DESMAN

either of two semiaquatic mammals of the mole family, Talpidae: Desmana moschata of slow rivers of southwestern Russia and Galemys pyrenaicus of fast streams of the Pyrenees Mountains of Europe. Desmans have long snouts that flare slightly at the tip, webbed hind feet, more or less flattened tails, and dense, brown fur. The Russian desman is 42 cm (17 inches) long, including its 21-centimetre tail; the Pyrenees desman is slightly smaller.