Megalenhydris (SciiFii)

The Sardinian giant otter (Megalenhydris barbaricina) is a species of 5.9 feet (1.8 meters) long giant otter that originally lived during the Late Pleistocene in what is now Sardinia and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and introduced throughout the European rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams to help boost biodiversity. The Sardinian giant otter is a very large otter, much larger than the other species. It is a carnivore that has a diet of shellfish and crustaceans. A special characteristic of the species is the flattening of the first few caudal vertebrae (the remainder of the caudal vertebrae are not known), to the point that it has a slightly flattened tail. The Sardinian giant otter is a social animal that shares a similar behavior and niche to the South American giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis), with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups. The Sardinian giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. It is one of the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggression, and reassurance. The conservation status of the Sardinian giant otter is Near Threatened due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, the Sardinian giant otter is a protected species and its populations are slowly, but surely, recovering.