Igama elithi "genus Potamogale" libhekisela kusigaba se-taxonomic kubhayoloji. Ohlelweni lokuhlukaniswa kwe-Linnaean, izinto eziphilayo ziqoqwe ngezigaba ezilandelanayo, kanti uhlobo oluthile lwamazinga.Uhlobo lwe-Potamogale luyingxenye yomndeni we-Tenrecidae, ohlanganisa izilwane ezincelisayo ezincane ezitholakala e-Afrika. Amalungu ohlobo lwe-Potamogale aziwa kakhulu ngokuthi ama-otter shrews.Lezi zilwane ezincelisayo ezihlala emanzini zibonakala ngemizimba yazo emide, izinyawo ezinolwebu, namakhala afana nekhala, afana nalawo ama-otter. Zinoboya obuminyene obuzisiza ukuthi zihlale zifudumele emanzini futhi zidle ukudla okunezilwane ezingenamgogodla zasemanzini.Kafushane, incazelo yesichazamazwi ye-"genus Potamogale" iwuhlelo lwe-taxonomic olumele iqembu le-semi-vertebrates. izilwane ezincelisayo zasemanzini ezaziwa ngokuthi ama-otter shrews, ezingamalungu omndeni wakwa-Tenrecidae.