Giant Otter - Profile | Traits | Facts | Size | Animal

(Last Updated On: April 15, 2021)

The giant otter or giant river otter, scientific name Pteronura brasiliensis is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally profitable group of predators, reaching as much as 1.7 meters (5.6 ft). In this article, I am going to talk about Giant Otter size, animal, vs sea otter, size to human, next to human, shrew, size comparison, etc.

Giant Otter profile

Atypical of mustelids, the enormous otter is a social species, with family teams usually supporting three to eight members. The teams are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extraordinarily cohesive and cooperative.

Although typically peaceable, the species is territorial, and aggression has been noticed between teams. The Giant otter is diurnal, being lively solely throughout sunlight hours. It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that point out alarm, aggression, and reassurance.

Pteronura brasiliensis lives in lentic freshwater rivers, lakes, and creeks. On event, they’re seen in agricultural canals and reservoirs of small dams, though they like gently sloped river banks and secluded areas with overhanging vegetation.

Its distribution has been vastly decreased and is now discontinuous. Decades of poaching for its velvety pelt, peaking within the 1950s and 1960s, significantly diminished inhabitants numbers.

The species was listed as endangered in 1999 and wild inhabitants estimates are usually beneath 5,000. The Guianas are one of many final actual strongholds for the species, which additionally enjoys modest numbers — and important safety — within the Peruvian Amazonian basin.

It is one of the most endangered mammal species in neotropics. Habitat degradation and loss are the best present menace. The Giant otter can be uncommon in captivity; in 2003, solely 60 animals had been being held.

The Giant Otter exhibits quite a lot of variations appropriate to an amphibious lifestyle, together with exceptionally dense fur, a wing-like tail, and webbed feet. The species prefers freshwater rivers and streams, that are normally seasonally flooded, and may take to freshwater lakes and comes.

It constructs intensive campsites near feeding areas, clearing giant quantities of vegetation. The Giant otter subsists nearly solely on a diet of fish, significantly characins and catfish, however may eat crabs, turtles, snakes, and small caiman.

It has no critical natural predators aside from people, though it should compete with different species, together with the neotropical otter, jaguar, and caiman species, for food assets.

Food Habits

Pteronura brasiliensis is a piscivore. It hunts in the course of the day, normally alongside river and lake margins. Hunting is completed primarily by vision, however listening to, scent, and contact is additionally effectively suited to murky water.

Fish are captured in solitary or social hunts. Shallow water hunts happen alongside water edges the place fish disguise amongst vegetation. These hunts are solitary and more profitable by way of fish per particular person.

Deepwater hunts are carried out by households. Synchronous drives and arranged trapping of prey towards shorelines are typically noticed.

The most popular fish diet of P. brasiliensis contains members of the catfish, perch, and characin families. When fish abundance is low, P. brasiliensis feeds on crustacenas, small snakes, and small caiman.

Food is both taken to shore (giant prey) or eaten whereas P. brasiliensis floats on its back (small prey). Pteronura brasiliensis takes in about 6-9 pounds of seafood per day.

Giant Otter Physical traits

The Giant otter is clearly distinguished from different otters by morphological and behavioral traits. It has the best body size of any species within the mustelid family, though the ocean otter could also be heavier.

Males are between 1.5 and 1.7 m (4.9 and 5.6 ft) in size from head to tail and females between 1 and 1.5 m (3.Three and 4.9 ft). The animal’s well-muscled tail can add an additional 70 cm (28 in) to the total body size.

Early stories of skins and residing animals steered exceptionally giant males of as much as 2.Four m (7.9 ft); intensive looking doubtless decreased the prevalence of such large specimens.

Weights are between 26 and 32 kg (57 and 71 lb) for males and 22 and 26 kg (49 and 57 lb) for females. The Giant otter has the shortest fur of all otter species; it’s usually chocolate brown, however perhaps reddish or fawn, and seems practically black when moist. The fur is extraordinarily dense, a lot in order that water can not penetrate to the pores and skin.

Guard hairs lure water and maintain the internal fur dry; the guard hairs are roughly Eight millimeters (one-third of an inch) in size, about twice as long because of the fur of the internal coat.

Its velvety really feel makes the animal extremely wanted by fur merchants and has contributed to its decline. Unique markings of white or cream fur shade the throat and underneath the chin, enable people to be recognized from delivery.

Giant otters use these marks to acknowledge each other, and upon meeting different otters, they have interaction in behavior often called “periscoping”, displaying their throats and higher chests to one another.

Body Shape

Giant otter muzzles are brief and sloping and provide the top a ball-shaped look. The ears are small and rounded. The nostril (or rhinarium) is totally lined in fur, with solely the 2 slit-like nostrils seen.

