Potamogale velox

(Du Chaillu, 1861)

Giant Otter-shrew

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Atlantogenata
Superorder : Afrotheria
Order : Afrosoricida
Suborder : Tenrecomorpha
Family : Potamogalidae
Genus : Potamogale

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Du Chaillu, P.B. 1861. Mr. Du Chaillu presented descriptions of mammals from equatorial Africa, collected by himself, and believed to be undescribed. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History 7:358-367.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9249921

Original name as described

Cynogale velox

Type material

BMNH:Mamm:1861.7.29.18

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/ef126e46-affa-4b2b-9c01-925aef68962a

Type locality

"mountains of the interior, or in the hilly country … north and south of the equator," Gabon.

Biogeographic realm

Afrotropic

Country distribution

Nigeria · Cameroon · Gabon · Equatorial Guinea · Central African Republic · Republic of the Congo · Democratic Republic of the Congo · South Sudan · Uganda · Kenya · Angola

Taxonomy notes

moved from Tenrecidae to Potamogalidae

Taxonomy notes citation

Everson, K. M., Soarimalala, V., Goodman, S. M., & Olson, L. E. (2016). Multiple loci and complete taxonomic sampling resolve the phylogeny and biogeographic history of tenrecs (Mammalia: Tenrecidae) and reveal higher speciation rates in Madagascar's humid forests. Systematic Biology, 65(5), 890-909.

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1000488

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Cynogale velox

(Du Chaillu, 1861)

Family

Potamogalidae

Root name

velox

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1861.7.29.18

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/ef126e46-affa-4b2b-9c01-925aef68962a

Authority page

361

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9249921

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History

Potamogale velox argens

O. Thomas, 1915

Family

Potamogalidae

Root name

argens

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1919.5.8.17

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/7f6e3404-596f-49dd-b028-461cfcc664eb

Authority page

470

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/22131567

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

Bronner & Jenkins (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9688)

Potamogale allmani

Jentink, 1895

Family

Potamogalidae

Root name

allmani

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

NMSc Z.1864.23

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

236

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9298286

Authority publication

Notes from the Leyden Museum

Name usages

Bronner & Jenkins (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9688)

Potamogale velox

Dollman, 1914

Family

Potamogalidae

Root name

velox

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

77

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11472357

Authority publication

Revue zoologique africaine

Name usages

  1. Dollman (1914:77, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11472357) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16563)
  2. Corbet & Hill (1980:23) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  3. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:61, 62) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  4. Bronner & Jenkins (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9688)
  5. Everson, Soarimalala, Goodman & Olson (2016:903) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35685)
  6. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #18095) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  7. Wilson & Mittermeier (2018:179) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57916)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #18095) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  9. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1000488) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  10. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18095/97203526) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

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