Lutra lutra

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Eurasian Otter

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Carnivora
Suborder : Caniformia
Infraorder : Arctoidea
Superfamily : Musteloidea
Family : Mustelidae
Subfamily : Lutrinae
Genus : Lutra

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Linnaeus, C. 1758-01-01. Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 823 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033856

Original name as described

Mustela lutra

Other common names

European Otter

Type locality

Sweden.

Biogeographic realm

Palearctic · Indomalaya

Country distribution

Morocco · Algeria · Tunisia · Ireland · United Kingdom · Portugal · Spain · France · Netherlands · Belgium · Luxembourg · Switzerland · Liechtenstein · Italy · Germany · Denmark · Austria · Czech Republic · Slovakia · Poland · Hungary · Slovenia · Croatia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Serbia · Kosovo · Montenegro · Albania · North Macedonia · Greece · Bulgaria · Romania · Moldova · Ukraine · Belarus · Lithuania · Latvia · Estonia · Norway · Sweden · Finland · Russia · Georgia · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Turkey · Syria · Lebanon · Israel · Palestine · Jordan · Iraq · Iran · Turkmenistan · Uzbekistan · Kazakhstan · Kyrgyzstan · Tajikistan · Afghanistan · Pakistan · India · Sri Lanka · Nepal · Bhutan · China · Mongolia · North Korea · South Korea · Myanmar · Thailand · Laos · Vietnam · Cambodia · Indonesia

Taxonomy notes

sometimes considered to include L. nippon, although recent molecular studies have shown that the species is a distinct species

Taxonomy notes citation

Park, H. C., Kurihara, N., Kim, K. S., Min, M. S., Han, S., Lee, H., & Kimura, J. (2019). What is the taxonomic status of East Asian otter species based on molecular evidence?: focus on the position of the Japanese otter holotype specimen from museum. Animal cells and systems, 23(3), 228-234.

IUCN Red List status

Near Threatened

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005848

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.

Lutra chinensis

J. E. Gray, 1837

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

chinensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:100a

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/7c883b83-0955-4aaf-a04a-496f448906b6

Authority page

580

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27268171

Authority publication

Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Smith (1842:252) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  2. Lesson (1842:73) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  3. Gray (1865:126, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497057) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/18241)

Lutra indica

J. E. Gray, 1837

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

indica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:132a, BMNH:Mamm:1668a

Type kind

syntypes

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/90e969a7-3a90-4355-b094-6e0dd2ba9b7d https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/ee4e9d59-33ec-4512-bc76-94d5e46dcd55

Authority page

580

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27268171

Authority publication

Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1842:73) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  2. Gray (1865:127, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497058) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/18241)
  3. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra monticolus

Hodgson, 1839

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

monticola

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1845.1.8.38, BMNH:Mamm:214f

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/60c34cec-bfc7-4b2e-b64e-cf8bdb0aadce

Authority page

320

Authority publication

Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal

Lutra roensis

W. Ogilby, 1835

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

roensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1857.12.24.4

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/b2445f8a-2444-4217-9218-9b40f853bd1d

Authority page

111

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30568454

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

  1. Smith (1842:250) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra angustifrons

Lataste, 1885

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

angustifrons

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1919.7.7.2531

Type kind

lectotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/81303c93-378b-4a85-9934-52c7658e5380

Authority page

237

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26424304

Authority publication

Actes de la Société Linnéenne de Bordeaux

Lutra lutra splendida

Cabrera, 1906

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

splendida

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNCN 1998

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

360

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1726947

Authority publication

Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra nair

F. Cuvier, 1823

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

nair

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNHN-ZM-MO-2001-309, MNHN-ZM-MO-2001-310

Type kind

syntypes

Type specimen URI

http://coldb.mnhn.fr/catalognumber/mnhn/zm/mo-2001-309 http://coldb.mnhn.fr/catalognumber/mnhn/zm/mo-2001-310

Authority page

247

Authority publication

Strasbourg

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:156, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207624) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Smith (1842:251) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  3. Lesson (1842:73) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  4. Layard (1851:405, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13788005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67277)
  5. Kelaart (1852:156, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59278676) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67270)
  6. Kelaart (1852:35, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52257234) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38608)
  7. Blyth (1863:72, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534700) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)
  8. Kelaart (1890:317) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60533)

Lutra barang

F. Cuvier, 1823

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

barang

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNHN-ZM-MO-2001-348

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://coldb.mnhn.fr/catalognumber/mnhn/zm/mo-2001-348

Authority page

246

Authority publication

Strasbourg

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:156, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207624) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Smith (1842:252) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)

Lutra lutra borealis

Stroganov, 1960

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

borealis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SZM N 7201

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

156

Authority publication

Труды Биологического Института, Академия Наук СССР, Западно-Сибирский Филиал

Lutra stejnegeri

E. A. Goldman, 1936

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

stejnegeri

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:A49485

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3f33a842d-9a72-44d9-9270-acbb5164f326

Authority page

164

Authority publication

Journal of Mammalogy

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra lutra oxiana

Birula, 1915

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

oxiana

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZIN O. 10029, ZIN S. 10347

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

xxi

Authority publication

Annuaire du Musée Zoologique de l'Académie Imperiale des Sciences de St.-Pétersbourg

