Eurasian otter

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Eurasian otter
Fischotter, Lutra Lutra.JPG
CITES Appendix I (CITES) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Lutrinae
Genus: Lutra
Species:
L. lutra
Binomial name
Lutra lutra
European Otter area.png
Range map
Synonyms

Mustela lutraLinnaeus, 1758
Lutra vulgaris Erxleben, 1777

Contents

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, European river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia and the Maghreb. The most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae), it is found in the waterways and coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa. The Eurasian otter has a diet mainly of fish, and is strongly territorial. It is endangered in some parts of its range, but is recovering in others.

Description

Description iconographique comparee du squelette et du systeme dentaire des mammiferes recents et fossiles (Lutra lutra skull).jpg
Skull
Description iconographique comparee du squelette et du systeme dentaire des mammiferes recents et fossiles (Lutra lutra).jpg
Skeleton

The Eurasian otter is a typical species of the otter subfamily. Brown above and cream below, these long, slender creatures are well-equipped for their aquatic habits. Their bones show osteosclerosis, increasing their density to reduce buoyancy. [2] This otter differs from the North American river otter by its shorter neck, broader visage, the greater space between the ears and its longer tail. [3] However, the Eurasian otter is the only otter in much of its range, so it is rarely confused for any other animal. Normally, this species is 57 to 95 cm (22.5 to 37.5 in) long, not counting a tail of 35–45 cm (14–17.5 in). The female is shorter than the male. [4] The otter's average body weight is 7 to 12 kg (15 to 26 lb), although occasionally a large old male may reach up to 17 kg (37 lb). [5] [6] The record-sized specimen, reported by a reliable source but not verified, weighed over 24 kg (53 lb). [7]

Distribution and habitat

Two otters in Korkeasaari Zoo, Helsinki, Finland Saukko Korkeasaari 2.jpg
Two otters in Korkeasaari Zoo, Helsinki, Finland

The Eurasian otter is the most widely distributed otter species, its range including parts of Asia and northern Africa, as well as being spread across Europe, south to Palestine. Though currently thought to be extinct in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, it is now common in Latvia, along the coast of Norway, in the western regions of Spain and Portugal and across Great Britain and Ireland. In Italy, it lives in southern parts of the peninsula. [1] It inhabits unpolluted bodies of fresh water such as lakes, streams, rivers, canals and ponds, as long as the food supply is adequate. In Andalusia, it uses artificial lakes on golf courses. [8] It prefers the open areas of the streams and also lives along the coast in salt water, but requires regular access to fresh water to clean its fur. [9]

In Syria, the Eurasian otter was recorded in montane creeks in Latakia and Raqqa Governorates and in the lower Euphrates valley in Deir ez-Zor Governorate. [10] In western Nepal, its presence was documented at elevations of around 1,600 m (5,200 ft) in Barekot river in Jajarkot District and at 1,337 m (4,386 ft) in Tubang river in Eastern Rukum District. [11] In India, it is distributed in the Himalayan foothills, southern Western Ghats and the central Indian landscape. [12]

Behaviour and ecology

Diet

Otter feeding on fish European Otter.jpg
Otter feeding on fish
Video of otters eating frozen fish in the Aquarium of Gijón, Spain

The Eurasian otter's diet mainly consists of fish. [13] Fish is its most preferred choice of food in Mediterranean and temperate freshwater habitats. [14] During the winter and in colder environments, it also feeds on amphibians, [15] [16] worms, clams, crustaceans, insects, eggs, birds and sometimes small mammals, including young European beavers. [17] [18] It will also feed on a small amount of vegetation. [19]

As with various other mustelid species, otters are capable of overpowering and killing prey significantly larger than themselves, and are known to hunt large waterbirds such as adult greylag geese on occasion. [20] [21]

