cat (F. chaus)
  • African wildcat (F. lybica)
  • Sand cat (F. margarita)
  • Black-footed cat (F. nigripes)
  • European wildcat (F. silvestris)
Herpailurus
  • Jaguarundi (H. yagouaroundi)
Leopardus
  • Pampas cat (L. colocola)
  • Geoffroy's cat (L. geoffroyi)
  • Kodkod (L. guigna)
  • Southern tiger cat (L. guttulus)
  • Andean mountain cat (L. jacobita)
  • Ocelot (L. pardalis)
  • Oncilla (L. tigrinus)
  • Margay (L. wiedii)
  • Nariño cat (L. narinensis)
Leptailurus
  • Serval (L. serval)
Lynx
  • Canada lynx (L. canadensis)
  • Eurasian lynx (L. lynx)
  • Iberian lynx (L. pardinus)
  • Bobcat (L. rufus)
Otocolobus
  • Pallas's cat (O. manul)
Pardofelis
  • Marbled cat (P. marmorata)
Prionailurus
  • Leopard cat (P. bengalensis)
  • Sunda leopard cat (P. javanensis)
  • Flat-headed cat (P. planiceps)
  • Rusty-spotted cat (P. rubiginosus)
  • Fishing cat (P. viverrinus)
Puma
  • Cougar (P. concolor)
Pantherinae
Panthera
  • Lion (P. leo)
  • Jaguar (P. onca)
  • Leopard (P. pardus)
  • Tiger (P. tigris)
  • Snow leopard (P. uncia)
Neofelis
  • Sunda clouded leopard (N. diardi)
  • Clouded leopard (N. nebulosa)
Prionodon
  • Banded linsang (P. linsang)
  • Spotted linsang (P. pardicolor)
Family Viverridae
Paradoxurinae
Arctictis
  • Binturong (A. binturong)
Arctogalidia
  • Small-toothed palm civet (A. trivirgata)
Macrogalidia
  • Sulawesi palm civet (M. musschenbroekii)
Paguma
  • Masked palm civet (P. larvata)
Paradoxurus
  • Asian palm civet (P. hermaphroditus)
  • Brown palm civet (P. jerdoni)
  • Golden palm civet (P. zeylonensis)
Hemigalinae
Chrotogale
  • Owston's palm civet (C. owstoni)
Cynogale
  • Otter civet (C. bennettii)
Diplogale
  • Hose's palm civet (D. hosei)
Hemigalus
  • Banded palm civet (H. derbyanus)
Viverrinae
Civettictis
  • African civet (C. civetta)
Viverra
  • Malabar large-spotted civet (V. civettina)
  • Large-spotted civet (V. megaspila)
  • Malayan civet (V. tangalunga)
  • Large Indian civet (V. zibetha)
Viverricula
  • Small Indian civet (V. indica)
Genettinae
Genetta
(Genets)
  • Abyssinian genet (G. abyssinica)
  • Angolan genet (G. angolensis)
  • Bourlon's genet (G. bourloni)
  • Crested servaline genet (G. cristata)
  • Common genet (G. genetta)
  • Johnston's genet (G. johnstoni)
  • Letaba genet (G. letabae)
  • Rusty-spotted genet (G. maculata)
  • Pardine genet (G. pardina)
  • Aquatic genet (G. piscivora)
  • King genet (G. poensis)
  • Servaline genet (G. servalina)
  • Hausa genet (G. thierryi)
  • Cape genet (G. tigrina)
  • Giant forest genet (G. victoriae)
  • South African small-spotted genet (G. felina)
Poiana
  • Central African oyan (P. richardsonii)
  • West African oyan (P. leightoni)
Family Eupleridae
Euplerinae
Cryptoprocta
  • Fossa (C. ferox)
Eupleres
  • Eastern falanouc (E. goudotii)
  • Western falanouc (E. major)
Fossa
  • Malagasy civet (F. fossana)
Galidiinae
Galidia
  • Ring-tailed vontsira (G. elegans)
Galidictis
  • Broad-striped Malagasy mongoose (G. fasciata)
  • Grandidier's mongoose (G. grandidieri)
