''Desmana'' is a genus of mole that contains a single living species, the

Russian desman The Russian desman (''Desmana moschata'') (russian: выхухоль ''vykhukhol'') is a small semiaquatic mammal that inhabits the Volga, Don and Ural River basins in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. It constructs burrows into the banks of ponds ...

''(Desmana moschata)''. A number of fossil species are known from throughout

Eurasia Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelago a ...

. The oldest species is ''Desmana marci'' from the earliest

Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. It was probably derived from earlier moles of the genus '' Archaeodesmana''. ''D. marci'' likely gave rise to ''D. verestchagini'', who may have given rise to younger species such as the living desman.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15114089 Mammal genera Mammal genera with one living species Taxa named by Johann Anton Güldenstädt Mammals described in 1777