Breeding

Eurasian otters are strongly territorial, living alone for the most part. An individual's territory may vary between about 1 and 40 km (1–25 mi) long, with about 18 km (11 mi) being usual. The length of the territory depends on the density of food available and the width of the water suitable for hunting (it is shorter on coasts, where the available width is much wider, and longer on narrower rivers). The Eurasian otter uses its feces, called spraints, to mark its territory and prioritize the use of resources to other group members. [22] The territories are only held against members of the same sex, so those of males and females may overlap. [23] Mating takes place in water. Eurasian otters are nonseasonal breeders (males and females will breed at any time of the year) and it has been found that their mating season is most likely determined simply by the otters' reproductive maturity and physiological state. Female otters become sexually mature between 18 and 24 months old and the average age of first breeding is found to be 2+1⁄2 years. Gestation for the Eurasian otter is 60–64 days, the litter weighing about 10% of the female body mass. After the gestation period, one to four pups are born, which remain dependent on the mother for about 13 months. [24] The male plays no direct role in parental care, although the territory of a female with her pups is usually entirely within that of the male. [23] Hunting mainly takes place at night, while the day is usually spent in the Eurasian otter's holt (den) – usually a burrow or hollow tree on the riverbank which can sometimes only be entered from underwater. Though long thought to hunt using sight and touch only, evidence is emerging that they may also be able to smell underwater – possibly in a similar manner to the star-nosed mole. [25] [26]

Taxonomy

The extinct Japanese otter is sometimes considered a subspecies; recent studies have found it to fall outside the subspecific clades comprising L. lutra, so it has been reclassified as a distinct species, but significant uncertainty remains. [27]

Conservation

The Eurasian otter declined across its range in the second half of the 20th century [28] primarily due to pollution from polychlorinated biphenyls and pesticides such as organochlorine. Other threats included habitat loss and hunting, both legal and illegal. [29] Eurasian otter populations are now recovering in many parts of Europe. In the United Kingdom, the number of sites with an otter presence increased by 55% between 1994 and 2002. [30] In August, 2011, the Environment Agency announced that otters had returned to every county in England since vanishing from every county except the West Country and parts of Northern England. [31] Recovery is partly due to a ban on the most harmful pesticides that has been in place across Europe since 1979, [32] partly to improvements in water quality leading to increases in prey populations, and partly to direct legal protection under the European Union Habitats Directive [33] and national legislation in several European countries. [34] [35] [36] In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 170. It is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List. [1]

In Germany, the Eurasian otter is nearly extinct in the wild, being listed as critically endangered. As part of a protection and conservation effort the "Aktion Fischotterschutz" was founded in 1979, which aims to fund habitat protection and expansion. [37] Further, the Hankensbüttler Otter Centre provides protection to the species in captivity. [38]

It is listed as endangered in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand, and critically endangered in Mongolia. [1] In South Korea, it is listed as a Natural Monument [39] and first-class endangered species. [40]

Most species that are victims of population decline or a loss of habitat tend to eventually lose their genetic difference due to inbreeding from small populations. A study conducted in 2001, examined whether or not the populations of Eurasian otters suffered from a lack of genetic variability. In the study, they examined teeth of otter skulls at the Zoological Museum, Copenhagen and the Natural History Museum, Aarhus. The samples were collected between 1883 and 1963 in Denmark (Funen, Zealand, and Jutland). The study examined the tissue on the teeth of the skulls and determined the genetic variability based on DNA analysis. In conclusion, the study discovered that despite the population declines, the Eurasian otter was not a victim of declining genetic variability. [41]

The decline in population of native freshwater fishes in the rivers of Iberia, which is the preferred food of Eurasian otters, along with the expansion of exotic fish species like centrarchids could potentially put Eurasian otters at risk for extinction. [42]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otter</span> Subfamily of mammals (Lutrinae)

Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine. Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines, among other animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea otter</span> Species of marine mammal (Enhydra lutris)

The sea otter is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg, making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. Unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although it can walk on land, the sea otter is capable of living exclusively in the ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian small-clawed otter</span> Species of mammal

The Asian small-clawed otter, also known as the oriental small-clawed otter and the small-clawed otter, is an otter species native to South and Southeast Asia. It has short claws that do not extend beyond the pads of its webbed digits. With a total body length of 730 to 960 mm, and a maximum weight of 5 kg (11 lb), it is the smallest otter species in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American river otter</span> Species of semi-aquatic mammal

The North American river otter, also known as the northern river otter and river otter, is a semiaquatic mammal that lives only on the North American continent throughout most of Canada, along the coasts of the United States and its inland waterways. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur.

