Large river otter (Lontra provocax). Southern Sea Otter. Their habitats also need the root systems of mature trees, as well as fallen tree debris. Southern River Otter (Lontra provocax) North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) Smooth coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) Hairy nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana) Congo Clawless Otter (Aonyx congicus) Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) Biological/outstanding features. It is found in isolated lakes in the most remote parts of Patagonia and spends winters along the coast of the same region. Marshes may also be very important habitat for raising young and as a source of frogs. It is an endangered species because of poaching, water pollution, and habitat loss. The playful North American river otter is equally at home in the water and on land. Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The largest of the national parks in the region, it has an area of 7,050 km2 (2,720 sq mi), or nearly 2 million acres. Not all otters use tools, but sea otters use them all the time. (Image credit: U.K. The weight of a North American river otter measures around 5 – 14 kg (11 – 31 lb). Otters have an acute sense of smell, hearing and eyesight. Otter is a common name for a carnivorous mammal in the subfamily Lutrinae. and are the smallest marine mammal in North America. The American mink is a semiaquatic species of mustelid native to North America, though human intervention has expanded its range to many parts of Europe and South America. If conservationists know where the individuals and families live, enforcement of antipoaching laws, as well as focusing on maintaining and protecting their habitats, will be easier. Males weigh up to 90 lbs. While it may simply be called the "river otter" in North America (to distinguish it from the sea otter) there are other river otter species throughout the world. Southern river otters, Lontra provocax, are only found in central and southern Chile and parts of Argentina. This article is only an excerpt. River Otter (Lutra canadensis)What they look like: The River Otter is built for swimming - they have a streamlined body, short legs with webbed feet, dense fur that keeps them warm, a tapered tail, small ears, and nostrils that can close underwater. Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park is located in Los Lagos Region, Llanquihue Province, of Chile. Reduced range and population size, vulnerability to oil spills, and oil spill risk from coastal tanker traffic were the primary reasons for listing. Other documented common names are American otter, Canada otter, Canadian otter, fish otter, land otter, nearctic river otter, and Prince of Wales otter. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family. These propel them through the water at high speeds to help them hunt. Interesting Facts And you definitely don’t want to mess with giant otters, just check out this clip below! Its feet are equipped with claws and webs for swimming. She has worked with the endangered Ethiopian wolf, the Serengeti cheetah and the Atlantic salmon. "Lontra provocax". It is also known as the Southern river otter and river wolf. Baby otters are called pups. Otters are very social creatures. It is an endangered species because of poaching, water pollution, and habitat loss. This saltwater exclusivity is unlike most other otter species, except for the almost fully aquatic sea otter of the north Pacific. The riparian forests and rivers in which these otters are mostly found have been disturbed by human presence. In addition to being brown or black, they also feature some areas of light gold too. The giant otter is the biggest, the most dangerous, the deadliest. Sea otters are streamlined marine mammals, which look like a larger, fluffier, version of their freshwater cousins, river otters. It is the animal most frequently farmed for its fur, exceeding the silver fox, sable, marten, and skunk in economic importance. The Valdivian Coastal Range has a healthy population on the Marine otte… Their body shape aids in helping them make sudden turns to catch fish and other prey. The viability of the small remaining population is an outstanding concern to researchers. Are you inspired by endangered animals? Southern River Otters feed on fish, mollusks, crustaceans and birds. Otter is a common name for a carnivorous mammal in the subfamily Lutrinae. They can weigh up to 20 lb. Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. Males are larger in size than females (see phot They feature hair that is very dense. It is considered extinct. The Valdivian temperate rainforests are characterized by their dense understories of bamboos, ferns, and for being mostly dominated by evergreen angiosperm trees with some deciduous specimens, though conifer trees are also common. This is the major cause of their current low population numbers and endangered conservation status. Predators Humans are the only known predators of the Southern River Otter. You will notice that they have extremely long whiskers as well. SIZE: 1-1.3m: WEIGHT: 7-9 kg: DIET: Fish (80%), birds, small mammals, frogs: GESTATION: 9 weeks: OFFSPRING: 2-3 cubs: HOME … Other mustelids include ferrets and mink. The giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. Its feet are equipped with claws and webs for swimming. Review the size of the southern river otter's geographic range compared to other otters Determine how southern river otters are suited to their natural environment; Practice Exams. Metabolism. Identification They can grow to be more than a meter long, from head to tail, and weight up to 14 kg. Their fur is thick a… Because of range expansion, the American mink is classed as a least-concern species by the IUCN. The species is legally protected both locally and internationally. It prefers to eat crayfish and freshwater mussels. These hydrodynamic members of the weasel family are voracious predators. It sometimes is considered a subspecies of Lontra canadensis. A third eyelid, or nictitating membrane, protects the eye and allows the otter to see when swimming underwater. River otters are rambunctious, aquatic, streamlined mammals that spend much of their time in the water. Southern river otter (Lontra provocax) images and facts - this gallery includes stock photos of the Southern river otter, which has the smallest geographical range of any other otter species. 