Lutreolina
| Lutreolina | |
|---|---|
| Big lutrine opossum (L. crassicaudata) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Didelphimorphia |
| Family: | Didelphidae |
| Tribe: | Didelphini |
| Genus: | Lutreolina Thomas, 1910 |
| Type species | |
| Didelphis crassicaudata Desmarest, 1804 | |
| Species | |
| |
Lutreolina is a genus of opossum found in South America. Both extant species in this genus are known as lutrine opossums. They have an otter-like body plan and occasionally semiaquatic tendencies, hence the genus name Lutreolina, which is Latin for "otter-like".
Formerly, only one species, the big lutrine opossum (previously known as just the lutrine opossum) was recognized, but a 2014 study described a second species, Lutreolina massoia, on genetic and morphological grounds.
There are also two fossil species recognized, Lutreolina biforata (formerly placed in Hyperdidelphys) and Lutreolina materdei.