Enhydrictis

The exact number of species of Enhydrictis has been a matter of debate. It is believed to have evolved from a related genus from mainland Europe known as Pannonictis.[2] One species, P. Pilgrimi has been classified as a belonging to Enhydictis (as Enydrictis ardea), although this is unlikely.[3][4] A 2019 study also suggests that the genus Oriensictis of Asia should be considered a synonym of Enhydrictis as well.[5] In 2016, a new species from Algeria was described. Known as Enhydrictis hoffstetteri, it is the first member of the genus known from Africa.[6] Other scholars have considered the attribution of this species to Enhydrictis doubtful, and that the species should be placed in Pannonictis instead.[7][8] In 2018 a new species, Enhydrictis praegalictoides was described from Middle Pleistocene aged sites on Sardinia, which is likely ancestral to E. galictoides.[7]

Enhydrictis and its relatives are classified as belonging to the subfamily Galictinae.[8] and to the tribe Galctini, the only extant genera of which, Galictis and Lyncodon, are endemic to Central and South America.[7]

Enhydrictis galictoides was a fairly large, robust terrestrial mustelid.[9] When first described, it was considered to be an otter-like species adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, but studies on the limb bones do not support such claims.[10]

During the Pleistocene, Sardinia was home to several other mustelids, such as the otters Megalenhydris and Sardolutra.