Classification and Taxonomy Refresher - Genus, Enhydra (Sea Otters)

Genus, Enhydra

Domain: Eukaryota - Organisms whose cells have a membrane-bound nucleus (“Eukaryote” 2024). 

Kingdom: Animalia - Animals are eukaryotic, multicellular, and heterotrophic (“Animal” 2024).

Phylum: Chordata - All chordates possess five physical characteristics that distinguish them from other taxa including a notochord, a hollow dorsal nerve cord, and endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail (“Chordate” 2024).

Class: Mammalia -Mammals have milk-producing mammary glands, a neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three middle ear bones (“Mammal” 2024).

Order: Carnivora - Carnivores typically have large, sharp teeth and powerful jaws and prey on other animals (“Carnivora” 2024).

Suborder: Caniformia - Most members of Caniformia have nonretractile claws (except the fisher, marten, sea otter, red panda, and ringtail) and tend to be plantigrade. They also have longer jaws and more teeth and tend more towards omnivory and opportunistic feeding (“” 2024). 

Superfamily: Musteloidea 

Family: Mustelidae - Typically small with elongated bodies, short legs, short skulls, short, round ears, and thick fur. They are also solitary, carnivorous, and nocturnal (“Mustelidae” 2024). 

Subfamily: Lutrinae - This subfamily includes otters which are semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine. They have long bodies and short limbs with webbed feet (“Otter” 2024).

Genus: Enhydra - This genus includes otters with non-blade carnassials with rounded cusps, but the only living members are sea otters (“Enhydra” 2024).

Species: Enhydra lutris - One of the smallest marine mammals, but the heaviest mustelid and uses thick fur to keep warm (“Sea otter” 2024). 

Subspecies: E. l. lutris

Genus: Enhydra

Species: Enhydra lutris

Subspecies: E. l. kenyoni

Genus: Enhydra

Species: Enhydra lutris

Subspecies: E. l. Nereis

Works referenced

Animal. (2024, July 17). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal

Caniormia. (2024, July 16). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caniformia 

Carnivora. (2024, July 28). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnivora 

Chordate. (2024, July 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chordate 

Enhydra. (2024, July 27). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhydra

Eukaryote. (2024, July 28). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eukaryote

Mammal. (2024, July 24). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammal 

Mustelidae. (2024, July 25). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustelidae 

Musteloidea. (2024, July 7). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musteloidea 

Otter. (2024, July 17). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter 

Sea otter. (2024, July 13). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_otter