Its fur is dense, thick and velvety, and is highly sought after by fur traders. Male giant otters can attain a length of 1.5-1.7m (4.9-5.6ft). Are Otters Threatening Amphibian Populations? They were hunted mostly for their pelts. For that reason they are often mistaken for another type of animal. Their diet varies throughout the year due to the migrations of the fish. Giant otter shrews (Potamogale velox; Fig. Giant otters wake up during the day making them diurnal. Giant otters are Females are smaller at 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft). Countries where giant otters live include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. Their groups include 2 to 20 members but average 3-8. The giant otter swims at high speed by waving its tail and body up and down, using its webbed feet to steer. Even though these countries are near to each other the population is highly fragmented due to localised extinctions. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T18711A21938411. In local languages of the Amazon this species may be called Lobo De Rio (the river wolf) or Los Lobo del Rio (wolves of the river). Photo by Tambako The Jaguar. Most pups will leave the group a year later and go form their own pair. Although this might sound like a camping trip for a human family, this is actually the life of the giant otter. 9 distinct sounds have been identified being made by this species. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T18711A21938411.en. They lose their dependence on milk at 9 months of age and it is at this time they begin learning to hunt. Giant otter with fish. Some sea otters might get heavier. Known for their fun loving nature, the Giant Otter isn’t likely to be a hermit. Its feet are large and have thick webbing, and the tail is flattened into a flipper-like shape. Giant otters once were found throughout the Tropical rainforests of the Amazon, down to Brazil’s Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland. They have a body length between 1 and 1.4 m (3.25 - 4.5 ft), a tail length between 45 and 65 cms (18 - 26 inches) and they weigh between 22 and 32 Kgs (49 - 71 lbs). Young otters can come under threat from some other species. A major portion of this diet will consist of fish. The giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a beautiful animal adapted for an amphibious lifestyle. Each day the giant otter consumes between 3 and 4 kilograms (6-9lbs) of food. They also feed upon crustaceans, snakes, small caimans and anacondas. The giant otter is the longest of the otter species but shares a similar weight with the sea otter. It is native to South America but is endangered and is also very rare in captivity. The females are smaller and weigh only 57–60 lb (26–27 kg). A range of vocalisations are demonstrated by the giant otter. When they are 4 weeks old the pups eyes open. These animals are most active from 10-11 am and from 3-5 … When on land giant otters come under threat from jaguars. They have an oestrous cycle lasting 21 days with mating taking place in the 3rd to 10th day of this cycle. On the one hand, adult males are between 5 and 6 feet long and weigh between 70 and 99 pounds and on the other, females measure between 5 and 5 1/2 feet in length and weigh between 48 and 58 pounds. They’re semi-aquatic mammals, which means that they need both land and water habitat to survive. An average giant otter will weigh between 22 and 32kg (49-71lbs). Giant otters are native to South America. In Peru, the giant river otter is classified as Endangered by the decree, DS 004-2014-MINAGRI. The male was always seen as the one who initiated the mating. Or view hourly updated newsfeeds in your RSS reader: Keep up to date with the latest news from ScienceDaily via social networks: Tell us what you think of ScienceDaily -- we welcome both positive and negative comments. Giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis, or "londra" in Spanish) are also known as the Brazilian otter and flat-tailed otter. . 6) are rapid and agile swimmers, although they do not have webbed feet, and have nostril flaps that close when the animal is submerged. 8 m (4.9′ – 5.9′) in length. Questions? Their long tail may add as much as 70cm (28in) to this body length. These otters work together when playing, travelling, feeding and sleeping together. These animals are known to go head-to-head with some of the world's most powerful animals, - such as Jaguars, crocodiles and anacondas. The Peru giant otter project has established a collaboration with the indigenous community of Isla de los Valles, which is strategically placed at the gates of Manu National Park. Males can reach lengths of 1.8 meters (about 71 inches, or 5.9 feet) from their noses to the tip of their tails and can weigh between 20 and 30 kilograms … Giant Otter This South American otter is the world's largest, at some 6 feet long. In the water anacondas or caimans may attack this species. How big is a Giant Otter? Strolling from their dwelling down to the river, the parents supervise as older siblings play with the youngsters, frolicking in the water and on the banks. It can grow up to 2.4m (8ft) long from nose to tail. Groenendijk, J., Duplaix, N., Marmontel, M., Van Damme, P. & Schenck, C. 2015. By frank wouters from antwerpen, belgium , België , Belgique (reuzenotter) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons, By Eric Gaba (Sting – fr:Sting) (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons. The giant otter is known to hunt alone, in pairs and in groups. The fur is coloured brown in most specimens though it can be fawn or red in some. Get the latest science news with ScienceDaily's free email newsletters, updated daily and weekly. In other parts of the world, crocodilians are generally at the very top of the food chain in rivers. Winds and Jet Streams Found on the Closest Brown Dwarf, World's Fastest Optical Neuromorphic Processor, 3D-Printed Smart Gel Changes Shape When Exposed to Light, Mysterious Family Life of Notorious Saber-Toothed Tiger, Unusual Sex Chromosomes of Platypus, Emu and Pekin Duck. These animals make their home in freshwater rivers and streams. The legs are stubby and short. Giant otter fur is the shortest of all the otter species. Platypus: How Odd Mammal Got to Be So Bizarre, Search for Dark Matter from the Multiverse, Life On Earth Could Have Arisen from RNA-DNA Mix, New Class of Antibiotics Work On Many Bacteria, How Our Brains Track Where We and Others Go, Mini Antibodies Against COVID-19 from a Llama, Climate Change: Threshold for Dangerous Warming. Affected by: Habitat Loss, Poaching & Industry. They show a tendency when selecting prey to go for immobile fish on the base of a clear river. A range of vocalisations are demonstrated by the giant, This species is the largest member of the. So just how big is the Giant Otter. The females are smaller and weigh only 57–60 lb (26–27 kg). Pteronura brasiliensis. They have small rounded ears which can close underwater. It lives in the rivers and swamps of tropical South America, forming noisy family groups that often hunt together. Most of these flood throughout the year. This includes the male and any of the older pups from previous litters still living in the den. That's according to … They have very soft, insulated underfur, which is … In fact, he’ll usually live in a group with ten or more of his fellow otters. It is also known as the Guiana flat-tailed otter, margin-tailed otter and winged-tailed otter. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily, its staff, its contributors, or its partners. The entire group plays a part in raising the pups. Giant Otters do to! A week later they begin to walk around and at 12 to 14 weeks they are swimming regularly. Downloaded on 15 May 2020. Giant Otters might look like any other species of Otter. A large problem for the species is a lack of genetic flow across the population due to habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. Check out Trapper J's channel here - http://bit.ly/TrapperJI did NOT expect to catch a river otter at my farm! https://www.savacations.com/giant-river-otters-amazon-rainforest Groups of about 5 to 10 otters live together in dens or burrows beside a river. The giant otter is the largest of all the otter species. Financial support for ScienceDaily comes from advertisements and referral programs, where indicated. In terms of otters, the giant one has the shortest coat and its … The giant otters are mostly found in South America and are common along the Amazon River. The birth takes place in an underground den. The Giant Otter can reach up to 6 ft (1.8 m) in length, and weigh 76 lb (34 kg) in weight. Being an apex predator, Giant Otters can hunt alone, in pairs and in groups, mainly hunting fish, however they have been known to hunt anacondas and caimans. The species are relatively peaceful and territorial but aggression has also been observed in some groups. 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