See how Nat Geo photographed elephants over 100 years, The secret superpowers of elephants, in stop motion. An IUCN study in 2006 suggested 1,000 to 5,000 otters remain. The giant otter ranges across north-central South America; it lives mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal. All rights reserved. Learn about the giant river otter's habitat, population, and behavior. It is one of the most endangered mammal species in the Neotropics. The giant otter or giant river otter(Pteronura brasiliensis ) is a South American carnivorous mammal. Habitat. [61] Carter and Rosas have found captive adult animals consume around 10% of their body weight dailyabout 3 kilograms (7lb), in keeping with findings in the wild. Create an account to read the full story and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles. Contribute to the cause. Limits on the number of tourists at any one time, fishing prohibitions, and a minimum safe distance of 50 metres (164ft) are proposed to offer further protection. Fish from the order Perciformes, particularly cichlids and perch, were seen in 97% of scats, and Characiformes, such as characins, in 86%. Very little information is available on worldwide population figures for freshwater otters. How magnesium affects your sleep and anxiety, Your eyes may be a window into early Alzheimer's detection, 6 hiking and biking trails to explore in the Alps this summer. [46], Giant otters build dens, which are holes dug into riverbanks, usually with multiple entrances and multiple chambers inside. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally profitable group of predators, reaching as much as 1.7 meters (5.6 ft). When chunks of forest are clearcut away, their habitat becomes disrupted, causing habitat fragmentation. The triplets were born on March 27 to parents Alexandra . 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. [36] Each family of otters was shown to have its own unique audio signature. These animals are most active from 10-11 am and from 3-5 pm. Strolling from their dwelling down to the river, the parents supervise as older siblings play with the youngsters, frolicking in the water and on the banks. A giant mass of seaweed threatens beach season in the U.S. What is aquaculture? Their underbody is usually lighter in colour. The other two clawless otters are similar in size to river otters. The giant otter is found in South America in a range of countries including Peru, Venezuela and Brazil. [52], Studies of giant otters in captivity have given indications about the environment necessary to both maintain a physically and behaviorally healthy population and allow successful cub-rearing. The IUCN Red List has no current estimate for the total Giant otter population. Poaching has long been a problem. Alaska sea otters inhabit the coast of Alaska, including the Aleutian Islands, and south along British Columbia and Washington. Slides can be sloping riverbanks, but are more commonly winter snowbanks. ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). Each animal may eat six to nine pounds of food per day. At six feet long and weighing 75 pounds, they certainly live up to their name. Twenty-nine groups of giant otters were recorded in an area corresponding to 10% of the total reservoir. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. Inside South Africas skeleton trade. "Dry and Rainy Season Estimations of Giant Otter, "Giant River Otter Believed to be Extinct Has Been Spotted in Argentina", "How a social lifestyle helped drive a river otter species to near extinction", "Differential resilience of Amazonian otters along the Rio Negro in the aftermath of the 20th century international fur trade", "Mercury levels in tissues of Giant otters (, "Giant Otter Project In Peru: Field Trip And Activity Report, 1998", "A Survey of Kaburi Creek, West Suriname, and its Conservation Implications", "WWF welcomes Latin America's largest freshwater protected area", "Estudio preliminar sobre el estado de conservacin de la nutria gigante (Pteronura brasiliensis) en la zona de influencia de Inrida (Bajo ro Inrida) Guaina, Colombia", "PER-I38: El mundo del agua temido y poco conocido", "Biology and conservation of Giant Otter (, "Observations on the ecology and behavior of the giant river otter, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Giant_otter&oldid=1150316722, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Articles containing Portuguese-language text, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 April 2023, at 12:48. The giant otter ranges across north-central South America; it lives mostly in and along the Amazon Riverand in the Pantanal. Giant Brazilian Otter populations in Uruguay and Argentina are thought to be extinct. Home ranges vary in size with species, location, and resource distribution, and are generally larger for males. [30], At the time of Carter and Rosas' writing, vision had not been directly studied, but field observations show the animal primarily hunts by sight; above water, it is able to recognize observers at great distances. Activity. [57] Fish remains were of medium-sized species that seem to prefer relatively shallow water, to the advantage of the probably visually oriented giant otter. They make their dens under boulders and ledges, and in driftwood and tangles of vegetation. The IUCN lists Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela as current range countries. Habitat. There may be fewer than 1,000 marine otters left throughout their range. Explore some characteristics of giant otters and learn fun facts. Behavior and Diet Giant otters can hunt singly, in pairs, and in groups, relying on sharp eyesight to locate prey. [2] Typically, loggers first move into rainforest, clearing the vegetation along riverbanks. Historically, sea otters occupied a contiguous range from northern Japan, across the North Pacific, and down to Baja California, Mexico. The species was so thoroughly decimated, the number dropped to just 12 in 1971. The giant otter possesses short fur compared to other otter . The giant otter seems to choose clear, black waters with rocky or sandy bottoms over silty, saline, and white waters. Giant otters prefer habitats with non-floodable banks that have vegetation cover and where there is easy access to hunting places in relatively shallow waters.
