| Algarolutra Temporal range: Pleistocene | |
|---|---|
| |
| A restored sketch sheet of Algarolutra majori (bottom) along with Sardolutra ichnusae (top) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Subfamily: | Lutrinae |
| Genus: | â Algarolutra Malatesta, 1978 |
| Species: | â A. majori |
| Binomial name | |
| â Algarolutra majori Malatesta, 1978 | |
Algarolutra is an extinct monospecific genus of otter from the Pleistocene of Corsica and Sardinia. The type and only species of the genus is A. majori.
Discovery and Naming[]
A. majori, was originally attributed to the genus Cyrnaonyx and its type species C. antiqua, which was based on fossils from Corsica and also from mainland France. From mainland Europe, only lower dentition was known, whereas from Corsica and Sardinia only upper dentition was known. When a specimen of C. antiqua with both upper and lower dentition finally were found in England, it became clear that the species A. majori was too different to keep even in the same genus, and the genus Algarolutra was described.