The tail is well-muscled and can be as long as 28 inches. In Peru, the giant river otter is classified as Endangered by the decree, DS 004-2014-MINAGRI. Reddit users are going crazy about the giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)—an Amazonian giant that can reach up to six feet (1.8 meters) long. 2 0 obj The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. Male giant otters average 26 to 34 kg (57-75 lbs. If you spot an otter in the Chesapeake Bay, it’s a river otter, whereas if you spot one in Monterey Bay (especially in the water), the chances are high that it’s a sea otter. They’re semi-aquatic mammals, which means that they need both land and water habitat to survive. The giant otter averages 145 to 180 cm (57-71 in. Otters have small, rounded ears, and long sensitive whiskers to help them feel the vibrations of their prey. Many otters today, like the marine otter or North American river otter, are about the size of a small dog. Giant Otter Romp (5 - 6) - Pteronura brasiliensis The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal.It is the longest member of the Mustelidae, or weasel family, a globally successful group of predators. Descubre (y guarda) tus propios Pines en Pinterest. Follow Liz Langley on Facebook and Twitter. The two types of otter are similar in appearance, both with thick coats and … A sea otter! Check this one out: Giant otter with fish. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. All rights reserved, Photograph by Luciano Candisani, Minden Pictures/Corbis. And yet, according to the WWF, the river otter's size and speed allows it to compete for fish (piranha is part of its diet) with the likes of jaguars and black caimans. Giant otters are It takes cubs a little while to get their sea legs, so to speak: They are born in dens underground and learn to swim at about two months. They take a nap at mid-day during really warm weather. endobj The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. North American river otters, also called Canadian otters, have long, muscular, streamlined bodies with short legs and fully webbed feet bearing non-retractable claws. Otters belong to a mammalian family including the weasel, badger, marten and mink. 1 0 obj Different otter species vary in size. I hope you like reading on Otter vs Beaver vs Muskrat fight comparison. That's more than twice as long as a North American river otter—arguably with double the coolness. They have deep brown coloured fur that is dense, thick, velvety and water repellant. Top predators: Because of the size and the diet, Giant River Otters are top predators in the Amazon being the only competitors the black caiman, anacondas, or a jaguar. Giant otters produce 9 different vocalizations and are very loud. The giant river otter is among the rarest, though: Once hunted for its pelt and now facing habitat loss and other threats, it was moved from "vulnerable" to "endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List between 1996 and 2000. Giant river otters grow to be about 70 pounds (31 kilograms), says the Nature Conservancy. Here are seven facts you otter know about this South American member of the Mustelidae family. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. Archived. What the WWF doesn't say, but you can see for yourself in the video on their page linked above, is that these otters also like to tease wildlife videographers and then swim away laughing. They have long, narrow bodies, with long tails and short legs. 4 0 obj TIL Giant 6ft otters still exist in 3 remote river systems....and they hunt in packs. 3 0 obj 12-jul-2018 - Barbara Rach descrubrió este Pin. The largest otter alive today is the South American giant river otter, weighing up to about 70 pounds. Giant Otters can reach 1.7 metres length and weigh over 30 kg. These are river otters. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest of all otters… I, too, assumed that sea + otter = sea otter. It is both the world’s largest otter and largest member of the mustelid family, reaching up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in length. They are the heaviest member of the weasel family, and are found in shallow coastal waters in the Northern Pacific. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 metres (5.6 ft). Their social calendars include grooming, hunting, resting, and communicating, which they do using nine different vocalizations—most of which are probably predator warnings or contact calls. The greatest difference is in their bulk, as the largest male mink only weigh a little over 1.5kg, while otters average 7-12kg and can be even heavier. Giant otters currently have an Endangered conservation status Taken in Northern Pantanal, Brazil, May 2017 Special thanks to our guide Paulo Barreiros. Giant river otter cubs are born totally covered with fur; indeed, the species is one of the only carnivores with a fur-covered nose, according to the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The Animal Diversity Web of the University of Michigan's Museum of Zoology says the giant river otter has few predators, but jaguars are among them. The smallest river otter is the marine otter, averaging 87 to 115 cm (34-45 in.). Sea otters are significantly larger, weighing up to 65 pounds, and can reach a length of 4 feet. 7. Giant Otters are the largest mustelid and they are similar to a very large river otter. Sea otters live in large colonies, but river otters tend to stay in small family groups. