Enhydrictis
Enhydrictis is a genus of extinct mustelids. The type species, and best known, is Enhydrictis galictoides from the Pleistocene of Sardinia. Taxonomy. The exact number of species of "Enhydrictis" has been a matter of debate. It is believed to have evolved from a related genus from mainland Europe known as "Pannonictis". One species, "P. Pilgrimi" has been classified as a belonging to "Enhydictis" (as "Enydrictis ardea"), although this is unlikely. A 2019 study also suggests that the genus "Oriensictis" of Asia should be considered a synonym of "Enhydrictis" as well. In 2016, a new species from Algeria was described . Known as "Enhydrictis hoffstetteri", it is the first member of the genus known from Africa. Other scholars have considered the attribution of this species to "Enhydrictis" doubtful, and that the species should be placed in "Pannonictis" instead. In 2018 a new species, "Enhydrictis praegalictoides" was described from Middle Pleistocene aged sites on Sardinia, which is likely ancestral to "E. galictoides". "Enhydrictis" and its relatives are classified as belonging to the subfamily Galictinae. and to the tribe Galctini, the only extant genera of which, "Galictis" and "Lyncodon," are endemic to Central and South America. Description. "Enhydrictis galictoides" was a fairly large , robust terrestrial mustelid. When first described, it was considered to be an otter-like species adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, but studies on the limb bones do not support such claims. Related species. During the Pleistocene, Sardinia was home to several other mustelids, such as the otters "Megalenhydris" and "Sardolutra".