{{Short description|Extinct species of otter}} {{Speciesbox | fossil_range = 2.588 to 0.012 Ma | status = EX | extinct = 0.012 Ma | genus = Lutra | species = euxena | authority = (Bate 1935) | synonyms = †''Nesolutra euxena'' <small>Bate 1935</small> }}
'''''Lutra euxena''''' is an extinct species of otter that was endemic to Malta. Initially described under the genus ''Nesolutra'' by Dorothea Bate in 1835, it was reclassified to the current taxon in 1992. It inhabited the island during the middle to late Pleistocene era between 2.588 and 0.012 million years ago. The species likely crossed over from the mainland and later adopted a land based lifestyle in the islands. The otters likely went extinct because of the activity of early humans.
== Taxonomy == ''Lutra euxena'' is classified under the otter family Mustelidae. It was named as ''Nesolutra euxena'' by Dorothea Bate in 1935, and was recombined as ''Lutra euxena'' by Willemsen in 1992.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Bate, D. M. A.|year=1935|title=Two new mammals from the Pleistocene of Malta|journal=Zoological Society of London|pages=247–264 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1935.tb06248.x }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Willemsen, G. F.|year=1992|title=A Revision of the Pliocene and Quaternary Lutrinae from Europe|journal=Scripta Geologica 10|pages=1-1154}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=157306&is_real_user=1|title=Nesolutra euxena|work=Paleo database|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lutra euxena - The Recently Extinct Plants and Animals Database |url=https://recentlyextinctspecies.com/carnivora-carnivores/lutra-euxena |access-date=5 November 2021 |work=Recentlyextinctspecies.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> As per Willemsen, ''Lutra simplicidens'' was a common ancestor to many of the otters from the Pleistocene and Holocene era that were endemic to the Mediterranean islands.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277379116300105|journal=Quaternary Science Reviews|volume=135|date=1 March 2016|pages=92–102|title=A new otter from the Early Pleistocene of Pantalla (Italy), with remarks on the evolutionary history of Mediterranean Quaternary Lutrinae (Carnivora, Mustelidae)|author=Marco Cherin |doi=10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.01.008 |bibcode=2016QSRv..135...92C |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
== Distribution == ''Lutra euxena'' was endemic to Malta and lived the middle to late Pleistocene era between 2.588 and 0.012 million years ago. It likely went extinct because of human activity.<ref name=alcover>{{cite journal |last1=Alcover |first1=Josep Antoni |last2=McMinn |first2=Miquel |date=1994 |title=Predators of Vertebrates on Islands |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1312401 |journal=BioScience |volume=44 |issue=1 |pages=12–18 |doi=10.2307/1312401 |jstor=1312401 |issn=0006-3568|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=biogeography>{{cite journal |last1=Lyras |first1=George A. |last2=van der Geer |first2=Alexandra A. E. |last3=Rook |first3=Lorenzo |date=2010 |title=Body size of insular carnivores: evidence from the fossil record |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40731389 |journal=Journal of Biogeography |volume=37 |issue=6 |pages=1007–1021 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02312.x |jstor=40731389 |bibcode=2010JBiog..37.1007L |s2cid=53700369 |issn=0305-0270|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Two new Mammals from the Pleistocene of Malta|journal=Journal of Zoology|date=August 2009|volume=105|issue=2|pages=247–264|doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1935.tb06248.x}}</ref>
== Morphology == ''Lutra euxena'' is described as relatively similar in size to other otters found in the Mediterranean region.<ref name=biogeography/> The species had strong forelimbs, evident from well developed grooves and lateral development of the muscles from fossilized specimens.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Recurrence of Vogelgnathus Campbelli-dominated Conodont Faunas in the Visbéan and Early Namurian of the Cantabrian Mts: Issues 92-101|author=A. Spaan, Annelies Kleijne, G. F. Willemsen, Jan H. Stel, M. Freudenthal, Marinus Boogaard, R. Daams, R. P. Kuijper, Alberto Marcos|year=1990|publisher=Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum|page=69}}</ref> It probably colonized the islands of Malta by crossing the sea channels from the mainland. Later these otters adopted a land-based lifestyle, as there were few large mammals inhabiting the islands.<ref name=alcover/><ref>{{cite book|title=Evolution of Island Mammals Adaptation and Extinction of Placental Mammals on Islands|author=Alexandra van der Geer, George Lyras, John de Vos, Michael Dermitzakis|year=2011|isbn=978-1-444-39128-2|publisher=Wiley|page=98}}</ref> The otters consumed small mammals on the islands alongside fish and shellfish.<ref name=alcover/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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Category:Extinct carnivorans Category:Fauna of Malta Category:Mustelidae Category:Mammals described in 1935 Category:Fossil taxa described in 1935