world record river otterworld record river otter

[4] Occasional reports also show the river otter eating other small animals, such as mice, squirrels, birds, and even dogs that they've attacked and drowned. It lives only in the rivers and creeks of the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata river systems. North American river otters are likelythe most numerous of the otter species. Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. A capacity for aggressive behavior should not be overstated with the giant otter. For years, river otters have been hunted for their fur, and theirpelts are still an important source of income for many people in Canada. [48], Historical records indicate North American river otters were once populous throughout most major drainages in the continental United States and Canada prior to European settlement. The river otter (Lutra canadensis) is a member of the Mustelidae or weasel family. When the mothers have established their domains, they give birth to several kits. It is one of the most endangered mammal species in the Neotropics. For example, a study conducted in a central California marshland indicated crayfish formed nearly 100% of the river otter's diet at certain times of the year. [31][33], Mammals are rarely consumed by North American river otters, and are not a major dietary component. River otters are North America's only otter species. Female North American river otters give birth in these burrows, producing litters of one to six young. Even fast-swimming fish like trout slow down in extremely cold water, leaving them vulnerable. Weight: 11 to 30 pounds. ), with a maximum recorded length of 240 cm (94 in. Subadults leaving in search of new territory find it impossible to set up family groups. [57] One full-year study of giant otter scats in Amazonian Brazil found fish present in all fecal samples. North American river otters are very susceptible to the effects of environmental pollution, which is a likely factor in the continued decline of their numbers. Otters primarily feed on fish and aquatic organisms including crayfish, frogs, and other miscellaneous animals. [13] Both species also show strong pair bonding and paternal engagement in rearing cubs. [59] If fish are unavailable, it will also take crabs, snakes, and even small caimans and anacondas. [10] The North American river otter was first classified in the genus Lutra. In contrast the life span for this species in the wild is approximately 8-9 years. [34] Most aquatic invertebrates preyed upon by the otters are from the orders Odonata (dragonfly nymphs), Plecoptera (stonefly nymphs), and Coleoptera (adult beetles). The smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) of Asia may be its closest extant relative; similar behaviour, vocalizations, and skull morphology have been noted. [34] Duplaix identified nine distinct sounds, with further subdivisions possible, depending on context. The animal's well-muscled tail can add a further 70cm (28in) to the total body length. [46] In late 2012, a river otter nicknamed Sutro Sam took up residence around the former site of the Sutro Baths in San Francisco, the first river otter sighting in that city in more than half a century. The North American river otter used to be abundant throughout New York State, but its numbers have declined. [45] The giant otter seems to prefer prey fish that are generally immobile on river bottoms in clear water. [2] In the former, investigation has shown thinly distributed population remnants. Freshwater otters generally rest and sleep on land, which can be either in their dens or above . [10], The North American river otter has long whiskers that are used to detect prey in dark waters. Utreras[65] presumed habitat requirements and availability would differ dramatically in the rainy season: estimating range sizes of 1.98 to as much as 19.55square kilometres (0.76 to 7.55sqmiles) for the groups. [30][32] They are less likely to be prey for the North American river otters since they are fast-swimming and can find good escape cover. [11], In a new classification, the species is called Lontra canadensis, where the genus Lontra includes all the New World river otters. [48] Pups open their eyes in their fourth week, begin walking in their fifth, and are able to swim confidently between 12 and 14 weeks old. Statistics show between 1959 and 1969 Amazonian Brazil alone accounted for 1,000 to 3,000 pelts annually. River otters are found throughout most of North America from the Rio Grande to Canada and Alaska, except for in arid deserts and the treeless Arctic. The male otter is generally chased away until the young are weaned and old enough to leave the riverbank, at which time they may return and help raise the pups. [33] Otters have been found to consume invasive Asian carp. Since 1976, over 4,000 otters have been reintroduced in 21 U.S. states. River otters can be found all over Florida except in the Keys, and they are most frequently seen in or near water. The otters typically capture prey in their mouths but occasionally use their thumbs and forepaws to grasp and manipulate prey. The vulnerability and seasonal availability of prey animals mainly governs its food habits and prey choices. [41], Delayed implantation distinguishes the species from the Eurasian otter, which does not do this. River otters are incredible swimmers. Hums and coos are more reassuring within the group. River otters are amazing swimmers. [13] The giant otter shares the South American continent with three of