10 facts about the giant river otter: The giant river otter is giant, measuring in at 1.5-1.8 m and weighing in at 22-32 kg! Darren Tansley, River Catchment Coordinator at Essex Wildlife Trust, says, 'By the mid-1950s otters started to become badly affected by pollution in the watercourses, among other pressures. Of the 32 confirmed sites, 31 were of dense forest with thick undergrowth near the shorelines of freshwater systems. This offers a chance at re-population, if worst comes to worst. The property is vital for the protection of some of the last portions of continuous Patagonian Forest in an almost pristine state and is the habitat for a number of endemic and threatened species of flora and fauna. The river otter's eyes and ears are located high on its head for surface swimming. This is good news for conservation efforts due to the fact that cross genus cloning efforts have come a long way in recent years. They can grow to be more than a meter long, from head to tail, and weight up to 14 kg. The North American river otter, also known as the northern river otter or the common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. The neotropical otter or neotropical river otter is an otter species found in Central America, South America and the island of Trinidad. Yendegaia National Park is located in Tierra del Fuego in the Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region of Chile and contains 150,612 ha of mountainous terrain and Valdivian temperate rain forest. Sea otters, Enhydra lutris (Linnaeus, 1758), are the largest member of the Family Mustelidae (70 species of river otters, skunks, weasels, badgers, etc.) The southern river otter prefers estuaries, rivers, and lakes with fresh water for its habitat. More to come soon. River otters belong to the weasel family. However, while southern river otters face significant threats from humans, they have a number of adaptations that make them well suited for their natural environment. Otters are adorable creatures that live both on land and in the water. The southern river otter is listed as endangered, due to illegal hunting, water pollution, and habitat loss. Captive breeding programs would also be beneficial for this species, to later reintroduce individuals into the areas where they were previously found in. While otters completely disappeared from the rivers of most of central and southern England in just 50 years, their future now looks much brighter. River otters are long-bodied, well-muscled animals, with relatively short legs, five webbed toes on all four feet, (most carnivores have 4 toes on the rear foot), and a long flat tail used as a rudder in the water. The southern river otter (Lontra provocax) is a type of otter.It is found in Chile and Argentina.It lives in both saltwater and freshwater environments.It is an endangered species because of poaching, water pollution, and habitat loss.. References Adults grow to about three feet in length and weigh 10-20lbs. River otters and giant otters hunt by using their vibrissae to detect movements of prey in the water. One of two mid-sized deer of the Hippocamelus genus, the south Andean deer ranges across the high mountainsides and cold valleys of the Andes. She is a Senior Research Technician with the Institute of Zoology, the research division of the Zoological Society of London. The southern river otter is a rare amphibious mammal that inhabits a limited number of rivers, lakes, canals, and heavily vegetated coastal areas of Chile and Argentina in Patagonia, South America. Otters always wash themselves after every meal. A highly distinctive and emblematic feature is its alerce forest; the globally threatened alerce tree is the second longest living tree species in the world. River otters possess long, muscular bodies suited to their life on both land and in water. [3] Some invasive aquatic species that have been introduced into that area are limiting the mollusks and fish available for otter prey. It is endangered in some parts of its range, but is recovering in others. It is part of the Neotropical ecozone. Some of the best known are the giant otter, the sea otter, the European otter, the Northern river otter among others. The most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae), it is found in the waterways and coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa. Search for an endangered species profile. The biological name is Lontra Canadensis. The hooded grebe, is a medium-sized grebe found in the southern region of Argentina. ... River otters can swim at a speed of 11 kilometers per hour and sea otters swim at a speed of 9 kilometers per hour. They include the Southern River Otter, Hairy Nosed Otter, Giant Otter, and the India Smooth Coated Otter. Several surveys and studies have been performed on the southern river otter to better understand its declining population numbers to be able to prevent the species from becoming extinct. This semiaquatic mammal has the weight of 11 to 30.9 lb or 5 to 14 kilograms. The southern river otter can be found in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats, but are mostly found in freshwater lakes and rivers having a significant amount of dense vegetation, especially along the shorelines, which must be present to use as cover. The otter is the largest member of the weasel family. Litter sizes average one to two pups, but up to four can be born at a time. In its introduced range in Europe it has been classified as an invasive species linked to declines in European mink, Pyrenean desman, and water vole populations. It is threatened by habitat loss. Southern river otters were vigorously hunted for their pelts throughout the last 100 years. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 metres (5.6 ft).Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. 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