<i>Lutra</i> Genus of carnivores

Lutra is a genus of otters, one of seven in the subfamily Lutrinae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hine's emerald</span> Species of dragonfly

The Hine's emerald is an endangered dragonfly species found in the United States and Canada. Populations exist in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ontario, and Wisconsin. Larvae are found in shallow, flowing water in fens and marshes, and often use crayfish burrows. Major threats to the species include habitat loss and alteration, and the species is legally protected in both the United States and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant otter</span> Species of mammal

The giant otter or giant river otter is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.8 m. Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups. The giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggression, and reassurance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neotropical otter</span> Species of mammal

The neotropical otter or neotropical river otter is a near-threatened otter species found in freshwater systems from Mexico and Central America through mainland South America, as well as the island of Trinidad. It is physically similar to the northern and southern river otter, which occur directly north and south of this species' range, respectively. Its head-to-body length can range from 36–66 centimetres (14–26 in), plus a tail of 37–84 centimetres (15–33 in). Body weight ranges from 5–15 kilograms (11–33 lb).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquatic mammal</span> Mammal that dwells partly or entirely in bodies of water

Aquatic mammals and semiaquatic mammals are a diverse group of mammals that dwell partly or entirely in bodies of water. They include the various marine mammals who dwell in oceans, as well as various freshwater species, such as the European otter. They are not a taxon and are not unified by any distinct biological grouping, but rather their dependence on and integral relation to aquatic ecosystems. The level of dependence on aquatic life varies greatly among species. Among freshwater taxa, the Amazonian manatee and river dolphins are completely aquatic and fully dependent on aquatic ecosystems. Semiaquatic freshwater taxa include the Baikal seal, which feeds underwater but rests, molts, and breeds on land; and the capybara and hippopotamus which are able to venture in and out of water in search of food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European perch</span> Species of fish

The European perch, also known as the common perch, redfin perch, big-scaled redfin, English perch, Euro perch, Eurasian perch, Eurasian river perch, Hatch, poor man's rockfish or in Anglophone parts of Europe, simply the perch, is a predatory freshwater fish native to Europe and North Asia. It is the type species of the genus Perca.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hairy-nosed otter</span> Species of otter native to Southeast Asia

The hairy-nosed otter is a semiaquatic mammal native to Southeast Asia and one of the rarest and least known otter species. It is threatened by loss of natural resources and poaching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern river otter</span> Species of semi-aquatic mammal

The southern river otter, or South American river otter, is an otter species that lives in the southern regions of Argentina and Chile, including parts of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. It is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted-necked otter</span> Species of carnivore

The spotted-necked otter, or speckle-throated otter, is an otter native to sub-Saharan Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smooth-coated otter</span> Species of carnivore

The smooth-coated otter is a freshwater otter species from regions of South and Southwest Asia, with the majority of its numbers found in Southeast Asia. It has been ranked as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List since 1996, as it is threatened by habitat loss, pollution of wetlands and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade. As the common name indicates, its fur is relatively smooth, and somewhat shorter in length than that of other otter species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spraint</span> Otter dung

Spraint is the dung of the otter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese otter</span> Species of otter

The Japanese otter (Japanese: ニホンカワウソ or Japanese river otter is an extinct species of otter formerly widespread in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hankensbüttel Otter Centre</span> Zoo in Gifhorn, Germany

The Hankensbüttel Otter Centre is a nature experience centre in Hankensbüttel, in the German district of Gifhorn, that is laid out in 6 hectares of open land by a lake known as the Isenhagener See. The Otter Centre showcases the European otter which is a species threatened by extinction, as well as several related species of marten, in a natural environment. The centre is run by the Aktion Fischotterschutz, a state-recognised nature conservation organisation, and is a popular tourist and visitor destination on the southern edge of the Lüneburg Heath.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary</span> Protected area in India

The Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Ramanagar districts of Karnataka, India. The Cauvery River passes through its midst. An area of 510.52 km2 (197.11 sq mi) was established as Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary on 14 January 1987 under Section 18 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 with the objective of providing protection, conservation and development of Wildlife and its environment. The sanctuary was expanded to its current area of 102,753 hectares in 2013. On its east, it adjoins Dharmapuri forest division of Tamil Nadu state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biodiversity of Albania</span>

For a small country, Albania is characterised by a considerable wealth of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and habitats with contrasting floral, faunal, and fungal species, defined in an area of 28,748 square kilometres. Most of the country is predominantly of Mediterranean character, comprehending the country's center and south, while the alpine affinity is more visible in the northeast.

References

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