The giant otter shrew is a mammal superficially similar to an otter in appearance. It is characterized by a long, flat tail, which it uses for swimming by sideways undulation like a fish. It has a muzzle covered with bristles, and flat shielded nostrils.

Potamogalidae is the family of "otter shrews", a group of semiaquatic riverine afrotherian mammals indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. [2] They are most closely related to the tenrecs of Madagascar , from which they are thought to have split about 47–53 million years ago.

Otter shrew, (subfamily Potamogalinae), any of three species of amphibious and carnivorous tropical African insectivores that are not “true” shrews (family Soricidae). All are nocturnal and den in cavities and burrows in stream banks; tunnel entrances are underwater.

The giant otter shrew (Potamogale velox) is a semiaquatic, carnivorous afrotherian mammal. It is found in the main rainforest block of central Africa from Nigeria to Zambia , with a few isolated populations in Kenya and Uganda .

The Nimba otter shrew (Micropotamogale lamottei) is a dwarf otter shrew and belongs to the mammal family Potamogalidae. Otter shrews are shrew-like afrotherian mammals found in sub-Saharan Africa. They are most closely related to the tenrecs of Madagascar. [2]

otter shrew 马达加斯加 猬科(Tenrecidae)獭鼩亚科(Potamogalinae)3种赤道非洲西部兽类的统称（参阅 马达加斯加猬 〔tenrec〕条）。 或者单独列为 食虫目 (Insectivora) 獭鼩科 (Potamogalidae)。

Otter shrews are small otter-like aquatic mammals in the family Tenrecidae, with silvery fur. The three species of otter shrews belong to the order Insectivora, and all live in central and West Africa near the equator.

The Nimba otter shrew, Micropotamogale lamottei, is endemic to the Nimba mountains shared between Liberia, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire. Populations are also known to exist in the Putu mountain range of Liberia less than 400 km south of the Nimba mountains.

2025年2月11日 · The Giant Otter Shrew (Potamogale velox) lives in freshwater habitats in Equatorial Central Africa. This small carnivore (6.40 cms, 25 in, with tail) makes his burrow in a riverbank, with a submarine entrance. Nocturnal, hard to photograph. they only survive in captivity in a week. Little is known of them. Rare video images of Potamogale Velox:

The Giant Otter-shrew is, like Otters which it shares superficial similarities with, capable in water. Its Central African rainforest distribution range extends to the east of Cross River in Nigeria. The Giant Otter-shrew is slim and elongated like an otter, with a flattened head and large muzzle with stiff white vibrissae.