A giant otter that roamed China six million years ago had a surprisingly strong bite, say scientists. [17] The ears are small and rounded. They will seek a peaceful place (or "picnic spot") to eat their prey. Credit: Adi Barocas. Neotropical otters range from Central to South America, whereas giant otters inhabit the Amazon forest range from north of Uruguay to Colombia. 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). The first ever giant river otter cub born in Asia arrived at Wildlife Reserves Singapore just this last August, UPI reports. They give birth between August and September, and the young pups emerge for the first time in October and November, which are the months of lowest water when fish concentrations in the dwindling lakes and channels are at their peak. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. Can we bring a species back from the brink?, Video Story, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Giant Otter Common Name: Giant Otter Scientific Name: Pteronura brasiliensis Type: Mammals Diet: Carnivore Size: Up to 6 feet Weight: 75 pounds Size relative to a 6-ft man: IUCN Red. Giant otter muzzles are short and sloping and give the head a ball-shaped appearance. The giant otter's average length is 57-71 in (145-180 cm) with an average weight of 53 lb (24 kg). A capacity for aggressive behavior should not be overstated with the giant otter. Giant otters are the largest of any otter in the world growing up to 1.8m. The peak breeding season is between late spring and early summer. They hunt alone or in groups, sometimes using coordinated efforts, and must be successful often to meet their daily intake quota. The giant otter seems to have evolved independently of Lontra in South America, despite the overlap. . km and consists of a mated pair and their offspring of several generations. Weights vary between 40 and 70 pounds. They prefer prey fish that are generally immobile on river bottoms in clear water. The average mass of an adult human is 54-64 kg (120-140 lbs) for females and 76-83 kg (168-183 lbs) for males. [48] The animal reaches sexual maturity at about two years of age and both male and female pups leave the group permanently after two to three years. [5] They are weaned by nine months and begin hunting successfully soon after. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft). 2. [15] P. b. paraguensis is supposedly smaller and more gregarious, with different dentition and skull morphology. Giant otters are longer and can grow to be 6 feet (1.8 m) long, on average, and weigh up to 70 pounds (32 kg), according to Zoo Atlanta. [42] Population densities varied with a high of 1.2/km2 (3.1/sqmi) reported in Suriname and with a low of 0.154/km2 (0.40/sqmi) found in Guyana. It constructs extensive campsites close to feeding areas, clearing large amounts of vegetation. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. How to identify the giant river otter? [26] Guard hairs trap water and keep the inner fur dry; the guard hairs are approximately 8millimetres (one-third of an inch) in length, about twice as long as the fur of the inner coat. [13] The giant otter shares the South American continent with three of the four members of the New World otter genus Lontra: the Neotropical river otter, the southern river otter, and the marine otter. (Siamogale melilutra) weighed 110 lbs. "Giant otter" translates literally as nutria gigante and lontra gigante in Spanish and Portuguese, respectively. Their habitat also includes wild dense forests and riverbanks where there is a water flow throughout the year. Each animal may eat six to nine pounds of food per day. 3. [70], Even if without direct predation, the giant otter must still compete with other predators for food resources. [43] While not rare among large predators in general, intraspecific aggression is uncommon among otter species; Ribas and Mouro suggest a correlation to the animal's sociability, which is also rare among other otters. [16] Biologist Nicole Duplaix calls the division of "doubtful value". 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). Did you know the population of otters is an indicator of the river ecosystem? At 9-10 months they can hunt independently and look just like their parents. )[77] The animal sometimes drowns in nets set across rivers and machete attacks by fishermen have been noted, according to Duplaix, but "tolerance is the rule" in Suriname. [42], Aggression within the species ("intraspecific" conflict) has been documented. The giant otter has the shortest fur of all otter species; it is typically chocolate brown, but may be reddish or fawn, and appears nearly black when wet. . [7] All four names are in use in South America, with a number of regional variations. . The giant otter is also rare in captivity; in 2003, only 60 animals were being held.[5]. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. There are 13 species of river otters around the world. This otter is found in the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata, the three river systems. One report found between three and eight campsites, clustered around feeding areas. They consume about 10% of their body weight daily. Two subspecies are currently recognized by the canonical Mammal Species of the World, P. b. brasiliensis and P. b. paraguensis. