[48] Study of captive specimens has found only males initiate copulation. [88], In Suriname, the giant otter is not a traditional prey species for human hunters, which affords some protection. HISTORY . [25] The fur is extremely dense, so much so that water cannot penetrate to the skin. A restoration program in western New York has in. The initial goals of the study are: Two subspecies are currently recognized by the canonical Mammal Species of the World, P. b. brasiliensis and P. b. paraguensis. [13] Later gene sequencing research on the mustelids, from 2004, places the divergence of the giant otter somewhat later, between five and 11million years ago; the corresponding phylogenetic tree locates the Lontra divergence first among otter genera, and Pteronura second, although divergence ranges overlap. Check the conservation status of the animals you hunt and use methods that dont impact other animals. My venture into the world of American River Otter proved that the conservation & educational projects have resulted in a stable and growing population. The giant otter seems to choose clear, black waters with rocky or sandy bottoms over silty, saline, and white waters. [27] Its velvety feel makes the animal highly sought after by fur traders and has contributed to its decline. While many states experienced declines in river otter densities, distribution, and in some cases extirpation in the mid 1800's - 1900's, Georgia's He grabbed his camera and then got a video of the otters head bobbing out of the water. Information about river otter breeding and reproductive and social behavior is varied due to the difficulty of studying these animals in the wild. [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. The average 24-hour movement was only 3.5 km (2 mi. A river otter is a member of the weasel family that enjoys water. North American river otters, also called Canadian otters, have long, muscular, streamlined bodies with short legs and fully webbed feet bearing non-retractable claws. I had a feeling it might be a rare encounter, but I really had no idea just how rare, Ste Marie said. The smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) of Asia may be its closest extant relative; similar behaviour, vocalizations, and skull morphology have been noted. There was so much oil in the river that not only river otters but beavers could not live there. The North American river otter is one of several carnivorans included in ongoing research of respiratory turbinates by Dr. Van Valkenburgh. However, sea otters are acclimated to salt water, and come to shore only for occasional rest periods and to give birth. Ste Marie and his partner sprinted a few hundred yards to the walkway where the otter was headed. . Reintroduction projects have expanded their distribution in recent years, especially in the Midwestern United States. Death / Obituaries. The median life expectancy for this species in captivity is 11.7 years, and the longevity record is 21.64 years (Hamilton 2016). Nature at risk: Otters still call Delaware River home, for now. [24] 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. This ancient otter weighed as much as an adult lion. but averaging 15 to 19 lbs . The fact that it is exclusively active during the day further suggests its eyesight should be strong, to aid in hunting and predator avoidance. [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. [45] The giant otter seems to prefer prey fish that are generally immobile on river bottoms in clear water. In seasonally flooded areas, the giant otter may abandon campsites during the wet season, dispersing to flooded forests in search of prey. [23], Like other otters, the North American river otter lives in a holt, or den, constructed in the burrows of other animals, or in natural hollows, such as under a log or in river banks. [42] Population densities varied with a high of 1.2/km2 (3.1/sqmi) reported in Suriname and with a low of 0.154/km2 (0.40/sqmi) found in Guyana. Derek Balmas of Franklinville was. [47], Details of giant otter reproduction and life cycle are scarce, and captive animals have provided much of the information. River otters, semiaquatic mammals that can grow up to 30 lbs. [1], Lontra canadensis is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It has the greatest body length of any species in the mustelid family, although the sea otter may be heavier. They will feed on fish, invertebrates, frogs, clams, crayfish, and small mammals or birds. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight [11] The genus name, Pteronura, is derived from the Ancient Greek words (pteron, feather or wing) and (oura, tail),[12] a reference to its distinctive, wing-like tail. Preceding the settlement of North America by Europeans, North American river otters were prevalent among aquatic habitats throughout most of the continent. In the winter, crayfish made up one-third of the North American river otter's diet. River otters are an indicator species, according to Hartig, acting as a measure of cleanliness in the water. And new research on the patterns of the hunting trade has revealed how the giant otter's biology, including its monogamous tendencies and boisterous social lifestyle, may have undermined its. In captivity, this may increase to 17, with an unconfirmed record of 19. [65] They clear significant amounts of vegetation while building their campsites. A river otter is a small, aquatic mammal that can be found in rivers and lakes in North America. But cleanup efforts in the past few decades have paved the way for the otters return to the river. Crustaceans may even be consumed more than fish. Free or royalty-free photos and images. [47], Suriname still has significant forest cover and an extensive system of protected areas, much of which protects the giant otter. Are you a hunter? Name: Lontra weiri. To protect fish in these cases, the otters may need to be removed or relocated. It can tolerate a great range of temperature and elevations. Otters are the largest species of the weasel family measuring in at 3-4 feet long with a 12-18 inch tail. But they aren't born with those skills. Group hierarchies are not rigid and the animals easily share roles. Recently, long-term genetic consequences of reintroduction projects on remnant North American river otter populations has been discussed. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. [29] The legs are short and stubby and end in large webbed feet tipped with sharp claws. [50] The few occurrences of mammals found in the North American river otter's diet include remains of the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus); meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus); eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus); and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). The otters typically capture prey in their mouths but occasionally use their thumbs and forepaws to grasp and manipulate prey. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images). Their fur is brown, slick, and acts as a. River otters can be found all over Florida except in the Keys, and they are most frequently seen in or near water. River otter fur ranges from light to dark, rich brown. Otter fur is dark brown, short, and dense (hundreds of hairs/square inch) creating a smooth, sleek body and tail. [26][32][33] Game fish, such as trout (Salmonidae) and pike (Esocidae), are not a significant component of their diets. [25], Giant otter muzzles are short and sloping and give the head a ball-shaped appearance. Learn more. On land a river otter can run at speeds of up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) an hourthey can slide even faster. It tapers to a point. ); and Ictaluridae, which consists of bullheads and catfish (Ictalurus spp.). Meaning: Lontra is the genus name of American otters, and weiri honors guitarist Bob Weir. Young are born between April andMay and arrivesilky black, blind, toothless and totally helpless. Hartig said that in 2019, river otters were observed in Lake Erie National Park, having swum across Lake Erie. [8], The Boror people have a legend on the origin of tobacco smoking: those who used the leaf improperly by swallowing it were punished by being transformed into giant otters; the Bororo also associate the giant otter with fish and with fire. Like other carnivores, their teeth are well adapted for grinding and crushing. We look for things like river otters, he said. [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 otter is a swift and agile swimmer, using its muscular tail to make sharp turns and steering with its neck and webbed feet. [75] The animal's relatively late sexual maturity and complex social life makes hunting especially disastrous. Females appear to give birth year round, although in the wild, births may peak during the dry season. Staff and visitors at the Toronto Zoo are mourning the death of an otter who had recently become ill. Ste Marie lives on the Canadian side of the Detroit River, which divides Detroit, Michigan, from Windsor, Ontario. Group sizes are anywhere from two to 20 members, but likely average between four and eight. Otters primarily feed on fish and aquatic organisms including crayfish, frogs, and other miscellaneous animals. These otters are frequently observed playing and sliding together. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers the species' presence in Argentina and Uruguay uncertain. About the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Your Go-to Guide for a Winter Day at the Zoo, What's New at the Smithsonians National Zoo This Summer. Some studies indicate that river otters pair for only a few months during the breeding season and have no further strong bonds. [20] About one-third of the animal's total length consists of a long, tapered tail. after 100 years, "Final report of the North American river otter research project on the Upper Colorado River Basin in and adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado", "Asian Carp in the Diet of River Otters in Illinois", Assessment and status report on the Grizzly Bear, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_American_river_otter&oldid=1149392550, This page was last edited on 11 April 2023, at 23:15. Fish from the order Perciformes, particularly cichlids and perch, were seen in 97% of scats, and Characiformes, such as characins, in 86%. Statistics show between 1959 and 1969 Amazonian Brazil alone accounted for 1,000 to 3,000 pelts annually. 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. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family.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. Different studies have placed the breeding season in winter, late springand summer. [85][86] Bolivia designated wetlands larger than the size of Switzerland as a freshwater protected area in 2001; these are also home to the giant otter. )[78] The animal sometimes drowns in nets set across rivers and machete attacks by fishermen have been noted, according to Duplaix, but "tolerance is the rule" in Suriname. 