Desmana

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.

Desmana Temporal range: Early Pliocene – Recent
Russian desman (Desmana moschata)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Eulipotyphla
Family:	Talpidae
Tribe:	Desmanini
Genus:	Desmana Güldenstädt, 1777
Type species
Castor moschatus[1] Linnaeus, 1758
Species
Desmana moschata †Desmana inflata †Desmana kowalskae †Desmana marci †Desmana nehringi †Desmana thermalis †Desmana verestchagini

The oldest species is Desmana marci from the earliest Pliocene of Spain.^[2] 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.^[3]