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. At two years of age, the young one gains sexual maturity. Giant otters are carnivorous mammals with slender body types, webbed feet and sharp claws, oval-shaped heads, round ears, soft fur, and velvety skin. They eat fish as their primary diet; their other diet includes crustaceans and snakes. The giant otter is large, gregarious, and diurnal. [2] Populations in Bolivia were once widespread but the country became a "black spot" on distribution maps after poaching between the 1940s and 1970s; a relatively healthy, but still small, population of 350 was estimated in the country in 2002. Giant otters can live for up to 13 years in the wild. The spider can bite and sometimes delivers a venom comparable to that of a wasp sting. As indicated, the otter weighed around 200 kilograms, a real colossus compared to the modern European otter (between 7 and 12 kilograms), but also in comparison with the South American giant otter (32 kilograms) and the North Pacific sea otter (45 kilograms). The Goliath birdeater ( Theraphosa blondi) is the world's largest spider by mass, weighing in around 6.2 oz (175 g). [86], Throughout its range, the giant otter interacts with indigenous groups, who often practice traditional hunting and fishing. 300-1,000 kg. There are estimates for the populations of a few areas: 2,000-5,000 individuals in the Brazilian Pantanal; 180-400 individuals in Madre de Dios, southeastern Peru; 31 individuals in Cantao State Park, Brazil; 75 individuals in Amana, Brazil; at least 130 individuals in Balbina Lake, Brazil; 54 individuals in Araguaia, above Bananal Island; 32 individuals in Yasuni National Park, Ecuador; and at least 35 individuals in Rewa Head, Guyana. Its distribution has been greatly reduced and is now discontinuous. Females appear to give birth year round, although in the wild, births may peak during the dry season. New AI may pass the famed Turing test. They take a nap at mid-day during really warm weather. Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community. [56] It feeds mainly on fish, including cichlids, perch,[57] characins (such as piranha), and catfish. [2] In the former, investigation has shown thinly distributed population remnants. A giant otter photographed at Dallas World Aquarium in Texas. [73], The animal faces a variety of critical threats. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. The animal is susceptible to a variety of diseases, including canine parvovirus. [18] Carter and Rosas found average areas a third this size. [25] Giant otters use these marks to recognize one another, and upon meeting other otters, they engage in a behavior known as "periscoping", displaying their throats and upper chests to each other. Highly social animals are those which are highly interactive with other members of their species. [83] (One researcher has suggested the giant otter is hunted only in desperation due to its horrible taste. The giant otter species are the largest otters in the world. Decades of poaching for its velvety pelt, peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, considerably diminished population numbers. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. . An otter the size of a wolf lived 6.2 million years ago in what is now China. These South American weasel family species have potent tails and water-repellent fur, which keeps them dry and warm. Carnivorous mustelids in the Lutrinae subfamily, there are 13 otter species found around the world, including the giant river otters, North American river otter, Asian small-clawed otter, European otter, Japanese river otter and African clawless otter, as well as many less well known species. Female otters in the California region can weigh up to 60 pounds, while males can weigh up to 90 pounds. Two species are marine, and the others living predominantly in fresh water. Giant otters have been hunted extensively and wild populations are at-risk. Northern sea otters can measure up to 5 feet (1.5 m). [5] Other sources have found greater intervals, with as long as 21 to 33 months suggested for otters in the wild. [13] Later gene sequencing research on the mustelids, from 2005, places the divergence of the giant otter somewhat later, between five and 11million years ago; the corresponding phylogenetic tree locates the Lontra divergence first among otter genera, and Pteronura second, although divergence ranges overlap.[21]. Statistics show between 1959 and 1969 Amazonian Brazil alone accounted for 1,000 to 3,000 pelts annually. The giant otter is an especially noisy animal, with a complex repertoire of vocalizations. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous' A territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima An apex predator, also known as a top predator, is a predator at the top of a food chain and has no natural predators. Giant otter characteristics. In captivity, that number increases slightly to the late teens. Sameer Prehistorica. [77] Specific threats from human industry include unsustainable mahogany logging in parts of the giant otter range,[74] and concentrations of mercury in its diet of fish, a byproduct of gold mining. Giant otters live in family groups which include monogamous parents and the offspring from several breeding seasons. These findings indicate that where extractive activities are more common, humans are more likely to be perceived as a risk to giant otters. It has the best body size of any species within the mustelid family, though the ocean otter could also be heavier. The Rainbow Bridge comforts many pet parents. [89] The indigenous Kichwa peoples from Amazonian Peru believed in a world of water where Yaku runa reigned as mother of the water and was charged with caring for fish and animals. Like humans, giant otters are quite . The giant otters are excellent predators as they have whiskers that help them detect the vibrations in the river bed to find prey very quickly. Can we bring a species back from the brink? The average length for a giant otter is 57 to 71 inches (145 to 180 cm), with an average weight of 53 pounds (24 kg). The gestation period is 65-70 days, and female giant otters give birth to a maximum of six cubs at once, although it's most commonly just one or two. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! Logging, hunting, and pup seizure may have led groups to be far more wary of human activity. and. Giant otters are a species of South American mammals belonging to the Pteronura genus. Gymnotids, such as the electric eel, and the large silurid catfish are among aquatic competitors. A sea otter has a metabolic rate much higher than most mammals of similar size, and must consume large quantities of food. The giant otter ranges across north-central South America; it lives mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. They are closely related to the other otter species. They chase prey rapidly and tumultuously, with lunges and twists through the shallows and few missed targets. Diet [58] The giant otter seems to be opportunistic, taking whatever species are most locally abundant. [8], The Boror people have a legend on the origin of tobacco smoking: those who used the leaf improperly by swallowing it were punished by being transformed into giant otters; the Bororo also associate the giant otter with fish and with fire. . An althletic human (still untrained and unprepared) armed with a small hatchet vs 4 giant river otters. [70] One difference in behavior was seen in the country in 2002: the normally inquisitive giant otters showed "active avoidance behavior with visible panic" when boats appeared. Hagerman was also home to a second and much larger Pliocene otter, Satherium piscinarium, which was comparable in size to today's giant Brazilian otter (55-70 lb.) . Articles about travel, movies, people, animals and birds, pet care, and parenting are a few of the topics written by her. Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, California is having an epic 'supershroom' season, Jimmy Carter on the greatest challenges of the 21st century, This ancient Greek warship ruled the Mediterranean, 3 ways Jimmy Carter changed the world for the better, The meaning of the cross of ashes on Ash Wednesday, The mystery of London's elusive Roman amphitheater, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. In captivity or a zoo, giant otters either eat fish or enjoy eating clams and squid and boiled eggs. The giant eland is the largest species of antelope, with a body length ranging from 220-290 cm (86.5-114 in). New AI may pass the famed Turing test. Farmers follow, creating depleted soil and disrupted habitats. Who created it? Other researchers suggest approximately 7 square kilometres (2.7sqmi) and note a strong inverse correlation between sociality and home range size; the highly social giant otter has smaller home range sizes than would be expected for a species of its mass. Fight takes place in a clear, 4ft deep swimming pool. Poaching has long been a problem. The co-expansion of otter and human populations accounts for most encounters gone wrong. When in the water, the giant otter faces danger from animals not strictly preying upon it: the electric eel and stingray are potentially deadly if stumbled upon, and piranha may be capable of at least taking bites out of a giant otter, as evidenced by scarring on individuals. [26] The nose (or rhinarium) is completely covered in fur, with only the two slit-like nostrils visible. Giant otters prefer habitats with non-floodable banks that have vegetation cover and where there is easy access to hunting places in relatively shallow waters. Ensuring that the animals have sufficient privacy from human disturbances (visual and acoustic, from zoo staff or visitors) at parturition and during cub-rearing is also essential, but not sufficient. In comparison, humans can typically swim at a relatively slow pace of 5-6 km/h (3-4 mph). [17], An extinct genus, Satherium, is believed to be ancestral to the present species, having migrated to the New World during the Pliocene or early Pleistocene. Otters are predators who control the population of species they eat or prey upon. We present findings on the demography of a population inhabiting the floodplain of Manu National Park, south-eastern Peru, arising from 14 annual dry season censuses over a 16 year period. They can also weigh up to 75 pounds. Giant otters are very social animals, according to the Animal Diversity Web. [28] Unique markings of white or cream fur color the throat and under the chin, allow individuals to be identified from birth. A new study in the French journal Comptes Rendus Palevol is the first to classify the species, naming it after Ethiopia's Omo River,. Giant otters adopt communal latrines beside campsites, and dig dens with a handful of entrances, typically under root systems or fallen trees. The size of other otters, such as Asian small-clawed otter length ranges from 26-37 in (65-94 cm) with a weight around 2.2-11 lb (1-5 kg); this is the smallest otter among all the otters. [65] They clear significant amounts of vegetation while building their campsites. This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups. The estrous cycle is 21 days, with females receptive to sexual advances between three and 10 days. Duplaix documented interaction with the Neotropical otter. Is 57-71 in ( 145-180 cm ) with an average weight of lb. 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Km/H ( 3-4 mph ) site we may earn a small hatchet vs 4 giant otters... Prey rapidly and tumultuously, with only the two slit-like nostrils visible takes place in a clear, 4ft swimming... Has a metabolic rate much higher than most mammals of similar size, and Aggression has been greatly and! Range from Central to South America ; it lives mostly in and along the Amazon river and in California! Of antelope, with a complex repertoire of vocalizations ] Biologist Nicole Duplaix calls the division ``. Cm ) with an average weight of 53 lb ( 24 kg ),! Observed between groups best body size of any species within the species ( `` intraspecific '' )! Of any species within the mustelid family, though the ocean otter could also be heavier in ) intervals with...
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