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Home Environment

Vishnuonyx otters

September 22, 2021
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In news– A newly found fossils indicate that the Vishnuonyx otter had travelled as far as Germany.

Key updates on recent discovery-

  • Researchers from the Universities of Tübingen and Zaragoza have discovered the fossil of a previously unknown species, which they have named Vishnuonyx neptuni, meaning ‘Neptune’s Vishnu’. 
  • The species was discovered from a 11.4-million-year-old strata in the area of Hammerschmiede, which is a fossil site in Bavaria, Germany that has been studied for about 50 years.
  • This is the first discovery of any member of the Vishnuonyx genus in Europe; it is also its most northern and western record till date.
  • Vishnuonyx depended on water and could not travel long distances over land.
  • However,  its travels over 6,000 km were probably made possible by the geography of 12 million years ago, when the Alps were recently formed. 
  • These Alps and the Iranian Elbrus Mountains were separated by a large ocean basin, which would have made it easier for the otters to cross it.
  • Researchers believe ‘Neptune’s Vishnu’ first reached southern Germany, followed by Ancient Guenz and eventually, the Hammerschmiede.
  • The new species differs from the already known members of the genus in size — intermediate between the African Vishnuonyx angololensis and the Asiatic Vishnuonyx chinjiensis — and morphology.

The dispersal of Vishnuonyx otters from the Indian subcontinent to Africa and Europe about 13 million years ago. 

About Vishnuonyx otters-

  • Vishnuonyx were mid-sized predators that weighed, on average, 10-15 kg. 
  • Before this, the genus was known only in Asia and Africa (recent findings show that Vishnuonyx reached East Africa about 12 million years ago).
  • They lived in the major rivers of southern Asia between 12.5 million and 14 million years ago.
  • Fossils of these now extinct otters were first discovered in sediments found in the foothills of the Himalayas. 

About  otters-

    • Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae.
    • The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates. 
    • Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which also includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines, among other animals.
    • Otters have long, slim bodies and relatively short limbs. 
    • Their most striking anatomical features are the powerful webbed feet used to swim, and their seal-like abilities holding breath underwater. 
    • Most have sharp claws on their feet and all except the sea otter have long, muscular tails.
  • The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species and the giant otter and sea otter are the largest.
  • They have very soft, insulated underfur, which is protected by an outer layer of long guard hairs. 
  • This traps a layer of air which keeps them dry, warm, and somewhat buoyant underwater.
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Source: The Indian Express
Tags: NewspaperPrelims

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