Eurasian Otter - The Basics!

Eurasian Otter

(Lutra lutra)

As promised, the posts this week are brief overviews of EACH of the otter species, focusing on recent information about each species and a vid or 2...

There is a LOT of information "out there" about the Eurasian Otter,

they are the considered the "typical" otter

(just take a look at that genus and species name! ; ) ;

consider this just a brief intro, a sneak peek, at the only otter species 

that can be found on THREE continents!

Eurasian Otters are found across most of Europe and Asia AND in parts of northern Africa. They are always found near water, fresh or salt, as long as there are freshwater pools nearby for drinking and bathing. They tend to live alone except when mating, when the male and female may stay close together for ~ a week, or for females when raising a litter. Though they are excellent swimmers, Eurasian Otters can only hold their breath for about 30 seconds!



Status: Near Threatened and Decreasing


The teal area in the map below shows where the Eurasian Otter is known to exist; it may be found in other small sub-populations not shown.

For our Eurasian Otter videos, we have a treat, one of Questˣ's friends, Andy Coventry, takes some of the most wonderful videos (and photos) of Eurasian otters! 

Here is a link to a video he shared with us recently of 2 Eurasian otters swimming in the River Don, Scotland.

Video about the Eurasian Otter Conservation Program, on otter conservation in Israel

 ...and here's some video from Pembrokeshire,Wales, taken by Dawn and Jim...

...and a white-tailed eagle after an otter's meal off the Island of Mull, watch closely!

If you want more in-depth reading a few research articles you could explore on these otters includes:

>   An evaluation of field and noninvasive genetic methods for estimating Eurasian otter population size, P Hájková, B Zemanová, K Roche, B Hájek - Conservation Genetics, 2009
>   Competition between Eurasian otter Lutra lutra and American mink Mustela vison probed by niche shift., L Bonesi, P Chanin, DW Macdonald - Oikos, 2004

>   Chemical contaminants in fish species from rivers in the North of Luxembourg: Potential impact on the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), A Boscher, S Gobert, C Guignard, J Ziebel, L L'Hoste… - Chemosphere, 2010
>   The reintroduction of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) into the Netherlands: hidden life revealed by noninvasive genetic monitoring,HP Koelewijn, M Pérez-Haro, HAH Jansman… - Conservation …, 2010

>   Altitudinal gradient of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) food niche in Mediterranean habitats

L Remonti, A Balestrieri… - Canadian Journal of …, 2009

Asian Small-Clawed Otter - The Basics!

Asian Small-Clawed Otter

(Aonyx cinereus)

As promised, the posts this week are brief overviews of EACH of the otter species, focusing on recent information about each species and a vid or 2...

This is the 3rd of the 3 otter species that are found *only* in Asia, !

The Asian Small-Clawed Otter is the smallest of all otter species, and also, arguably, the most social. They mate for life, and live in family groups of between four and twelve, and sometimes up to twenty, otters. The group hunts, plays, and sleeps together. These otters will travel a long distance out of water in search of new habitats. They don't generally dive deeper than their body length in search of food, and spend more time out of the water than most otter species.

(Was also known as Oriental Small-Clawed Otter).

Status: Vulnerable and Decreasing 

The areas in yellow on the map below show where the Asian Small-Clawed Otter lives in southeast Asia. Despite how adaptable they are, they have become extinct in large parts of their original range.

Asian Small-Clawed Otters are very social and gregarious, watch and see for yourself!

 Asian Small-Clawed Otters (India) caught on camera by Wild Otters...

Here are a few clips of a family group kept at woodland Park Zoo (who participates in the Species Survival Plan):

...a group of otters is, appropriately, called a romp... 

...otters interacting with a crow (starts @ 3.20)... 