Mungotictis
  • Narrow-striped mongoose (M. decemlineata)
Salanoia
  • Brown-tailed mongoose (S. concolor)
  • Durrell's vontsira (S. durrelli)
Suborder Caniformia (cont. below)
Ursidae
(Bears)
Ailuropoda
  • Giant panda (A. melanoleuca)
Helarctos
  • Sun bear (H. malayanus)
Melursus
  • Sloth bear (M. ursinus)
Tremarctos
  • Spectacled bear (T. ornatus)
Ursus
  • American black bear (U. americanus)
  • Brown bear (U. arctos)
  • Polar bear (U. maritimus)
  • Asian black bear (U. thibetanus)
Mephitidae
(Skunks)
Conepatus
(Hog-nosed
skunks)
  • Molina's hog-nosed skunk (C. chinga)
  • Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk (C. humboldtii)
  • American hog-nosed skunk (C. leuconotus)
  • Striped hog-nosed skunk (C. semistriatus)
Mephitis
  • Hooded skunk (M. macroura)
  • Striped skunk (M. mephitis)
Mydaus
  • Sunda stink badger (M. javanensis)
  • Palawan stink badger (M. marchei)
Spilogale
(Spotted skunks)
  • Southern spotted skunk (S. angustifrons)
  • Western spotted skunk (S. gracilis)
  • Eastern spotted skunk (S. putorius)
  • Pygmy spotted skunk (S. pygmaea)
Procyonidae
(Raccoons, coatis, olingos)
Bassaricyon
(Olingos)
  • Eastern lowland olingo (B. alleni)
  • Northern olingo (B. gabbii)
  • Western lowland olingo (B. medius)
  • Olinguito (B. neblina)
Bassariscus
  • Ringtail (B. astutus)
  • Cacomistle (B. sumichrasti)
Nasua
(Coatis inclusive)
  • White-nosed coati (N. narica)
  • South American coati (N. nasua)
Nasuella
(Coatis inclusive)
  • Eastern mountain coati (N. meridensis)
  • Western mountain coati (N. olivacea)
Potos
  • Kinkajou (P. flavus)
Procyon
  • Crab-eating raccoon (P. cancrivorus)
  • Raccoon (P. lotor)
  • Cozumel raccoon (P. pygmaeus)
Ailuridae
Ailurus
  • Red panda (A. fulgens)
Suborder Caniformia (cont. above)
Otariidae
(Eared seals)
(includes fur seals
and sea lions)

(Pinniped inclusive)
Arctocephalus
  • South American fur seal (A. australis)
  • Australasian fur seal (A. forsteri)
  • Galápagos fur seal (A. galapagoensis)
  • Antarctic fur seal (A. gazella)
  • Juan Fernández fur seal (A. philippii)
  • Brown fur seal (A. pusillus)
  • Guadalupe fur seal (A. townsendi)
  • Subantarctic fur seal (A. tropicalis)
Callorhinus
  • Northern fur seal (C. ursinus)
Eumetopias
  • Steller sea lion (E. jubatus)
Neophoca
  • Australian sea lion (N. cinerea)
Otaria
  • South American sea lion (O. flavescens)
Phocarctos
  • New Zealand sea lion (P. hookeri)
Zalophus
  • California sea lion (Z. californianus)
  • Galápagos sea lion (Z. wollebaeki)
Odobenidae
(Pinniped inclusive)
Odobenus
  • Walrus (O. rosmarus)
Phocidae
(Earless seals)
(Pinniped inclusive)
Cystophora
  • Hooded seal (C. cristata)
Erignathus
  • Bearded seal (E. barbatus)
Halichoerus
  • Grey seal (H. grypus)
Histriophoca
  • Ribbon seal (H. fasciata)
Hydrurga
  • Leopard seal (H. leptonyx)
Leptonychotes
  • Weddell seal (L. weddellii)
Lobodon
  • Crabeater seal (L. carcinophagus)
Mirounga
(Elephant seals)
  • Northern elephant seal (M. angustirostris)