The Giant otter’s extremely delicate whiskers (vibrissae) enable the animal to trace modifications in water strain and currents, which aids in detecting prey. The legs are brief and stubby and end in giant webbed feet tipped with sharp claws. Well suited to aquatic life, it may shut its ears and nostril whereas underwater.

Giant Otter Vocalizations

The Giant otter is an especially noisy animal, with a fancy repertoire of vocalizations. All otters produce vocalizations, however by frequency and quantity, the enormous otter will be the most vocal.

Duplaix recognized 9 distinct sounds, with additional subdivisions possible, relying on the context. Quick hah barks or explosive snorts recommend quick curiosity and possible hazard.

A wavering scream could also be utilized in bluff expenses towards intruders, whereas a low growl is used for aggressive warning. Hums and coos are more reassuring throughout the group.

Whistles could also be used as advance warning of nonhostile intent between teams, though the proof is proscribed. Newborn pups squeak to elicit consideration, whereas older-younger whine and wail once they start to take part in group activities.

An analysis revealed in 2014 cataloged 22 distinct varieties of vocalization in adults and 11 in neonates. Each family of otters was proven to have its personal distinctive audio signature.

Giant Otter Habitat

The species is amphibious, though primarily terrestrial. It happens in freshwater rivers and streams, which typically flood seasonally. Other water habitats embody freshwater springs and everlasting freshwater lakes.

Four particular vegetation varieties happen on one necessary creek in Suriname: riverbank high forest, floodable blended marsh, and high swamp forest, floodable low marsh forest, and grass islands and floating meadows inside open areas of the creek itself.

Duplaix recognized two important elements in habitat choice: meal abundance, which seems to positively correlate to shallow water, and low sloping banks with good cover and easy accessibility to most popular water varieties.

The Giant otter appears to decide on clear, black waters with rocky or sandy bottoms over silty, saline, and white waters.

Giant otters use areas beside rivers for constructing dens, campsites, and latrines. They clear important quantities of vegetation whereas constructing their campsites.

One report suggests most areas 28 m (92 ft) long and 15 m (49 ft) vast, well-marked by scent glands, urine, and feces to sign territory.

Carter and Rosas discovered average areas a 3rd this size. Giant otters undertake communal latrines beside campsites and dig dens with a handful of entrances, usually underneath root methods or fallen bushes.

One report discovered between three and eight campsites clustered around feeding areas. In seasonally flooded areas, the enormous otter could abandon campsites in the course of the moist season, dispersing to flooded forests in the hunt for prey.

Giant otters could undertake most popular areas perennially, usually on high ground. These can grow to be fairly intensive, together with “backdoor” exits into forests and swamps, away from the water.

Otters don’t go to or mark each site each day, however normally patrol all of them, usually by a pair of otters within the morning.

Giant Otter Group Dynamics

Group members share roles, structured across the dominant breeding pair. The species is territorial, with teams marking their ranges with latrines, gland secretions, and vocalizations.

At least one case of a change in alpha relationship has been reported, with a brand new male taking up the position; the mechanics of the transition weren’t decided.

Giant Otter suggests a division between “residents”, who’re established inside teams and territories, and nomadic and solitary “transients”; the classes don’t appear inflexible, and each could also be a traditional part of the enormous otter life cycle. One tentative principle for the event of sociality in mustelids is that regionally ample, however unpredictably dispersed, and prey causes teams to type.

Giant Otter Behavior

Pteronura brasiliensis lives in family teams of 5-8 people. Families have house ranges of 12 sq. km. Members of the family, which embody a monogamous pair and a number of other generations of offspring, clear space alongside a streamside for residing.

These areas may be as much as 50 sq meters and are normally situated close to feeding sites. Preparation of the residing space contains trampling the floor vegetation, gathering tree limbs and leaves, and embedding the leaves and branches into the trampled mud patch.

Large burrows are then constructed underneath fallen logs. In addition, one to 5 communal latrines are positioned alongside the site perimeter. Finally, the territory is marked by a scent from the anal glands. If intruders invade the territory, parents defend it and their offspring.

Although separate territories are maintained, P. brasiliensis is a highly social mammal. Social activities embody grooming, looking, resting, and speaking. Pteronura brasiliensis have 9 totally different vocalizations.

The functions for every one of those sounds are undocumented, however, vocalizations in all probability function warning indicators towards predators and/or contact calls.

Lifespan

The longest documented Giant otter lifespan within the wild is eight years. In captivity, this will improve to 17, with an unconfirmed document of 19. The animal is prone to quite a lot of ailments, together with canine parvovirus.

