Utreras[60] presumed habitat requirements and availability would differ dramatically in the rainy season: estimating range sizes of 1.98 to as much as 19.55 square kilometres (0.76 to 7.55 sq miles) for the groups. Other countries have taken a lead in designating protected areas in South America. [34] Each family of otters was shown to have its own unique audio signature.[35]. Prey species found were also sedentary, generally swimming only short distances, which may aid the giant otter in predation. 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. Females appear to give birth year round, although in the wild, births may peak during the dry season. Predators and Prey of the Sea Otter The sea otter's diet includes about 40 marine species, including urchins, crabs, clams, abalones, mussels, and snails. Learn more about river otters in Illinois in Outdoor Illinois Wildlife Journal: River otters are a top aquatic predator. The clear waters of oxbow lakes offer ideal hunting conditions in which the otter can employ its excellent eyesight.Picture credits: ©André Baertschi. [77] In a report for World Wildlife Fund in 2002, Duplaix was emphatic about the importance of Suriname and the other Guianas:[58] .mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}. [46] 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.

Newborn pups squeak to elicit attention, while older young whine and wail when they begin to participate in group activities. Duplaix documented interaction with the neotropical otter. They noted that the species may be the basal divergence among the otters or fall outside of them altogether, having split even before other mustelids, such as the ermine, polecat, and mink. Two subspecies are currently recognized by the canonical Mammal Species of the World, P. b. brasiliensis and P. b. paraguensis. On land a river otter can run at speeds of up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) an hour—they can slide even faster. Without them some type of predators would end up not having enough food. The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. For many years, otters were hunted for their pelts. They can live eight to nine years in the wild but have lived up to 21 years in captivity. Occasionally, a curious river otter will approach a boat or a person standing motionless on the shore, in order to investigate the new object in their territory. This makes it easier for the adults to catch enough fish for the growing young, and for the pups to learn how to catch fish. River otters, members of the weasel family, hunt at night and feed on whatever might be available. Seasonally, a female river otter and her young will use relatively small sections of a waterway, typically three to ten linear miles. However habitat destruction and water pollution still puts these animals at great risk, especially because they are so specialized. In 4 seconds, you will be redirected to nwfactionfund.org, the site of the National Wildlife Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) organization.

In the mid-1990s, biologists with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources released 346 river otters from Louisiana in southeastern and central Illinois.
Poaching has long been a problem. [64] 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 shows a variety of adaptations suitable to an amphibious lifestyle, including exceptionally dense fur, a wing-like tail, and webbed feet. Its considerable size and remarkable agility mean that it has few natural predators. The three Guianas remain the last stronghold of giant otters in South America, with pristine giant otter habitat on some rivers and good giant otter densities overall—still, but for how long? [12], Adult giant otters living in family groups have no known serious natural predators, however there are some accounts of black caimans in Peru and yacare caimans in the Pantanal preying on giant otters.

When the young are only about two months old, they get an advanced swimming lesson—their mother pushes them into the water.

River otter dens are along the water in abandoned burrows or empty hollows. It is one of the most endangered mammal species in the neotropics. They are known to play with rocks and shells and to “slide” down steep banks. 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 and fish concentrations in the dwindling lakes and channels are at their peak. Gymnotids, such as the electric eel, and the large silurid catfish are among aquatic competitors. [80], Throughout its range, the giant otter interacts with indigenous groups, who often practice traditional hunting and fishing. All group members may aggressively charge intruders, including boats with humans in them. 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). Other types of food that the Otters consume though may end up being overpopulated. Other threats to the giant otter include conflict with fishermen, who often view the species as a nuisance (see below). Four strands of wire should be placed at four to five-inch intervals from the ground. [83] The indigenous Kichwa peoples from Amazonian Peru believed in a world of water where Yaku runa reigned as mother of the water and was charged with caring for fish and animals. They will pull large fish from the water so that they can feed on land, and they often leave uneaten fish parts on the shoreline. Legal trapping can occur 100 yards from an occupied dwelling without permission of the occupants, closer with permission as long as there are no municipal ordinances that prohibit trapping. Current hunting and trapping seasons can be found in the Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest.

The giant otter's highly sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) allow the animal to track changes in water pressure and currents, which aids in detecting prey. Commercial fishermen don’t like their daily catch to be reduced due to the Otters. It is regulated internationally under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): all trade in specimens and parts is illegal. The species is now classified as "endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Carter and Rosas, however, rejected the subspecific division in 1997, noting the classification had only been validated once, in 1968, and the P. b. paraguensis type specimen was very similar to P. b. One of the problems though is that as the other foods sources for sharks and whales continue to be depleted, they are going to eat what is readily available. Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. Other species that prey upon similar food resources include the caimans and large fish that are themselves piscivores. [43] The giant otter seems to prefer prey fish that are generally immobile on river bottoms in clear water. Ecotourism also presents challenges: while it raises money and awareness for the animals, by its nature it also increases human effect on the species, both through associated development and direct disturbances in the field. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) considers the species' presence in Argentina and Uruguay uncertain. The only predator that they have to worry about is the killer whale. Among the Achuar people, they are known as wankanim,[7] and among the Sanumá as hadami. Voice. Females are usually accompanied by their young. The river otter food chain consists mostly of fish. [63] Pups are more vulnerable, and may be taken by caiman and other large predators,[50] although adults are constantly mindful of stray young, and will harass and fight off possible predators. As human activity expands, giant otter home ranges become increasingly isolated. [65] While the two species are sympatric (with overlapping ranges) during certain seasons, there appeared to be no serious conflict. [71] Specific threats from human industry include unsustainable mahogany logging in parts of the giant otter range,[68] and concentrations of mercury in its diet of fish, a byproduct of gold mining. [74], The giant otter has lost as much as 80% of its South American range. Sea otters eat about 25% of their weight every day, and is arguably the number one cause in sea otter deaths, when they cannot forage enough food…

Weights are between 26 and 32 kg (57 and 71 lb) for males and 22 and 26 kg (49 and 57 lb) for females. Otters are eaten by large predators, such as great white sharks, killer whales, bears, sea lions, eagles and coyotes, depending on their geographical location.
The dens have entrances underwater so they can be easily accessed from the water. Anywhere, any time. Their broad range of up to nine vocalizations is believed to include predator warnings and contact calls.


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