Lutreolina Temporal range: Miocene - Recent | |
---|---|
Big lutrine opossum (L. crassicaudata) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Didelphimorphia |
Family: | Didelphidae |
Tribe: | Didelphini |
Genus: | Lutreolina Thomas, 1910 |
Type species | |
Didelphis crassicaudata Desmarest, 1804 | |
Species | |
Lutreolina is a genus of opossum found in South America. Both extant species in this genus are known as lutrine opossums. They have an otter-like body plan and occasionally semiaquatic tendencies, hence the genus name Lutreolina, which is Latin for "otter-like".
Formerly, only one species, the big lutrine opossum (previously known as just the lutrine opossum) was recognized, but a 2014 study described a second species, Lutreolina massoia, on genetic and morphological grounds.
There are also two fossil species recognized, Lutreolina biforata (formerly placed in Hyperdidelphys) and Lutreolina materdei.
References
- Juan A. Martínez-Lanfranco , David Flores , J. Pablo Jayat , and Guillermo D'Elía, A new species of lutrine opossum, genus Lutreolina Thomas (Didelphidae), from the South American Yungas, Source: Journal of Mammalogy, 95(2):225-240. 2014.
- Goin, F.J.; Pardiñas, U. (1996). "Revision de las especies del genero Hyperdidelphys Ameghino, 1904 (Mammalia, Marsupialia, Didelphidae). Su significacion filogenetica, estratigrafica y adaptativa en el neogeno del Cono Sur Sudamericano". Estudios Geológicos. 52 (5–6). doi:10.3989/egeol.96525-6275.
Taxon identifiers | |
---|---|
Lutreolina |