Lontra longicaudis (Olfers 1818)

[Lutra] longicaudis Olfers 1818, in: Eschwege, J. Brasilien, Neue Bibliothek. Reisenb., Vol. 15, 2: 233.

Type Locality: " Brasilien." .

Vernacular Names: Neotropical Otter.

Subspecies::

Subspecies Lontra longicaudis subsp. longicaudis Olfers 1818

Subspecies Lontra longicaudis subsp. annectens Major 1897

Subspecies Lontra longicaudis subsp. enudris F. G. Cuvier 1823

Distribution: Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Conservation: CITES – Appendix I; U.S. ESA – Endangered as L. longicaudis (incl. platensis); IUCN – Data Deficient.

Discussion: Van Zyll de Jong (1972) included annectens, enudris, incarum, mesopetes, and platensis; however, Pohle (1920 a), Cabrera (1957), and Harris (1968) recognized these as distinct species. These taxa (often referred to as the annectens group) were distinguished primarily by variation in the shape of the rhinarium; van Zyll de Jong's (1972) analysis suggested that these should be considered conspecific. Reviewed by Larivière (1999 b). Synonyms allocated according to Hall (1981) and Larivière (1999 b).