''Lutra'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of otters, one of seven in the subfamily Lutrinae.

Taxonomy and evolution

The genus includes these species:

Extant species

Extinct species

*†''

Lutra affinis ''Lutra'' is a genus of otters, one of seven in the subfamily Lutrinae. Taxonomy and evolution The genus includes these species: Extant species Extinct species *†'' Lutra affinis'' *†''Lutra bressana '' *†''Lutra bravardi'' *†''L ...

'' *†''

Lutra bressana ''Lutra'' is a genus of otters, one of seven in the subfamily Lutrinae. Taxonomy and evolution The genus includes these species: Extant species Extinct species *†'' Lutra affinis'' *†'' Lutra bressana '' *†''Lutra bravardi'' *†'' ...

'' *†''

Lutra bravardi ''Lutra'' is a genus of otters, one of seven in the subfamily Lutrinae. Taxonomy and evolution The genus includes these species: Extant species Extinct species *†'' Lutra affinis'' *†'' Lutra bressana '' *†'' Lutra bravardi'' *†' ...

'' *†''

Lutra castiglionis ''Lutra castiglionis'', the Castiglione otter or Corsican otter, is an extinct species of otter that was endemic to Corsica during the Pleistocene. Taxonomy ''Lutra castiglionis'' was described in 2000, originally under a new genus, ''Cyrnolut ...

'' *†''

Lutra euxena ''Lutra euxena'' is an extinct species of otter that was endemic to Malta during the middle to late Pleistocene The Pleistocene ( , often referred to as the ''Ice age'') is the geological epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 ye ...

'' *†''

Lutra fatimazohrae ''Lutra'' is a genus of otters, one of seven in the subfamily Lutrinae. Taxonomy and evolution The genus includes these species: Extant species Extinct species *†'' Lutra affinis'' *†'' Lutra bressana '' *†'' Lutra bravardi'' *†' ...

'' *†''

Lutra franconica ''Lutra'' is a genus of otters, one of seven in the subfamily Lutrinae. Taxonomy and evolution The genus includes these species: Extant species Extinct species *†'' Lutra affinis'' *†'' Lutra bressana '' *†'' Lutra bravardi'' *†' ...

'' *†''

Lutra palaeindica ''Lutra'' is a genus of otters, one of seven in the subfamily Lutrinae. Taxonomy and evolution The genus includes these species: Extant species Extinct species *†'' Lutra affinis'' *†'' Lutra bressana '' *†'' Lutra bravardi'' *†' ...

'' *†'' Lutra simplicidens'' *†'' Lutra trinacriae'' The genus most likely evolved in Asia during the late

Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58amphibians (mainly frogs and pond turtles), bird predation (mainly anserine species), small rodents, and

invertebrates Invertebrates are a paraphyletic group of animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column (commonly known as a ''backbone'' or ''spine''), derived from the notochord. This is a grouping including all animals apart from the chordat ...

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".

Behavior

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

References

Otters Mammal genera Taxa named by Mathurin Jacques Brisson {{carnivora-stub