Parasites, such because the larvae of flies and quite a lot of intestinal worms, additionally afflict the enormous otter. Other causes of demise embody accidents, gastroenteritis, infanticide, and epileptic seizures.

Life Cycle

Giant otters construct dens, which are holes dug into riverbanks, normally with a number of entrances and a number of chambers inside. They give delivery inside these dens in the course of the dry season.

In Cantão State Park, otters dig their reproductive dens on the shores of oxbow lakes beginning around July, when waters are already fairly low.

They give delivery between August and September, and the younger pups emerge for the first time in October and November, which are the months of lowest water and fish concentrations within the dwindling lakes and channels are at their peak.

This makes it simpler for the adults to catch sufficient fish for the rising younger, and for the pups to discover ways to catch fish. The total group, together with non-reproductive adults, that are normally older siblings to that year’s pups, collaborates to catch sufficient fish for the younger.

Giant Otter Hunting and Diet

The Giant otter is an apex predator, and its inhabitants standing displays the general health of riverine ecosystems. It feeds primarily on fish, together with cichlids, characins (akin to piranha), and catfish.

One full-year research of Giant otter scats in Amazonian Brazil discovered fish present in all fecal samples. Fish from the order Perciformes, significantly cichlids, was seen in 97% of scats, and Characiformes, akin to characins, in 86%.

Fish stays had been of medium-sized species that appear to choose comparatively shallow water, to the benefit of the in all probability visually-oriented Giant otter.

Prey species discovered had been additionally sedentary, typically swimming solely brief distances, which can support the enormous otter in predation.

Hunting in shallow water has additionally been discovered to be more rewarding, with a water depth of fewer than 0.6 meters (2.0 ft) having the very best success price.

The Giant otter appears to be opportunistic, taking no matter species are most regionally ample. If fish are unavailable, it’s going to additionally take crabs, snakes, and even small caimans and anacondas.

Hunting Behavior

The species can hunt singly, in pairs, and in teams, counting on sharp eyesight to find prey. In some circumstances, supposed cooperative looking could also be incidental, results of group members fishing individually in shut proximity; actually coordinated looking could solely happen the place the prey can’t be taken by a single Giant otter, akin to with small anacondas and juvenile black caiman.

The Giant otter appears to choose prey fish which are typically motionless on river bottoms in clear water. Prey chase is speedy and tumultuous, with lunges and twists by way of the shallows and few missed targets.

The otter can assault from each above and beneath, swiveling on the final immediate to clamp the prey in its jaws. Giant otters catch their very own meals and devour them instantly; they grasp the fish firmly between the forepaws and start consuming noisily on the head. Carter and Rosas have discovered captive adult animals devour around 10% of their body weight each day—about 3 kilograms (7 lb), consistent with findings within the wild.

Giant Otter Reproduction

Mothers give delivery to furred and blind cubs in an underground den close to the river shore and fishing sites. Males actively take part in rearing cubs and family cohesion is robust; older, juvenile siblings additionally take part in rearing, though within the weeks instantly after delivery, they might briefly go away the group.

Pups open their eyes of their fourth week, start strolling of their fifth, and are capable of swim confidently between 12 and 14 weeks old. They are weaned by 9 months and start looking efficiently quickly after.

The animal reaches sexual maturity at about two years of age and each female and male pups go away the group completely after two to a few years. They then seek for new territory to start a family of their very own.

Reproduction in Pteronura brasiliensis is documented primarily by observations performed in captivity. Peak breeding season begins in late spring and early summer season, though some breeding takes place all through the year.

Females are receptive for 3-10 days of the 21-day estrous cycle. Swelling of the nipples and vulva sign receptivity. Mating happens within the water. After fertilization, gestation ensues for 65-70 days. Birth of altricial younger happens in late August by way of early October.

High juvenile mortality usually results in the conception of the second litter of offspring, born from December to April. Litter size ranges from 1-5 people (usually 2-3), every weighing roughly 170-230g. Cubs are saved in family dens for the first 2-Three weeks of life. Offspring open their eyes at 1 month and start to usually observe parents out of the family den.

Young P. brasiliensis are weaned 3-Four months after delivery. They are impartial hunters and indistinguishable from their parents at 9-10 months. Sexual maturity of P. brasiliensis is reached at 2 years.

Conservation

The IUCN listed the enormous otter as “endangered” in 1999; it had been thought-about “vulnerable” underneath all earlier listings from 1982 when adequate knowledge had first grow to be obtainable.

It is regulated internationally underneath Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): all commerce in specimens and components is unlawful.

Giant Otter – Profile | Traits | Facts | Size | Animal | Shrew