Pteronura brasiliensis

(J. F. Gmelin, 1788)

Giant Otter

Taxonomy

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

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Gmelin, J.F. 1788-07-25. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Georg Emanuel Beer, Leipzig, 500 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25751313

Original name as described

Mustela brasiliensis

Type locality

“río São Franciso, en la orilla correspondiente al estado de Alagoas,” Brazil.

Biogeographic realm

Neotropic

Country distribution

Colombia · Venezuela · Guyana · Suriname · French Guiana · Ecuador · Peru · Brazil · Bolivia · Paraguay · Argentina? · Uruguay?

Taxonomy notes

the authority of the species is typically referenced from J. F. Gmelin, 1788, but the oldest legitimate use of the name was actually in E. A. W. Zimmermann, 1780, which is used here

Taxonomy notes citation

Noonan, P., Prout, S., & Hayssen, V. (2017). Pteronura brasiliensis (Carnivora: Mustelidae). Mammalian Species, 49(953), 97-108.

IUCN Red List status

Endangered

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005852

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Known distribution is shown in green and predicted distribution is in yellow. 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.

Pteronura Sambachii

J. E. Gray, 1837

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

sambachii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1877.3.12.2

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/b29bf60f-8c95-4954-91e3-82c55e272b36

Authority page

580

Authority page URI

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

Authority publication

Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

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

Lutra brasiliensis

(G. Fischer, 1814)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

brasiliensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

xxi

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130082

Authority publication

Moscow

Name usages

  1. Fischer (1814:xxi, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130082) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
  2. Illiger (1815:110, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080966) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38688)
  3. Godman (1826:222, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/49165522) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67289)
  4. Lesson (1827:155, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207623) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  5. Smith (1842:252) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  6. True (1885:609, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7306403) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35039)
  7. Lahille (1899:182, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35147048) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37834)

Saricovia brasiliensis

(Lesson, 1842)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

brasiliensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

72

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1842:72) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra Paroensis

(Lesson, 1842)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

paroensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

73

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:73) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Pteronurus Sandbackii

Lesson, 1842

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

sandbackii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

72

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:72) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Pteronura brasiliensis

von Ihering, 1911

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

brasiliensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

262

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10798780

Authority publication

Revista do Museu Paulista

Name usages

  1. Ihering (1911:262, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10798780) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37348)
  2. Corbet & Hill (1980:99) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  3. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:264) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  4. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  5. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:641) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)
  6. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #18711) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  7. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #18711) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005852) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  9. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18711/244867206) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Pteronura brasiliensis brasiliensis

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

brasiliensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

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

Pteronura brasiliensis paraguensis

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

paraguensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

605

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005:605) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra lupina

(Illiger, 1815)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

lupina

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

110

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080966

Authority publication

Abhandlungen der physikalischen Klasse der Königlich-Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Name usages

Illiger (1815:110, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080966) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38688)

Lutra Brasiliensis

(Brisson, 1762)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

brasiliensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

inconsistently_binominal

Authority page

202

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28278715

Authority publication

Leiden

Lutra (brasiliensis)

(E. A. W. von Zimmermann, 1780)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

brasiliensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

notintendedasascientific_name

Authority page

316

Authority publication

Leipzig

Mustela brasiliensis

(J. F. Gmelin, 1788)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

brasiliensis

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

93

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25751313

Authority publication

Leipzig

Name usages

Daudin (1802:163, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42033413) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64044)

Lutra brasiliana

(G. K. Shaw, 1800)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

brasiliana

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

446

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/19632552

Authority publication

London

Name usages

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

Lutra nitens

(I. von Olfers, 1818)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

nitens

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

233

Authority publication

book

Lutra lupina

(H. R. Schinz, 1821)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

lupina

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

213

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51528974

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Name usages

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

Lutra paraguaensis

(H. R. Schinz, 1821)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

paraguaensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

213

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51528974

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Lutra paranensis

(Rengger, 1830)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

paranensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

128-138

Authority publication

Basel

Name usages

  1. Lahille (1899:182, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35147048) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37834)
  2. Ihering (1911:260, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10798778) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37348)
  3. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Pteronura Sanbachii

Wiegmann, 1839

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

sanbachii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

395

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2433202

Authority publication

Archiv für Naturgeschichte

Name usages

  1. Gray (1865:135, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497066) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/18241)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Lutra brasiliensis

(Boitard, 1841)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

brasiliensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

misidentification

Authority page

186

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16650252

Authority publication

Paris

Pteronura Sandbachii Var. Kappleri

J. E. Gray, 1869

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

kappleri

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

114

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8397033

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Pteronura Sandbachii

J. E. Gray, 1869

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

sandbachii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

114

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8397033

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Name usages

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

Pteroneura braziliensis

Sanderson, 1949

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

braziliensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

774

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Please send any edits, corrections, or unfilled data (including full citations) to mammaldiversity [at] gmail [dot] com.