LUTRIN&E. 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. Lutrine. 
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. 
102. Lutra. Otters. 
Se C.—; eee M— = 36. 
Vit 
Lutra Briss. Régn. Anim., 11 ed., 1762, p. 201. Type Mustela lutra 
Linneus. 
Lataxina Gray, List Spec. Mamm. Brit. Mus., 1843, pp. XXI, 70. 
Lataxia Gerv., Hist. Nat. Mamm., 11, 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; bulle flat- 
tened; upper molar quadrate; no diastema be- PAGE 
Sams Meet n AMG 20 TReMOlArS . oi esses eas ane [SG Sonora 5 3'5 
B. Superior outline of skull sloping anteriorly; 
bulle less flattened; upper first molar extended 
transversely; diastema present between rst 
Saeed Owen premolars... ke ne ee L. annectens 536 
canadensis sonora (Lutra), Ithoads;; ProcarAm. Phils, Soc: (Ns 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. 