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra lutra seistanica

Birula, 1913

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

seistanica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZIN S. 8363

Type kind

lectotype

Authority page

274

Authority publication

Annuaire du Musée Zoologique de l'Académie Imperiale des Sciences de St.-Pétersbourg

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra intermedia

Pohle, 1919

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

intermedia

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZMB 30530/31

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

62

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/45490132

Authority publication

Archiv für Naturgeschichte

Lutra lutra ceylonica

Pohle, 1919

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

ceylonica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZMB 4559

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

72

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/45490142

Authority publication

Archiv für Naturgeschichte

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra lutra meridionalis

Ognev, 1931

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

meridionalis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZMMU S-12901

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://zmmu.msu.ru/dbs/list_record.php?id=S-12901

Authority page

527

Authority publication

Moscow

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Mustella lutra

(Crespon, 1844)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

lutra

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

46

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52795650

Authority publication

Nîmes

Name usages

Crespon (1844:46, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52795650) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38970)

Aonyx aurobrunnea

(J. E. Gray, 1865)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

aurobrunnea

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

131

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497062

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Gray (1865:131, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497062) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/18241)

Lutra lutra

Coetzee, 1971

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

lutra

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

10

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:10) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Corbet & Hill (1980:98) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  3. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:258) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  4. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  5. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:500) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  6. Smith & Xie (2008:433) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64149)
  7. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:644) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)
  8. Kingdon & Hoffman (2013:111) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/27643)
  9. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #12419) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  10. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #12419) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  11. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005848) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  12. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/12419/218069689) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Lutra lutra angustifrons

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

angustifrons

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra lutra aurobrunneus

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

aurobrunneus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra lutra barang

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

barang

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra lutra chinensis

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

chinensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Smith & Xie (2008:433) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64149)

Lutra lutra kutab

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

kutab

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Smith & Xie (2008:433) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64149)

Lutra lutra lutra

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

lutra

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Smith & Xie (2008:433) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64149)

Lutra lutra monticolus

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

monticolus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra lutra nair

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

nair

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Mustela lutra

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

lutra

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

45

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033856

Authority publication

Stockholm

Name usages

  1. Cuvier (1797:115, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637197) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38531)
  2. Daudin (1802:163, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42033413) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64044)

Lutra vulgaris

Erxleben, 1777

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

vulgaris

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

448

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873245

Authority publication

Leipzig

Name usages

  1. Erxleben (1777:448, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873245) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36060)
  2. Fischer (1814:xxi, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130082) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
  3. Illiger (1815:64, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080920) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38688)
  4. Billberg (1827:28) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67228)
  5. Lesson (1827:154, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207622) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  6. Cuvier (1842:3, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44518526) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60227)
  7. Smith (1842:249) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  8. Lesson (1842:72) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  9. Fitzinger (1855:347) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/65926)
  10. Loche (1858:10, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41949442) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60564)
  11. Blyth (1863:73, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534754) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)
  12. Gray (1865:126, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497057) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/18241)
  13. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Mustela Lutra piscatoria

(Kerr, 1792)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

piscatoria

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

172

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38664196

Authority publication

Edinburgh

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra fluviatilis

Leach, 1816

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

fluviatilis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

6

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra vulgaris var. marinus

Billberg, 1827

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

marina

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

28

Authority publication

Stockholm

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra nudipes

Melchior, 1834

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

nudipes

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

50

Authority publication

book

Name usages

  1. Gray (1865:126, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497057) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/18241)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra aurobrunneus

Hodgson, 1839

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

aurobrunnea

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

320

Authority publication

Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal

Lutra kutab

H. R. Schinz, 1844

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

kutab

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

354

Authority publication

Solothurn

Lutra Monticola

Hodgson, 1844

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

monticola

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

287

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/46405522

Authority publication

Calcutta Journal of Natural History

Lutra sinensis

J. E. Gray, 1863

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

sinensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

7

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Barangia? nepalensis

(J. E. Gray, 1865)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

nepalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

124

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497055

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

  1. Gray (1865:124, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497055) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/18241)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutronectes whiteleyi

(J. E. Gray, 1867)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

whiteleyi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

181

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29533621

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra vulgaris Varietas japonica

Nehring, 1887

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

japonica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

22

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7795280

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Lutra hanensis

Matschie, 1907

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

hanensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

150

Authority publication

Berlin

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra vulgaris var. amurensis

Dybowski, 1922

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

amurensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

349

Authority publication

Arch. Tow. Nauk. Lwow

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra vulgaris var. baicalensis

Dybowski, 1922

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

baicalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

349

Authority publication

Arch. Tow. Nauk. Lwow

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra vulgaris var. kamtschatica

Dybowski, 1922

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

kamtschatica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

349

Authority publication

Arch. Tow. Nauk. Lwow

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra lutra hainana

Xu Longhui & Liu Zhenhe in Xu Longhui, Liu Zhenhe, Liao Weiping, Li Xiaohui, Yu Simian, Qiu Jinchang, Zhou Yuyuan, Deng Juxie, Guan Guanxun, Liu Jizhen, & Yan Kun, 1983

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

hainana

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

299

Authority publication

book

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Smith & Xie (2008:433) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64149)

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