Desmana
Genus of mammals
title: "Desmana" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["mammal-genera", "mammal-genera-with-one-living-species", "taxa-named-by-johann-anton-güldenstädt", "mammals-described-in-1777"] description: "Genus of mammals" topic_path: "general/mammal-genera" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmana" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Genus of mammals ::
| fossil_range = Early Pliocene – Recent | image = Russian desman (Desmana moschata), Natural History Museum, London, Mammals Gallery.JPG | image_caption = Russian desman (Desmana moschata) | taxon = Desmana | authority = Güldenstädt, 1777 | type_species = Castor moschatus | type_species_authority = Linnaeus, 1758 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision =
- Desmana moschata
- †Desmana inflata
- †Desmana kowalskae
- †Desmana marci
- †Desmana nehringi
- †Desmana thermalis
- †Desmana verestchagini
Desmana is a genus of mole that contains a single living species, the Russian desman (Desmana moschata). A number of fossil species are known from throughout Eurasia.
The oldest species is Desmana marci from the earliest Pliocene of Spain. It was probably derived from earlier moles of the genus Archaeodesmana. D. marci likely gave rise to D. verestchagini, who may have given rise to younger species such as the living desman.
References
References
- {{MSW3
- (2020). "Early Pliocene Desmaninae (Mammalia, Talpidae) from Southern Spain and the Origin of the Genus Desmana". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
- (1985). "Utrecht Micropaleontological Bulletins: Special publication – Volumes 4–5". Utrecht Micropaleontological Bulletins.
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