the four members of the New World otter genus Lontra: the Neotropical river otter, the southern river otter, and the marine otter. [65] They clear significant amounts of vegetation while building their campsites. Though active year . All Rights Reserved. They hunt singly or in pairsand although otters generally forage in water, they are equally at home on land, sometimes traveling between 10 and18 miles (16 and 29 kilometers) in search of food. North American river otters rely upon play to learn survival skills such as fighting and hunting. A river otter is a small, aquatic mammal that can be found in rivers and lakes in North America. [21], The giant otter is clearly distinguished from other otters by morphological and behavioural characteristics. Otter births occur most frequently in March or April. Otters did not show strong preference for individual habitat components within their home range. [47], Suriname still has significant forest cover and an extensive system of protected areas, much of which protects the giant otter. "Giant otter" translates literally as nutria gigante and lontra gigante in Spanish and Portuguese, respectively. [6] In Spanish, river wolf (Spanish: lobo de ro) and water dog (Spanish: perro de agua) are used occasionally (though the latter also refers to several different animals) and may have been more common in the reports of explorers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. After an encounter with a river otter sent a man to a hospital, officials at Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California are warning people to stay out of the water at a popular lake.. Regionally extinct throughout the Midwest and heavily populated areas in the east, several states have recently begun reintroduction programs. Organize or attend a stream, river, lake or other waterway cleanup in your area to preserve aquatic habitats for local species. Josh Salmon,. [24] The otters and their environment still face challenges, including climate change, urban runoff, and the continued legacy of the industrial revolution in the form of contaminated sediments in these rivers and harbors, Hartig said. The giant otter subsists almost exclusively on a diet of fish, particularly characins and catfish, but may also eat crabs, turtles, snakes and small caimans. This means they likely arrived in the Americas at a similar time as humans,[17] meaning humans were an important part of their natural ecosystem from the moment otters arrived. [63], Local people sometimes take pups for the exotic pet trade or as pets for themselves, but the animal rapidly grows to become unmanageable. Habitat degradation and loss is the greatest current threat. But they aren't born with those skills. [20] Litter size can reach five, but usually ranges from one to three. [1], Oil spills present a localized threat to otter populations, especially in coastal areas. [56] It feeds mainly on fish, including cichlids, perch, characins (such as piranha), and catfish. [14] Total population numbers are difficult to estimate. [1], CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, different non-sexual physical characteristics, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T12302A164577078.en, "Expert says otter attacks are rare after St. Pete dog killed", "Dog attacked by otters in Lakewood, homeowners say", "7 Surprising Facts About the Giant River Otter", "Multigene phylogeny of the Mustelidae: Resolving relationships, tempo and biogeographic history of a mammalian adaptive radiation", 10.1644/1545-1410(2002)712<0001:LM>2.0.CO;2, "Parasites as probes for prehistoric human migrations? Joe Jack caught what could be the state's first legally trapped river otter on Nov. 2. The river otter ( Lontra canadensis) is a key bio-indicator of the health of our environment as they sit at the top of this water-based food chain. Therefore, fish are more vulnerable to being preyed upon by otters because the crayfish have become more difficult to obtain. For example, stress to the parents during cub-rearing due to inappropriate enclosure conditions has been the primary reason for cub neglect, abuse and infanticide. [23], North American river otters consume an extensive assortment of fish species ranging in size from 2 to 50 centimeters (0.79 to 19.69in) that impart sufficient caloric intake for a minute amount of energy expenditure. ), and other game fish during spawning. They give birth between August and September, and the young pups emerge for the first time in October and November, which are the months of lowest water when fish concentrations in the dwindling lakes and channels are at their peak. [29] For instance, Catostomidae are the primary dietary component of North American river otters in Colorado's Upper Colorado River Basin. Carnivore. 