Lontra weiri (Weir's otter) is a fossil species in the carnivoran family Mustelidae from the Hagerman Fossil Beds of Idaho. It shared its habitat with Satherium piscinarium, a probable ancestor of the giant otter of South America.[1] It is named in honor of musician Bob Weir, and is the oldest known member of its genus.[2] Prior to its discovery, Lontra was thought to have evolved from Lutra licenti, which dates from the Pleistocene of East Asia.[3]
| Weir's otter Temporal range:
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|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Genus: | Lontra |
| Species: | †L. weiri
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| Binomial name | |
| †Lontra weiri Prassack (2016)
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Description
editWeir's otter was intermediate in form between Lutra (Old World river otters) and modern members of its genus. It was a small otter, similar in size to the modern marine otter (Lontra felina),[2] which has a head-body length of 33 to 44 inches and can weigh up to 12 pounds.[4] It is known from most of a right mandible and a left humerus.[2]
References
edit- ^ Prassack, K.A. (July 2016). "Lontra weiri, sp. nov., a Pliocene river otter (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae, Lutrinae) from the Hagerman Fossil Beds (Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument), Idaho, USA". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 36 (4): e1149075. doi:10.1080/02724634.2016.1149075. S2CID 87404097.
- ^ a b c Switek, Brian. "Paleo Profile: Bob Weir's Otter". Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ Revell, Jamie. "Ancient Otters of Idaho". Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ Marine otter (Lontra felina). arkive.org
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