THE MAMMALS
OF
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
Order CARNIVORA {continued)
Family MUSTELIDAI
OTTERS, BADGERS, AND WEASELS
T h e large family Mustelidce includes not only the Otters, but the Badgers, Weasels,
and their allies. Except in Australia and Madagascar, members of the family are
found throughout the globe. Most of the group are characterised by short limbs
and slender, elongated bodies. They have but a single pair of molars in the upper
jaw, and usually two pairs in the lower; the inner portion of the upper molar is
wider than the outer portion. In fossil forms two molars are generally present
in the upper jaw. The family is now generally divided into three sub-families : the
Lutnnce or Otters, the Melince or Badgers, and the Mustelince or True Weasels.
Sub-family LUTRINJE
The Otters, with the exception of the Sea-otter {Latax), which has flipper-like
hind feet analogous but not homologous to those of the seals, have short and
rounded feet, webbed and furnished with blunt claws; the limbs are short and
stout, and the tail usually long. The grinding teeth are one pair of molars in
the upper jaw, very square teeth, and two in the lower; generally four pairs of
premolars in the upper jaw and three pairs in the lower. Otters are found throughout
the world, except in Australia, Madagascar, the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
Genus L u tra
Only one species, L u tra lu tra , occurs in the British Islands. The generic characters
are those given above for the majority of the sub-family, for I have not thought
it necessary to go deeply into the dental and other differences of certain species.
VOL. II. B