2:00 AM EDT, Sat May 7, 2022. [36] Other prey consumed by North American river otters includes fruits,[37] reptiles, amphibians, birds (most especially moulting ducks which render the birds flightless and thus makes them easier to capture), aquatic insects, small mammals, and mollusks. Hartig said that in 2019, river otters were observed in Lake Erie National Park, having swum across Lake Erie. It can tolerate a great range of temperature and elevations. New at the Zoo: Meet Our Bushbaby Brothers. [51], Adult North American river otters are capable of consuming 1 to 1.5 kilograms (2.2 to 3.3lb) of fish per day. A restoration program in western New York has in. Parasites, such as the larvae of flies and a variety of intestinal worms, also afflict the giant otter. [50] Males actively participate in rearing cubs and family cohesion is strong;[51] older, juvenile siblings also participate in rearing, although in the weeks immediately after birth, they may temporarily leave the group. [60], The species can hunt singly, in pairs, and in groups, relying on sharp eyesight to locate prey. [26][32][33] Bottom-dwelling species, which have the tendency to remain immobile until a predator is very close, are susceptible to North American river otters. [48][49] Research over five years on a breeding pair at the Cali Zoo in Colombia found the average interval between litters was six to seven months, but as short as 77 days when the previous litter did not survive. [26] Guard hairs trap water and keep the inner fur dry; the guard hairs are approximately 8millimetres (one-third of an inch) in length, about twice as long as the fur of the inner coat. 3.4K subscribers in the DeathObituaries community. Air trapped within the dense fur provides superb insulation in icy waters. Even in larger bodies of water, river otters may take disproportional advantage of any seasonal concentrations of fish when and where only very limited areas of suitable spawning, low-flow, or over-wintering habitat may exist. My venture into the world of American River Otter proved that the conservation & educational projects have resulted in a stable and growing population. River otters such as Lutra lutra are primarily nocturnal, being most active at dusk or night. Before the giant river otter, there was an otter that weighed more than four times the largest living otter species. [52] This sensitivity is matched by a strong protectiveness towards the young. [32] The North American river otters have also been known to catch and consume moulting American wigeon (Mareca americana) and green-winged teal (Anas crecca). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers the species' presence in Argentina and Uruguay uncertain. Also, North American river otters have large molars used for crushing hard objects, such as the shells of molluscs. [5][6][7], The range of the North American river otter has been significantly reduced by habitat loss, beginning with the European colonization of the Americas. [14][76][77], More recently, habitat destruction and degradation have become the principal dangers, and a further reduction of 50% is expected in giant otter numbers within the 20 years after 2004 (about the span of three generations of giant otters). [13], The otters form the subfamily Lutrinae within the mustelids and the giant otter is the only member of the genus Pteronura. Giant otters catch their own food and consume it immediately; they grasp the fish firmly between the forepaws and begin eating noisily at the head. However, it is sensitive to pollution, and will disappear from tainted areas. North American river otters have a transparent inner eyelid (called a nictitating membrane) to protect their eyes while swimming. Duplaix documented interaction with the Neotropical otter. The first beavers to live wild in England for centuries are to be allowed to remain in their new home on the River Otter in east Devon after a five-year reintroduction trial. [29] The legs are short and stubby and end in large webbed feet tipped with sharp claws. The neotropical otter is active during twilight and darkness, reducing the likelihood of conflict with the diurnal giant otter. [9] The mammal was identified as a species of otter and has a variety of common names, including North American river otter, northern river otter, common otter and, simply, river otter. The implementation of CITES in 1973 finally brought about significant hunting reductions,[14] although demand did not disappear entirely: in the 1980s, pelt prices were as high as US$250 on the European market. [23][16], North American river otters characteristically approach within a few feet of a boat or a person on shore because they're near-sighted, a consequence of vision adapted for underwater sight. [75] The animal's relatively late sexual maturity and complex social life makes hunting especially disastrous. Gymnotids, such as the electric eel, and the large silurid catfish are among aquatic competitors. Appearance: Dark shiny brown fur. Diet of the River Otter River otters eat virtually anything that you can find near lakes or streams. North Andover, MA (01845) Today. While revealing of the affection held for the animals, the seizure was a profound blow to the breeding pair, which went on to lose their territory to competitors. Otters are playful creatures, frequently seen sliding down riverbanks orburrowing through snow. These include mudminnows (Umbra limi) and sculpins (Cottus spp.). Staff and visitors at the Toronto Zoo are mourning the death of an otter who had recently become ill. [73], The IUCN listed the giant otter as "endangered" in 1999; it had been considered "vulnerable" under all previous listings from 1982 when sufficient data had first become available. Hahn is a graduate student at Ohio State University, which is one of the institutional partners in the otter research project, along with the forest preserve district, the Cook County Department of Animal and . Sliding is a thing. They prefer unpolluted water with a minimal human disturbance. River otters keep their young safe by their side and in dens that . [1] The North American river otter existed on all parts of the Pacific Coast, including the seashore and inland streams and lakes. 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