2 3 In a single dive, a river otter can travel as. 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. [60], The species can hunt singly, in pairs, and in groups, relying on sharp eyesight to locate prey. [32] Fish are the primary component of the North American river otter's diet throughout the year. [2] Populations in Bolivia were once widespread but the country became a "black spot" on distribution maps after poaching between the 1940s and 1970s; a relatively healthy, but still small, population of 350 was estimated in the country in 2002. In fact, baby river otters, or pups, can't swim at all. [1], Lontra canadensis is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In seasonally flooded areas, the giant otter may abandon campsites during the wet season, dispersing to flooded forests in search of prey. Let's meet the 440-pound otter, the largest otter that ever lived. A river otter was spotted in the Detroit River for the first time in a century. The river otter is adapted for both land and water with short legs, webbed toes, and a strong, flattened tail. Ammoland America's oldest Second Amendment . Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. River otters have long, stiff and highly sensitive facial whiskers that aid in locating and capturing prey. Parasites, such as the larvae of flies and a variety of intestinal worms, also afflict the giant otter. Photo by Andrea Westmoreland. Make a donation to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute today! In 1995, the DNR began a reintroduction program aimed at re-establishing a healthy otter population in several watersheds of northern and southern Indiana. For instance, an Alberta, Canada study involved the collection and analysis of 1,191 samples of North American river otter scat (feces) collected during each season. [31][33], Mammals are rarely consumed by North American river otters, and are not a major dietary component. [14], In 2021, conservationists at Fundacin Rewilding spotted a wild giant river otter swimming in the Bermejo River in Impenetrable National Park, located in the Chaco province of northeast Argentina. [70] One difference in behavior was seen in the country in 2002: the normally inquisitive giant otters showed "active avoidance behavior with visible panic" when boats appeared. 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. 10-30 lbs. Well suited for an aquatic life, it can close its ears and nose while underwater. The U.S. is home to two species: the sea otter and the North American river otter. However, it is sensitive to pollution, and will disappear from tainted areas. Lutra was the early European name (from Latin), and the specific epithet canadensis[9] means "of Canada". They live in riparian zones, often in the same areas as beavers. I spotted something brown and furry in the water, he said. [25] The fur is extremely dense, so much so that water cannot penetrate to the skin. Different studies have placed the breeding season in winter, late springand summer. The giant river otter can weigh up to 99 pounds. [28] This availability is influenced by the following factors: detectability and mobility of the prey, habitat availability for the various prey species, environmental factors, such as water depth and temperature, and seasonal changes in prey supply and distribution in correspondence with otter foraging habitat. [1], Oil spills present a localized threat to otter populations, especially in coastal areas. Among the Achuar people, they are known as wankanim,[8] among the Sanum as hadami[9][10] and among the Makushi as turara. All this information combined tells scientists a lot of information about where otters live. Two river dolphins, the tucuxi and boto, might potentially compete with the giant otter, but different spatial use and dietary preferences suggest minimal overlap. [2] Given local extinctions, the species' range has become discontinuous. [44][45] Within groups, the animals are extremely peaceful and cooperative. The last giant otters in the country were spotted in a river in the Misiones Province in the 1980s but there have been no known sightings since. [13] Fossils of a giant river otter dating back 3.5 Mya (during the Pliocene)[14] have been found in the US Midwest; however, fossils of the modern river otter did not appear in North America until about 1.9Mya. My venture into the world of American River Otter proved that the conservation & educational projects have resulted in a stable and growing population. It is regulated internationally under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meaning commercial trade in specimens (including parts and derivatives) is prohibited. River otters use their powerful hind feet to help with propulsion and their small, dexterous front feet for paddling through the water. [33] Every study done on the food habits of the North American river otter has identified varying fish species as being the primary component of its diet. Two subspecies are currently recognized by the canonical Mammal Species of the World, P. b. brasiliensis and P. b. paraguensis. [20] Litter size can reach five, but usually ranges from one to three. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers the species' presence in Argentina and Uruguay uncertain. A number of reintroduction projects have been initiated to help halt the reduction in the overall population. While many states experienced declines in river otter densities, distribution, and in some cases extirpation in the mid 1800's - 1900's, Georgia's Tracks: 3' wide and round in shape. and over 3 feet long, are found across North America, although their range has been significantly damaged by hunting and habitat loss. Subadults leaving in search of new territory find it impossible to set up family groups. The giant otter averages 145 to 180 cm (57-71 in. [34][36][54], Records of North American otters preying upon North American beavers (Castor canadensis) vary; it has been reported in the southern boreal forest of Manitoba. The giant otter's highly sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) allow the animal to track changes in water pressure and currents, which aids in detecting prey. Early travelers' reports describe noisy groups surrounding explorers' boats, but little scientific information was available on the species until Duplaix's groundbreaking work in the late 1970s. Farmers follow, creating depleted soil and disrupted habitats. [29] The legs are short and stubby and end in large webbed feet tipped with sharp claws. [26], Male North American river otters disperse from such family groups more often than females. It is at home in streams, rivers, ponds and lakes and is well-adapted for its aquatic lifestyle. Are you a hunter? . [41], Delayed implantation distinguishes the species from the Eurasian otter, which does not do this. