Potamogalidae

 ( Afrosoricida ) 

Potamogalidae is the family of " otter shrews", a group of semiaquatic riverine afrotherian indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. They are most closely related to the tenrecs of Madagascar, from which they are thought to have split about 47–53 million years ago. They were formerly considered a subfamily of Tenrecidae.

All otter shrews are carnivorous, preying on any aquatic animal they can find with their sensitive whiskers, particularly insects. As their common name suggests, they bear a strong, but superficial resemblance to true to which they are not closely related, nor are they closely related to true . They move through the water by undulating their tail in a side-to-side motion similar to the motions made by a crocodile swimming.

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Morphology 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.

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Extant species

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)

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Phylogeny

Relations between the various afrotherian orders are still being studied. On the basis of molecular studies, elephants and sirenians appear to be . Potamogalids are sisters to tenrecids, and next most closely related to chrysochlorids. These findings are compatible with the work of earlier anatomists.

Categories: Afrosoricida, Aquatic Mammals, Mammal Families

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