| Enhydra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sea otter(Enhydra lutris) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Caniformia |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Subfamily: | Lutrinae |
| Genus: | Enhydra Fleming, 1828 |
| Species | |
Enhydra lutris - Sea otter | |
Enhydra is a genus of mustelid that contains thesea otter and two extinct relatives. It is the only extant genus of the bunodont otters group, referring to otters with non-bladecarnassials with rounded cusps.[1]
Sea otters probably diverged from other otters during thePliocene, approximately 5 mya.[2] They probably arose from the closely relatedEnhydritherium, a bunodont otter endemic to North America during the lateMiocene and early Pliocene epochs.[1]
Enhydra reevei, the oldest known species, has its origins in the Atlantic, suggesting this may have been where sea otters originated.[2] Fossil evidence indicates theEnhydra lineage became isolated in theNorth Pacific approximately 2 million years ago, giving rise to the now-extinctEnhydra macrodonta and the modern sea otter.
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| Other | |
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