Lutra castiglionis, the Castiglione otter or Corsican otter, is an extinct species of otter that was endemic to Corsica during the Pleistocene.
Lutra castiglionis Temporal range: Mid Pleistocene
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Family: | Mustelidae |
Genus: | Lutra |
Species: | †L. castiglionis
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Binomial name | |
†Lutra castiglionis Pereira & Salotti, 2000
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Synonyms | |
Cyrnolutra castiglionis |
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 Lutra simplicidens, known from mainland Europe.
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).