  • Southern elephant seal (M. leonina)
Monachus
  • Mediterranean monk seal (M. monachus)
Neomonachus
  • Hawaiian monk seal (N. schauinslandi)
Ommatophoca
  • Ross seal (O. rossi)
Pagophilus
  • Harp seal (P. groenlandicus)
Phoca
  • Spotted seal (P. largha)
  • Harbor seal (P. vitulina)
Pusa
  • Caspian seal (P. caspica)
  • Ringed seal (P. hispida)
  • Baikal seal (P. sibirica)
Canidae
Large family listed below
Mustelidae
Large family listed below
Family Canidae (includes dogs)
Atelocynus
  • Short-eared dog (A. microtis)
Canis
  • Golden jackal (C. aureus)
  • Domestic dog (C. familiaris)
  • Coyote (C. latrans)
  • African wolf (C. lupaster)
  • Wolf (C. lupus)
  • Eastern wolf (C. lycaon)
  • Red wolf (C. rufus)
  • Ethiopian wolf (C. simensis)
Cerdocyon
  • Crab-eating fox (C. thous)
Chrysocyon
  • Maned wolf (C. brachyurus)
Cuon
  • Dhole (C. alpinus)
Lupulella
  • Side-striped jackal (L. adustus)
  • Black-backed jackal (L. mesomelas)
Lycalopex
  • Culpeo (L. culpaeus)
  • Darwin's fox (L. fulvipes)
  • South American gray fox (L. griseus)
  • Pampas fox (L. gymnocercus)
  • Sechuran fox (L. sechurae)
  • Hoary fox (L. vetulus)
Lycaon
  • African wild dog (L. pictus)
Nyctereutes
  • Common raccoon dog (N. procyonoides)
  • Japanese raccoon dog (N. viverrinus)
Otocyon
  • Bat-eared fox (O. megalotis)
Speothos
  • Bush dog (S. venaticus)
Urocyon
  • Gray fox (U. cinereoargenteus)
  • Island fox (U. littoralis)
Vulpes
(Foxes)
  • Bengal fox (V. bengalensis)
  • Blanford's fox (V. cana)
  • Cape fox (V. chama)
  • Corsac fox (V. corsac)
  • Tibetan fox (V. ferrilata)
  • Arctic fox (V. lagopus)
  • Kit fox (V. macrotis)
  • Pale fox (V. pallida)
  • Rüppell's fox (V. rueppelli)
  • Swift fox (V. velox)
  • Red fox (V. vulpes)
  • Fennec fox (V. zerda)
Family Mustelidae
Helictidinae
(Ferret-badgers)
Melogale
  • Vietnam ferret-badger (M. cucphuongensis)
  • Bornean ferret badger (M. everetti)
  • Chinese ferret-badger (M. moschata)
  • Javan ferret-badger (M. orientalis)
  • Burmese ferret-badger (M. personata)
  • Formosan ferret-badger (M. subaurantiaca)
Guloninae
(Martens and wolverines)
Eira
  • Tayra (E. barbara)
Gulo
  • Wolverine (G. gulo)
Martes
(Martens)
  • American marten (M. americana)
  • Pacific marten (M. caurina)
  • Yellow-throated marten (M. flavigula)
  • Beech marten (M. foina)
  • Nilgiri marten (M. gwatkinsii)
  • European pine marten (M. martes)
  • Japanese marten (M. melampus)
  • Sable (M. zibellina)
Pekania
  • Fisher (P. pennanti)
Ictonychinae
(African polecats and grisons)
Galictis
  • Lesser grison (G. cuja)
  • Greater grison (G. vittata)
Ictonyx
  • Saharan striped polecat (I. libyca)
  • Striped polecat (I. striatus)
Lyncodon
  • Patagonian weasel (L. patagonicus)
Poecilogale
  • African striped weasel (P. albinucha)
Vormela
  • Marbled polecat (V. peregusna)
Lutrinae
(Otters)
Aonyx
  • African clawless otter (A. capensis)
  • Asian small-clawed otter (A. cinereus)
  • Congo clawless otter (A. congicus)
