Page 124 - Present Day Wildlife_Float

Otter is any of 13 extant species in 7 genera* of semiaquatic mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae; a
member of the weasel family Mustelidae. Otters are roughly divided into two groups; River
(Freshwater) otters, found in South and North America, Canada, Europe, Africa and Asia and Sea
& Marine (Saltwater) otters, found in South America, California, Washington, Canada, Alaska,
Russia, and Japan. The largest of the species is the Giant otter which measures from head to tail around
1.5 to 1.7 metres in length and weighs around 26 to 32 kg. The smallest of the species is the Asian small-
clawed otter with a body length of only 730 to
960 mm and weighs around 5 kg.

All otters have long sleek lithesome bodies
with four short but powerful legs. Their feet, apart
from the, Asian small-clawed, African and Congo
clawless, have four sharp clawed toes. All species
have webbed feet. Most have fully webbed
hindlimbs and shorter webbed forelimbs. They all
have short thick necks and flattened shaped heads
with varying sharp to blunt snouts. Their eyes are
small and forward facing and their small nose is
shiny and dark in colour. They have very small
rounded or pointed ears. They have a long tail that
varies in length and make-up across species.
Some, like the river otters tend to be thick and
*Genus Lutra muscular at the base tapering to a point, while
Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) others, like the giant otter, have flat, rounded
Hairy-nosed otter (Lutra su- tipped tails. The otters fur coat consists of two densely packed layers, the
matrana) outer being longer and designed to be watertight and rough enough to
Genus Hydrictis withstand daily ware and tare. The undercoat is short and much finer and
Spotted-necked ot- is designed to keep the animal warm. Colour varies across the species
ter (Hydrictis maculicollis) from light to dark browns with their underside usually much lighter.
Genus Lutrogale Some animals have white or off-white colour patches on their head chin
Smooth-coated ot- or throat, which are usually sharp and well defined.
ter (Lutrogale perspicillata)
Genus Lontra Otters live in areas according to their water preferences. The River
North American river ot- otter for instance, resides, inland in areas surrounding freshwater rivers,
ter (Lontra canadensis) ponds and lakes, though they are occasionally found in brackish water
Southern river otter (Lontra close to river estuaries. They spend most of their time on land entering
provocax) the water only to hunt or play. They live in burrows and dens vacated by
Neotropical otter (Lontra lon- other animals and will traverse large strips of land separating two rivers
gicaudis) to get from one to the other. They live alone or in twos, but come together
Marine otter (Lontra felina) in small social groups. Sea otters, on the other hand, live on the coast
Genus Pteronura and because they can drink sea water spend most of their time offshore.
Giant otter (Pteronura brasili- When on land they sleep above ground in temporary grass or reed depres-
ensis) sions. At sea, they are solitary animals wrapping themselves in kelp at
Genus Aonyx night. Occasionally they do come together in groups numbering hundreds
African clawless otter (Aonyx and at night, sleep holding hands, forming a huge raft of otters bobbing
capensis) around in the water. The small Marine otter, prefers the rocky and
Asian small-clawed ot- craggy coastal cliffs and spends most of its time on land living and sleep-
ter (Aonyx cinereus) ing in rock cavities. Unlike the Sea otter, who will swim far offshore, the
Congo clawless otter (Aonyx Marine otter stays close to shore.
congicus)
Genus Enhydra Otters are carnivores with a diet made up of all manner of aquatic
Sea otter (Enhydra lutris) life, with fish its primary source of food. However, there are differences in
what they hunt for and where they eat their prey. The river otter will usually eat its prey on land. They
also have a liking for, birds, eggs, insects and small land mammals. Sea and marine otters, on the other
hand, live entirely on aquatic life and eat their prey on their backs on the water’s surface. Sea otters have
a particular liking for shellfish, and use stones to crack open their thick shells. This liking has brought
them into conflict with fisherman whose livelihood depends on shellfish. These fishermen will kill otters
on sight. Although otters have many predators like sharks, moray eels, bears and big cats, man is the
biggest threat, hunting it for its desirable and very profitable fur pelt; eagerly sought after by the world’s
fur trade.