...nap time at Woodland Park Zoo 

If you want more in-depth reading a few research articles you could explore on these otters includes:

>   Conservation of the Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) in human-modified landscapes, Western Ghats, India, N Prakash, D Mudappa, TRS Raman… - Tropical Conservation …, 2012

>   Conservation of a river for biodiversity and ecosystem services: the case of the Halda–the unique river of Chittagong, Bangladesh, H Kabir, M Kibria, M Jashimuddin, International Journal of …, 2015

>   Science-driven management of protected areas: a Philippine case study, NAD Mallari, NJ Collar, PJK McGowan… - Environmental …, 2013

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Smooth Coated Otter - The Basics!

Smooth Coated Otter 

(Lutrogale perspicillata)

As promised, the posts this week are brief overviews of EACH of the otter species, focusing on recent information about each species and a vid or 2...

 

This is one of the 3 otter species that are found *only* in Asia, !

  
The Smooth Coated Otter prefers to live in undisturbed areas. They tend to be nocturnal, sometimes hunting alone and sometimes in large groups. Smooth Coated Otters mate for life, and live in family groups consisting of the mated pair and their pups (often including full-grown pups). Research demonstrates that the alpha female is dominant and determines hierarchy within the group, while the alpha male moves the group through their territory. Smooth Coated Otters are proficient both on land and in water. They are powerful swimmers, and on land they climb and jump quite well.

Status: Vulnerable and Decreasing


The Smooth-Coated Otter (in rust on the map below) is found through southern and southeastern Asia, with an apparently isolated population southern Iraq (it's current status throughout the rest of the Middle East is currently unknown).

Even though they tend to be nocturnal, there are some really good videos of smooth-coated otters:

A smooth-Coated Otter in the wild in India...

A family of smooth-coated otters outside of their den (thank you "Wild Otters")

...and night shots from "Wild Otters"

If you want more in-depth reading a few research articles you could explore on these otters includes:

>   Otter populations and their distribution in China–A review, Z Xaohong, P Yoxon, GM Yoxon

>   Shifting Paradigms in Wetland Governance: Shaping and Reshaping Conservation

D Joshi, AR Bhandari 2016

>   Conservation importance of Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area, Laos, for small carnivores based on camera trap data. CNZ Coudrat, C Nanthavong… - Raffles Bulletin of …, 2014
>   Al-Sheikhly, O.F. and Nader, I.A.. The Status of Iraq Smooth-Coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli Hayman 1956 and Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra Linnaeus 1758 in Iraq IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 30 (1): 18 - 30. 2013

Hairy Nosed Otters - The Basics

Hairy-Nosed Otter

(Lutra sumatrana)

As promised, the posts this week are brief overviews of EACH of the otter species, focusing on recent information about each species and a vid or 2...

This is the first of the 3 otter species that are found *only* in Asia, enjoy exploring them!

Very little is known about the Hairy-Nosed Otter. It is endangered and rare. The nose is completely covered in hair, and the feet are webbed, with strong claws.The major threat to Hairy-nosed Otters is from humans: hunting, habitat competition, destruction, and pollution. Despite efforts to establish a captive breeding program, there have only been three of these otters held in captivity (all male).







Status: Endangered and Decreasing

 

 The Hairy-nosed otter is found in small areas scattered across the area shown in purple in the map to the left.











This otter is extremely reclusive and rare, so are the videos:

Link to Hairy-nosed otter video and conservation in Cambodia.

Brief vid of a young hairy-nosed otter entering the water!

If you want more in-depth reading a few research articles you could explore on these otters includes:


>   Food Habitats of the Hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana) and the Small clawed otter (Amblonyx cinerea) in Pru Toa Daeng Peat Swamp Rorest, Southern Thailand. Kanchanasakha, B.K. 2007. 

>   Keep wetlands wet: the myth of sustainable development of tropical peatlands–implications for policies and management ,S Evers, CM Yule, R Padfield, P O'reilly… - Global change …, 2016
>   Camera trapping for the study and conservation of tropical carnivores.R Sollmann, A Mohamed, MJ Kelly - The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 2013 -