LATAX, 537 
103. Latax. 
oi oe ee Me ga. 
Latax Gloger, Nov. Act. Phys. Med. Acad. Caes. Leop. Carol., x11, 
1827, pt. 2, p. 511. Type Lutra marina Erxl. = Mustela 
lutris Linneeus. 
Pusa Oken, Lehrb. Naturg., 1816, Th. 111, 2te Abth., p. 986. 
(nec Scopoli.) 
Enhydra Flem. Phil. Zodl., 11, 1822, p. 187. (nec Enhydris 
Merrem. Rept.) 
Only four incisors in lower jaw; molars massive, cusps rounded, 
smooth; upper molar and posterior upper premolar somewhat oval; 
anterior lower premolar largest of the lower teeth; skull similar to 
that of Lutra; hind feet larger, flat, fin-like; fifth toe longest, rest 
diminishing to the first; claws moderate; tail obtuse, one-fourth the 
length of head and body. 
507. lutris (Mustela), Linn., Syst. Nat. 1, 1758, p. 45; I, 1766, 
p. 66. Elliot, Syn. N. Am. Mamm., 1901, p. 354. 
marina Erxleb., Syst. Regn. Anim., 1777, p. 445. 
orientalis Oken, Lehrb. Natur., 111, 1816, p. 986. 
stellert Less., Man. Mamm., 1827, p. 156. 
gracilis Fisch., Syn. Mamm., 1829, p. 229. 
SEA OTTER. 
Type locality. ‘‘ America Septentrionali. 
Geogr. Distr. Coasts of Bering Sea and of the North Pacific 
Ocean, south to coasts of northern Lower California in the Kelp beds 
of San Tomas and San Quentin bays. Nearly extinct on American 
and Mexican shores. 
Genl. Char. Hind feet very broad, webbed soles furry; fore feet 
very small, palms naked; tail flattish, smooth, one-fourth length of 
body; only four lower incisors. 
Color. Adult: black, frosted with white-tipped hairs; head and 
neck grayish white or yellowish white. 
Measurements. Total length about 1050; tail vertebre, 330; hind 
foot, 150; width, roo. Skull: occipito-nasal length, 111; Hensel, 109; 
zygomatic width, 98; width across postorbital processes, 48; inter- 
orbital constriction, 28; mastoid breadth, 96; length of nasals, anky- 
losed, about 20; palatal length, 56; length of braincase, 62; length 
of first upper molar, 7; width, 11; length of first lower molar, 15; 
width 13; length of mandible, angle to alveoli of incisors, 75; height, 
angle to condyle, 21; angle to top of coronoid processes, 44. 
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