A Eurasian river otter mother relaxes with with her two seven-month-old cubs on a shoreline in Shetland, U.K.
. The animal's well-muscled tail can add a further 70cm (28in) to the total body length. It lives in family groups of 2 to 20 individuals (typically 3 to 8). [62] In addition, solitary animals and young may be vulnerable to attacks by the jaguar, cougar, and anaconda, but this is based on historical reports, not direct observation. A deadly fungus with mysterious origins is raising alarms, Fast fashion goes to die in this Chilean desert, Behold the surreal magic and mystery of slime molds, See how Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr around the world, 'The Odyssey' offers more than just monsters and magic, The forgotten history of cats in the navy. The Guianas are one of the last real strongholds for the species, which also enjoys modest numbers and significant protection in the Peruvian Amazonian basin. The West Island zoo officially opened a $1.4-million river otter habitat Tuesday, one . They are considered a keystone species which essentially means that they help maintain biodiversity. Support the River otters. Even when told of the importance of the species to ecosystems and the danger of extinction, interviewees showed little interest in continuing to coexist with the species. A capacity for aggressive behavior should not be overstated with the giant otter. With such small numbers already, this is making it harder for the giant otter population to recover. They have thick fur that caused them to be hunted to near extinction. Schoolchildren, however, had a more positive impression of the animal. April 13, 2023 by Bridget Sharkey. 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. [38] The species has likely been extirpated from southern Brazil, but in the west of the country, decreased hunting pressure in the critical Pantanal has led to very successful recolonization; an estimate suggests 1,000 or more animals in the region. The constant need for food requires the family to work together. The male giant otter is between 4.9 and 5.6 feet long from head to tail and weighs 57-71 pounds while the female is between 3.3 and 4.9 feet and weighs 49-57 pounds. Trees surround them in the tropical forest, providing shade in the heat of the midday sun. They take a nap at mid-day during really warm weather. [45] The giant otter seems to prefer prey fish that are generally immobile on river bottoms in clear water. Their fur is extremely soft and is a chocolate brown except for a pattern of large creamy white patches under their long neck, thought to be unique for each individual otter. In 2004, Peru created one of the largest conservation areas in the world, Alto Purs National Park, with an area similar in size to Belgium. [75] The animal's relatively late sexual maturity and complex social life makes hunting especially disastrous. The giant otter is almost 1.5 m long, with an additional metre provided by its tail. Since the 1990s, the southwestern stock of Alaskan sea otters has experienced a dramatic (up to 70% population) decline, most likely due to increased predation by killer whales. The giant otter has a handful of other names. 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. For the first time in two years, you'll be able to see otters at Ecomuseum Zoo in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. [20], Phylogenetic analysis by Koepfli and Wayne in 1998 found the giant otter has the highest divergence sequences within the otter subfamily, forming a distinct clade that split away 10 to 14million years ago. [62] The spectacled caiman is another potential competitor, but Duplaix found no conflict with the species in Suriname. Can we do the same? The neotropical otter is active during twilight and darkness, reducing the likelihood of conflict with the diurnal giant otter. [70], Even if without direct predation, the giant otter must still compete with other predators for food resources. The tail is well-muscled and can be as long as 28 inches. A wildlife park in the U.K. welcomed a "surprise" litter of otter triplets. Straight line lengths for Eurasian otter home ranges in Sweden average about 15 km (9.3 mi.) [13], The otters form the subfamily Lutrinae within the mustelids and the giant otter is the only member of the genus Pteronura. 300-950 g. Length. When diving, their ears and nose close when they submerge underwater as well. Abstract. Giant otters are found throughout almost all of South America. March. Photo by: Frank Hajek. [2] In the former, investigation has shown thinly distributed population remnants. Preserve Qubec's wildlife. The Civil War raged outside their homes. [7] All four names are in use in South America, with a number of regional variations. [48], Mothers give birth to furred and blind cubs in an underground den near the river shore and fishing sites. [17] The ears are small and rounded. A population of Giant otter was studied in the central Brazilian Amazon at the Xixua Reserve, Roraima (048'S, 6133'W), in order to gather preliminary information on spatial use of habitat. Unknown. [16] Biologist Nicole Duplaix calls the division of "doubtful value". Giant Otter on The IUCN Red List site -, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_otter, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/18711/0. [71] While the two species are sympatric (with overlapping ranges) during certain seasons, there appeared to be no serious conflict. Giant otters are large aquatic carnivores that inhabit rivers and seasonal lakes in South America. Chunks of forest are clearcut away, their habitat becomes disrupted, habitat. Boulders and ledges, and white waters on sharp eyesight to locate prey shallow waters groups of 2 to individuals... 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