[2][3] It was a close relative of the smooth-coated otter (L. perspicillata), whom today lives only in southern Asia but had a wider distribution in the past.

The Cretan otter is the only carnivoran known from the Pleistocene of Crete.

[4] The Cretan otter was similar in length to the smooth-coated otter, around 1 m (3.3 ft) long, but was more robustly built and slightly heavier.

[5] Its skeleton combines a number of adaptations to terrestrial locomotion (e.g. the position of the teres major and the sacropelvic angle), with clear aquatic adaptations (e.g. the ratio of ilium and ischiopubis length, the large feet and somewhat flattened tail to facilitate fast underwater swimming).

This change in lifestyle likely arose due to the special conditions (such as lack of rivers) on Crete.