Enhydra
  • Sea otter (E. lutris)
Hydrictis
  • Spotted-necked otter (H. maculicollis)
Lontra
  • North American river otter (L. canadensis)
  • Marine otter (L. felina)
  • Neotropical otter (L. longicaudis)
  • Southern river otter (L. provocax)
Lutra
  • Eurasian otter (L. lutra)
  • Hairy-nosed otter (L. sumatrana)
Lutrogale
  • Smooth-coated otter (L. perspicillata)
Pteronura
  • Giant otter (P. brasiliensis)
Melinae
(Eurasian badgers)
Arctonyx
  • Northern hog badger (A. albogularis)
  • Greater hog badger (A. collaris)
  • Sumatran hog badger (A. hoevenii)
Meles
  • Japanese badger (M. anakuma)
  • Caucasian badger (M. canescens)
  • Asian badger (M. leucurus)
  • European badger (M. meles)
Mellivorinae
Mellivora
  • Honey badger (M. capensis)
Mustelinae
(Weasels and minks)
Mustela
(Weasels and ferrets)
  • Sichuan weasel (M. aistoodonnivalis)
  • Mountain weasel (M. altaica)
  • Stoat/Beringian ermine (M. erminea)
  • Steppe polecat (M. eversmannii)
  • Ferret (M. furo)
  • Haida ermine (M. haidarum)
  • Japanese weasel (M. itatsi)
  • Yellow-bellied weasel (M. kathiah)
  • European mink (M. lutreola)
  • Indonesian mountain weasel (M. lutreolina)
  • Black-footed ferret (M. nigripes)
  • Least weasel (M. nivalis)
  • Malayan weasel (M. nudipes)
  • European polecat (M. putorius)
  • American ermine (M. richardsonii)
  • Siberian weasel (M. sibirica)
  • Back-striped weasel (M. strigidorsa)
Neogale
  • Amazon weasel (N. africana)
  • Colombian weasel (N. felipei)
  • Long-tailed weasel (N. frenata)
  • American mink (N. vison)
Taxidiinae
Taxidea
  • American badger (T. taxus)
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Genera of red pandas, raccoons, skunks, mustelids and their extinct allies
  • Peignictis
  • Plesiogale
Ailuridae
Ailurinae
Amphictinae
Simocyoninae
Mephitidae
Procyonidae
  • Acheronictis
  • Aragonictis
  • Arikarictis
  • Circamustela
  • Erokomellivora
  • Franconictis
  • Kenyalutra
  • Kinometaxia
  • Laphyctis
  • Luogale
  • Marcetia
  • Matanomictis
  • Melidellavus
  • Mellalictis
  • Mesomephitis
  • Miomustela
  • Namibictis
  • Oaxacagale
  • Palaeomeles
  • Paragale
  • Parataxidea
  • Perunium
  • Plesictis
  • Plesiogale
  • Plesiomeles
  • Prepoecilogale
  • Presictis
  • Promellivora
  • Proputorius
  • Pyctis
  • Sabadellictis
  • Semantor
  • Sinictis
  • Sivalictis
  • Skopelogale
  • Sonitictis
  • Taxodon
  • Trochotherium
  • Xenictis
  • Zorilla
Guloninae
Helictidinae
Ictonychinae
Lutrinae
Leptarctinae
  • Craterogale
  • Leptarctus
  • Trocharion
Melinae
  • Arctomeles
  • Arctonyx
  • Meles
  • Promeles
Mellivorinae
Mustelavinae
  • Mustelavus
Mustelinae
  • Baranogale
  • Dinogale
  • Lartetictis
  • Legionarictis
  • Mustela
  • Neogale
  • Putorius
  • Tisisthenes
Oligobuninae
Taxidiinae
Taxon identifiers
Lutra
Authority control databases: National Edit this at Wikidata
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  • Czech Republic


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