Lontra weiri


Lontra weiri 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. It is named in honor of musician Bob Weir, and is the oldest known member of its genus. Prior to its discovery, Lontra was thought to have evolved from Lutra licenti, which dates from the Pleistocene of East Asia.

Description

Weir's otter was intermediate in form between Lutra and modern members of its genus. It was a small otter, similar in size to the modern marine otter, which has a head-body length of 33 to 44 inches and can weigh up to 12 pounds. It is known from most of a right mandible and a left humerus.