LUTRIN^. LUTRA. 535 



the animal after each descent scrambling awkwardly to the top for 

 another plunge downward. Otters are eagerly sought by trappers, 

 on account of their beautiful fur, which is very thick and of a rich 

 color, and possesses good wearing qualities. It has been pursued, 

 like all other fur-bearing animals, with such persistency and success, 

 that in most localities it has become very scarce, and in others has 

 disappeared entirely. North of Mexico a number of species and 

 races are recognized at the present time, and how many exist south 

 of the Mexican boundary is not definitely known. 



Subfam. Lutrinee. 



Body lengthened, supple; tail long, tapering, depressed, sides 

 rounded; feet short, broad, palmate; digits distinct, center one the 

 longest; claws small; head broad, muzzle short; soles and palms hairy: 

 eyes and ears small. 



1O2. Lutra. Otters. 



Lutra Briss. Regn. Anim., n ed., 1762, p. 201. Type Mustela lutra 



Linnaeus. 



Lataxina Gray, List Spec. Mamm. Brit. Mus., 1843, PP- XXI 7- 

 Lataxia Gerv., Hist. Nat. Mamm., n, 1855, p. 118. 

 Upper molar large, quadrate; posterior upper premolar triangular. 



Skull depressed, superior outline nearly straight; rostrum short; hind 



portion of skull dilated; nostrils large; palate extending beyond 



molars ; hamular processes to pterygoids. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES. 



A. Superior outline of skull straight; bullae flat- 



tened; upper molar quadrate; no diastema be- PAGE 



tween ist and 2d premolars .................. L. c. sonora 535 



B. Superior outline of skull sloping anteriorly; 

 bullae less flattened ; upper first molar extended 

 transversely; diastema present between ist 



and 2d lower premolars .................... L. annectens 536 



caruidensis sonora (Lutra), Rhoads, Proc. Am. Phil. Soc., N. S., 



1898, p. 431. Elliot, Syn. N. Am. Mamm., 1901, p. 353. 

 MEXICAN OTTER. 



Type locality. Montezuma Well, Beaver Creek, Yavapai County, 

 Arizona. 



Geogr. Distr. State of Sonora, Mexico, to Wyoming. 



