Lutreolina is a genus of opossum found in South America. Both extant species in this genus are known as lutrine opossums. They have an otter-like body plan and occasionally semiaquatic tendencies, hence the genus name Lutreolina, which is Latin for "otter-like".
| Lutreolina | |
|---|---|
_(8386027817).jpg)
| |
| Big lutrine opossum (L. crassicaudata) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Didelphimorphia |
| Family: | Didelphidae |
| Tribe: | Didelphini |
| Genus: | Lutreolina Thomas, 1910 |
| Type species | |
| Didelphis crassicaudata Desmarest, 1804
| |
| Species | |
Formerly, only one species, the big lutrine opossum (previously known as just the lutrine opossum) was recognized, but a 2014 study described a second species, Lutreolina massoia, on genetic and morphological grounds.[1]
There are also two fossil species recognized, Lutreolina biforata (formerly placed in Hyperdidelphys)[2] and Lutreolina materdei.
References
edit- ^ Juan A. Martínez-Lanfranco , David Flores , J. Pablo Jayat , and Guillermo D'Elía, A new species of lutrine opossum, genus Lutreolina Thomas (Didelphidae), from the South American Yungas, Source: Journal of Mammalogy, 95(2):225-240. 2014.
- ^ Goin, F.J.; Pardiñas, U. (1996). "Revision de las especies del genero Hyperdidelphys Ameghino, 1904 (Mammalia, Marsupialia, Didelphidae). Su significacion filogenetica, estratigrafica y adaptativa en el neogeno del Cono Sur Sudamericano". Estudios Geológicos. 52 (5–6). doi:10.3989/egeol.96525-6275.