Potamogalidae
| Potamogalidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Giant otter shrew (Potamogale velox) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Afrosoricida |
| Suborder: | Tenrecomorpha |
| Family: | Potamogalidae Allmann, 1865 |
| Type genus | |
| Potamogale Du Chaillu, 1860
| |
| Genera | |
| |
Potamogalidae is the family of otter shrews, a group of semiaquatic riverine afrotherian mammals indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa.[2] They are most closely related to the tenrecs of Madagascar, from which they are thought to have split about 47–53 million years ago.[2][3][4] They were formerly considered a subfamily of Tenrecidae.[2]
All otter shrews are carnivorous, preying on any aquatic animal they can find with their sensitive whiskers, particularly insects.[5] As their common name suggests, they bear a strong, but superficial resemblance to true otters to which they are not closely related, nor are they closely related to true shrews. They move through the water by undulating their tail in a side-to-side motion similar to the motions made by a crocodile swimming.
Morphology
[edit | edit source]Otter shrews have small eyes and ears, consistent with the features of nearly all shrews. They have a broad, flat, muzzle that is substantially covered with sensitive whiskers and ends in a leathery pad. The margins of the hind feet have fringes of skin, and the second and third toes are fused. All species of otter shrews have dense, water repellent fur.[5]
Extant species
[edit | edit source]Only three species of otter shrew are recognized. Of these, P. velox has a very broad geographic range, M. lamottei has a very restricted range, and M. ruwenzorii is intermediate.
Family Potamogalidae
- Genus Micropotamogale (dwarf otter shrews)
- Nimba otter shrew (M. lamottei)
- Ruwenzori otter shrew (M. ruwenzorii)
- Genus Potamogale
- Giant otter shrew (P. velox)
Phylogeny
[edit | edit source]Relations between the various afrotherian orders are still being studied. On the basis of molecular studies, elephants and sirenians appear to be sister groups.[6] Potamogalids are sisters to tenrecids, and next most closely related to chrysochlorids. These findings are compatible with the work of earlier anatomists.[7][8]
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References
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