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. How Do You Train A Lemur For Voluntary Radiographs? The North American River Otter, for instance, is nocturnal three seasons and more diurnal only in the winter. When in the water, the giant otter faces danger from animals not strictly preying upon it: the electric eel and stingray are potentially deadly if stumbled upon, and piranha may be capable of at least taking bites out of a giant otter, as evidenced by scarring on individuals. When the mothers have established their domains, they give birth to several kits. River otters are amazing swimmers. Poaching has long been a problem. Weight: 11 to 30 pounds. Habitat degradation and loss is the greatest current threat. In warmer times, you may also see otters sliding down a riverbank. In Canto State Park, otters dig their reproductive dens on the shores of oxbow lakes starting around July, when waters are already quite low. Both otters have their own adorable way of caring for their young and making them feel at home, too. 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 . They spend a significant portion of the day scent marking territory by urinating, defecating, scratching and rubbing their scent glands on rocks and trees. You can be an incredible ally for conservation! [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. The North American river otter is the most abundant otter species, but surprisingly little is known about its lifein the wild. This dilemma prevents, and consequently inhibits, recolonization or growth of North American river otter populations. The river otter can hold its breath for up to 8 minutes Estimated Population Size Over 100,000 Biggest Threat Loss of habitat Most Distinctive Feature Long, narrow body Other Name (s) American otter, fish otter Gestation Period 58 days Litter Size one to six Habitat Ponds, lakes, rivers Predators Bobcats, coyotes, alligators, raptors Diet Carnivore Jan. 20, 2022 5:24 PM PT. [9] Other documented common names are American otter, Canada otter, Canadian otter, fish otter, land otter, nearctic river otter, and Prince of Wales otter. and redhorses (Moxostoma spp. [84] In a report for World Wildlife Fund in 2002, Duplaix was emphatic about the importance of Suriname and the other Guianas:[63] .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}. [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. It is currently known principally from a single fossilised partial skull (including its snout, orbits and all upper teeth except for the first and second incisors, plus parts of its lower jaw and teeth), which was discovered in the Hadar Formation of Dikika, in Ethiopia's Afar Valley, and dates back to the Pliocene epoch, approximately 5.3-3.6 [78] Duplaix relates the story of an Arawak Indian who took two pups from their parents. As such, careful consideration of any threatened, endangered, or fish species of special interest is warranted prior to reintroduction of otters to a watershed. Tracks: 3' wide and round in shape. 2:00 AM EDT, Sat May 7, 2022. Because theyare at the top of their food chain, they have few predators. [1] P. b. brasiliensis is distributed across the north of the giant otter range, including the Orinoco, Amazon, and Guianas river systems; to the south, P. b. paraguensis has been suggested in Paraguay, Uruguay, southern Brazil, and northern Argentina,[14] although it may be extinct in the last three of these four. Female otters prepare dens that they keep scrupulously clean. Life has been unfair to the giant river otter. [78] Specific threats from human industry include unsustainable mahogany logging in parts of the giant otter range,[75] and concentrations of mercury in its diet of fish, a byproduct of gold mining. One report found between three and eight campsites, clustered around feeding areas. The river otter ( Lutra canadensis) is the best swimmer of the weasel, or Mustelidae, family. The neotropical otter is active during twilight and darkness, reducing the likelihood of conflict with the diurnal giant otter. [48], Mothers give birth to furred and blind cubs in an underground den near the river shore and fishing sites. The tail is highly muscular and comprises up to 40 percent of the otter'stotal body length. Gymnotids, such as the electric eel, and the large silurid catfish are among aquatic competitors. Its body length ranges from 66 to 107 centimetres (26 to 42in). But the otters return is a beacon of hope for conservationists and environmentalists alike. The entire group, including nonreproductive adults, which are usually older siblings to that year's pups, collaborates to catch enough fish for the young. [55] Trappers in Alberta, Canada commonly assert North American river otters are major predators of North American beavers. Two male otters, a father and son pair named Emmett and Potomac, live on American Trail. [51], Adult North American river otters are capable of consuming 1 to 1.5 kilograms (2.2 to 3.3lb) of fish per day. [29][30], The diet of the North American river otter can be deduced by analyzing either stool obtained in the field,[31] or gut contents removed from trapped otters. They give birth within these dens during the dry season. 10-30 lbs. They can dive up to 60 feet and stay underwater for as long as four minutes. [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. [28] Unique markings of white or cream fur color the throat and under the chin, allow individuals to be identified from birth. [7] All four names are in use in South America, with a number of regional variations. ); Cyprinidae, made up of carp (Cyprinus spp. [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. SmithsoniansNationalZoo& ConservationBiologyInstitute [62] Furthermore, Defler observed associations between giant otters and the Amazon river dolphins, and suggested that dolphins may benefit by fish fleeing from the otters. In other otter species, vision is generally normal or slightly myopic, both on land and in water. 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. 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