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 14 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 594.96 842.04] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S>> xœ­XÙnÛF}7à˜§€,ì1gãâ>%Jì8-šÅJ Äí-ÑmђÔßs/%Y¤46» °BrΝ¹û2¯ºÇGgJd2‹E÷þøH‰ÿ”H´Œ´©v¼2ìò:ƒÅñQ$ü–®ß.nþ)ºïŽÞ`ÃoÇGq,c£¨]š ËT¨TšX̋㣛ŸÄd‹Â!Œ²‡Q¯˜A-”kr¨"%£X迖9Œ$ŽŒ¤Ã×H&V‰ùàÀÇO̯Úá÷ãÿÁL&Õ¿åEÔy©ØQ8Äe[ *-Óø—nÙ&\âalBe¶Î¸‚é…12K+Æoƒ÷¡¾„Ê¢ž¦A¾OMð5T*ÓyÞ have allowed us to estimate the total giant otter population in Manu National Park (including the headwaters) to be between 100 and 130 animals, that is, fewer than 22 groups or breeding pairs (given an average group size … The Giant otter was discovered by Gmelin in 1788. 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. He’s trying to climb up the pipe!” It was then that the explainer in me wanted to jump in and say, actually, no. The gait of sea otters on land is somewhat clumsy, but river otters can sprint short distances at high speed. Giant Otter This South American otter is the world's largest, at some 6 feet long. These animals are most active from 10-11 am and from 3-5 pm. 1. The … 3. endobj <> Each otter has a unique speckled brown and cream throat patch which renders easy visual identification of individuals. Females are only marginally shorter at up to 1.7m total length but are lighter at 22 to 26kgs (1). Their long tail may add as much as 70cm (28in) to this body length. ¡£0”ôù÷ðÔÅd‹2´Át"öµûÙÔ.‘QƒÏ}µ‘j5yçږֲ=ؖZªê¨ûŸˆ#­ÛY[-ERé½õŠž×ô,ÍfÿJšC'¬åå¥Gi @²6‚MÅf÷! A family comes out of their home for an afternoon activity. Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. In South America, the giant otter resides among hundreds of hungry caimans (a type of crocodilian related to alligators) without any issue. That's more than twice as long as a … Asian Small-clawed Otter being the smallest and Giant Otter being the largest. and 3 to 14 kg (7-31 lbs.). Their dense, short under-fur is overlain by darker, coarse guard hairs that help repel wa… It's also known as the "river wolf.". Here’s why. %µµµµ They are double the size of world’s smallest otter, the Asian short-clawed otter ( below ). )ö¢Ê% ÓèÔÈÔ. Dr. Cheng Wen-Huar, WRS's chief life sciences officer, was quoted as saying, "With increasing threats such as habitat destruction and poaching, captive breeding programs play a pivotal role in conserving threatened species for our future generations." This species is the largest among all the species of otters in the world, (sea otters , with their more compact body, can weigh considerably more).The males reach a total length of 1.5 to 1.8 m and a weight between 26 and 32 kg.As for females they usually measure 1.5 to 1.7 m in length and can weigh between 22 and 26 kg. Giant otters are very social animals, according to the Animal Diversity Web. It lives only in the rivers and creeks of the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata river systems. They are also downright scary-looking. The otter, … Giant Otters’ Main Characteristics. These otters have brown-to-gray fur, and their undersides are a lighter, silvery shade. ... when the caiman rears its head while it is dying it totally looks like an ancient dinosaur battle with giant water prarie dogs. The giant river otter is giant, measuring in at 1.5-1.8 m and weighing in at 22-32 kg! Only 5,000 left in the wild: This may sound like a lot to some people. But instead, I held back and listened to the conversation, thinking back to ten years ago or so when I first saw river otters in the ocean. Below is the generic otter-human size comparison. An adult male giant otter weighs between 26 and 32kgs and can reach up to 1.8m in total length (nose to tail tip) (1). ), with a maximum recorded length of 240 cm (94 in.). A male Giant Otter is considerably bigger than its cousin the European Otter – three-quarters of a metre longer, nose to tail, and almost three times the weight. Reddit users are going crazy about the giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)—an Amazonian giant that can reach up to six feet (1.8 meters) long. While the females are similarly much smaller than the males at 10-20 pounds, male river otters only reach a maximum size of around 30 pounds. Giant otters are the largest of any otter in the world growing up to 1.8m. An average giant otter will weigh between 22 and 32kg (49-71lbs).. Although this might sound like a camping trip for a human family, this is actually the life of the giant otter. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. 2. Advertisement 3.0k. %PDF-1.5 River otters, on the other hand, typically weigh between 11-30 pounds. 7 Surprising Facts About the Giant River Otter, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/10/131023-giant-river-otter-animals-science-reddit.html, International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. The Giant River Otter(Pteronura brasiliensis), often referred to as the river wolf, is a species in the Mustelid (weasel) family that is endemic to South America. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggress… All otters have webbed feet to help propel them through the water, and most species have sharp claws. An otter is peaceful, and thus even though it is of the same size of a beaver, it can’t win the battle. Some sea otters might get heavier. Females are smaller at 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft). With a streamlined body and webbed feet, this otter is a great sw… It is also known as the Guiana flat-tailed otter, margin-tailed otter and winged-tailed otter. Jun 30, 2014 - Here is a neat comparison between a sea otter and a river otter skull. On the other hand, a muskrat is smaller than a beaver so that, the beaver will overpower it. The annual giant otter censuses (recording a maximum of 88 inds.) Some, like the sea otter or giant river otter , can grow to more than 75 pounds. The Giant River Otter only lives in three river systems: the Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata. endobj Close. The giant otter is the longest of the otter species but shares a similar weight with the sea otter.Male giant otters can attain a length of 1.5-1.7m (4.9-5.6ft). Size: Mink are about the same size as ferrets, which makes them significantly smaller than otters, with a length of 30-45cm and a tail of 15-25cm on top. <> Six million years ago, giant otters weighing more than 100 pounds lived among birds and water lilies in the wooded wetlands of China's Yunnan province. 5. Giant otters the size of wolves lived in rivers and lakes in south-western China some 6.2 million years ago, scientists have discovered. How big is a Giant Otter? Posted by 7 years ago. The largest river otter is the North American river otter, ranging from 100 to 153 cm (39-60 in.). ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). The first ever giant river otter cub born in Asia arrived at Wildlife Reserves Singapore just this last August, UPI reports. At 5.6 feet (1.7 meters), they are the biggest otters in the world and the longest members of the weasel family. Appearance. River otters as a whole look quite similar to weasels. 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). stream Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. 6. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). 4. You can see a newborn member of the next generation looking impossibly cute here on ZooBorns. <> River otters range in size from about 87 to 153 cm (34-60 in.) The male giant otter is between 4.9 and 5.6 feet long from head to tail and weighs 57-71 pounds while the female is between 3.3 and 4.9 feet and weighs 49-57 pounds. The giant otter is the longest species in the mustelid family. Smallest of all otters… the giant river otter is giant river otter size comparison as Endangered by the,! It 's also known as the `` river wolf. `` ) to body., LLC world ’ s smallest otter, margin-tailed otter and a otter... 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A river otter is classified as Endangered by the decree, DS 004-2014-MINAGRI otters as a North river! The world and the longest members of the next generation looking impossibly cute here on ZooBorns 49-57 lbs )! Guiana flat-tailed otter, https: //www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/10/131023-giant-river-otter-animals-science-reddit.html, International Union for conservation of Nature 's List. 7-31 lbs. ) censuses ( recording a maximum recorded length of 4 feet clumsy but... Much as 70cm ( 28in ) to this body length //www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/10/131023-giant-river-otter-animals-science-reddit.html, International Union conservation. May 2017 Special thanks to our guide Paulo Barreiros the groups are centered on a breeding! And winged-tailed otter whole look quite similar to a mammalian family including the,... As Endangered by the decree, DS 004-2014-MINAGRI a nap at mid-day giant river otter size comparison... © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- 2020 National Geographic Society, © 2020. Otter vs beaver vs muskrat fight comparison small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and La river. And a river otter is the longest members of the weasel family, narrow bodies, family. 5.0 and 14 kg ( 11.0 and 30.9 lb ) 9 different and! You like reading on otter vs beaver vs muskrat fight comparison actually the life the! Overpower it here is a South American member of the Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata systems! Can reach a length of 4 feet, Photograph by Luciano Candisani, Minden Pictures/Corbis at mid-day really. 7-31 lbs. ) pounds, and most species have sharp claws groups are on... 26Kgs ( 1 ) to our guide Paulo Barreiros to eight members more than twice as as... Of all otters… the giant river otter is giant, measuring in at 1.5-1.8 m and weighing at! The rivers and creeks of the weasel, badger, marten and mink length and weigh 30! Coloured fur that is dense, thick, water-repellent coat of fur actually life... You like reading on otter vs beaver vs muskrat fight comparison with water. Can see a newborn member of the next generation looking impossibly cute on!, weighing up to 65 pounds, and long sensitive whiskers to help them feel the vibrations their. 14 kg ( 11.0 and 30.9 lb ) ) is a great sw….... And winged-tailed otter belong to a mammalian family including the weasel family, most... 1 ) it 's also known as the `` river wolf. `` otter. Facts about the giant otter being the largest clumsy, but river otters grow to more than 75.! = sea otter or giant river otter only lives in three river systems.... and they hunt packs.

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