Lutra euxena explained

Lutra euxena is an extinct species of otter that was endemic to Malta during the middle to late Pleistocene. The species likely went extinct because of human activity.^{[1] [2]}

Evolutionary history

The species lived in Malta between 2.588 and 0.012 Ma.,^[3] having a relatively equal size to its mainland counterpart.^[2] It along with its Mediterranean counterparts colonized islands by crossing sea channels that were up to 30 km across. Over time, these otters adopted a more land-based lifestyle, eating small mammals on islands alongside fish and shellfish.^[1] It was discovered by Dorothea Bate.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Alcover . Josep Antoni . McMinn . Miquel . 1994 . Predators of Vertebrates on Islands . BioScience . 44 . 1 . 12–18 . 10.2307/1312401 . 1312401 . 0006-3568.
2. Lyras . George A. . van der Geer . Alexandra A. E. . Rook . Lorenzo . 2010 . Body size of insular carnivores: evidence from the fossil record . Journal of Biogeography . 37 . 6 . 1007–1021 . 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02312.x . 40731389 . 53700369 . 0305-0270.
3. Web site: Nesolutra euxena . 2021-11-05 . Palaeobiology Database.
4. Web site: Lutra euxena - The Recently Extinct Plants and Animals Database . 2021-11-05 . recentlyextinctspecies.com . en-gb.