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [16], Males and female river otters show different non-sexual physical characteristics,[23] with males typically being larger. The giant otter or giant river otter[4] (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. [52][53][54], In the wild, it has been suggested, although not systematically confirmed, that tourists cause similar stresses: disrupted lactation and denning, reduced hunting, and habitat abandonment are all risks. Female otters prepare dens that they keep scrupulously clean. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW [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. It has the greatest body length of any species in the mustelid family, although the sea otter may be heavier. At this point, they eat solid food but are not completely weaned for another month or two. However, urbanization and pollution instigated reductions in range area. [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. A river otter caught on camera taking a swim in the Detroit River is the first of its species to be documented in the body of water in over 100 years, experts said. They are found throughout most of North America - from the Rio Grande in Northern Mexico to Canada and Alaska. The giant otter's hearing is acute and its sense of smell is excellent. [10] The North American river otter was first classified in the genus Lutra. You can be an incredible ally for conservation! [8], The North American river otter was first described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1777. [89] A Ticuna legend has it that the giant otter exchanged places with the jaguar: the story says jaguar formerly lived in the water and the giant otter came to the land only to eat. An IUCN study in 2006 suggested 1,000 to 5,000 otters remain. Whale watching is . Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. [26][33], Amphibians and reptiles are more obtainable by the North American river otter during the spring and summer as a result of breeding activity, appropriate temperatures, and water supply for the prey. The tail is long, wide, and quite thick at the base. [34][50] Invertebrates discovered within scats or digestive tracts could most likely be a secondary food item, first being consumed by the fish that are subsequently preyed upon by the North American river otters. The entire group, including nonreproductive adults, which are usually older siblings to that year's pups, collaborates to catch enough fish for the young. [16] Biologist Nicole Duplaix calls the division of "doubtful value". Giant otters adopt communal latrines beside campsites, and dig dens with a handful of entrances, typically under root systems or fallen trees. [16], North American river otters can live 2125 years in captivity,[23][16] or 813 years in the wild. In Mexico, the North American river otters lived in the Rio Grande and Colorado River Deltas. They have been virtually eliminated through many parts of their range, especially around heavily populated areas in the midwestern and eastern United States. An entrance, which may be under water or above ground, leads to a nest chamber lined with leaves, grass, moss, bark, and hair. [20], The mothers raise their young without aid from adult males. [26] Other fish an integral part of the North American river otters' diets are those that are often plentiful and found in large schools: sunfish (Lepomis spp. Females appear to give birth year round, although in the wild, births may peak during the dry season. Regionally extinct throughout the Midwest and heavily populated areas in the east, several states have recently begun reintroduction programs. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, they eat a prepared meat diet and several types of fish. [15][16] The New World river otters originated from the Old World river otters following a migration across the Bering Land Bridge, which existed off and on between 1.8million and 10,000 years ago. Both otters have their own adorable way of caring for their young and making them feel at home, too. River otter poop also contains lots of DNA, from what the otters have eaten and from the otters themselves. Ste Marie lives on the Canadian side of the Detroit River, which divides Detroit, Michigan, from Windsor, Ontario. [23], Although commonly called a "river otter", the North American river otter is found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats, both freshwater and coastal marine, including lakes, rivers, inland wetlands, coastal shorelines, marshes, and estuaries. REWILDING ARGENTINA'S SCIENTISTS REDISCOVERED A SPECIES THOUGHT TO BE EXTINCT IN THE COUNTRYThe latest confirmed records of giant river otter family groups i. They also inhabit the forested regions of the Pacific coast in North America. [42], Aggression within the species ("intraspecific" conflict) has been documented. Chasing is also a common game. The North American River Otter, for instance, is nocturnal three seasons and more diurnal only in the winter. [50] Fish species frequently found in the diets of the North American river otters include: Catostomidae, which consists of suckers (Catostomus spp.) Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. 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. Otter species can be found across Eurasia, Africa, India, Japan, Indonesia, North America, South America, and Central America. Before the giant river otter, there was an otter that weighed more than four times the largest living otter species. It is one of the most endangered mammal species in the Neotropics. I had a feeling it might be a rare encounter, but I really had no idea just how rare, Ste Marie said. River otters are amazing swimmers. in hatcheries or other fish culture facilities). [5] At Tierpark Hagenbeck in Germany, long-term pair bonding and individualized mate selection were seen, with copulation most frequently taking place in water. [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. By the early 1900s, North American river otter populations had declined throughout large portions of their historic range in North America. River otters eat mostly aquatic organisms, including fish, frogs, crayfish, turtles, insects and some small mammals. [29] In Georgia, crayfish accounted for two-thirds of the prey in the summer diet, and their remnants were present in 98% of the summer spraint. Other research maintains that river otters mate for life. ); darters (Etheostoma spp. In a Facebook post on Friday evening, the zoo said a 13-year-old female North American river . [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. Consequently, many wildlife management agencies developed strategies to restore or enhance otter populations, including the use of reintroduction projects. The North American river otter is one of several carnivorans included in ongoing research of respiratory turbinates by Dr. Van Valkenburgh. On average, male otters weigh 25lbs and are about 48in in length . Weights are between 26 and 32kg (57 and 71lb) for males and 22 and 26kg (49 and 57lb) for females. 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