Unlike most marine mammals, sea otters lack a thick layer of blubber to insulate them from the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean. This Endangered species is known for playful behavior; these animals enjoy sliding and playing in large groups. The fight is to the death. Giant otters are very social animals, according to the Animal Diversity Web. A giant otter's average length is 6 feet (1.9 m) but its typical length is 57 to 71 inches (145 to 180 cm). While resting, they wind up in kelp (algae seaweeds) to remain on the water surface. )[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. [47], Suriname still has significant forest cover and an extensive system of protected areas, much of which protects the giant otter. 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. New AI may pass the famed Turing test. The Giant Otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. A family has a home range of 12 sq. John Mitchell / Getty Images. Some sea otters might get heavier. All rights reserved. "Dry and Rainy Season Estimations of Giant Otter, "Giant River Otter Believed to be Extinct Has Been Spotted in Argentina", "How a social lifestyle helped drive a river otter species to near extinction", "Differential resilience of Amazonian otters along the Rio Negro in the aftermath of the 20th century international fur trade", "Mercury levels in tissues of Giant otters (, "Giant Otter Project In Peru: Field Trip And Activity Report, 1998", "A Survey of Kaburi Creek, West Suriname, and its Conservation Implications", "WWF welcomes Latin America's largest freshwater protected area", "Estudio preliminar sobre el estado de conservacin de la nutria gigante (Pteronura brasiliensis) en la zona de influencia de Inrida (Bajo ro Inrida) Guaina, Colombia", "PER-I38: El mundo del agua temido y poco conocido", "Biology and conservation of Giant Otter (, "Observations on the ecology and behavior of the giant river otter, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Giant_otter&oldid=1141574134, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 19:07. A page allowing the comparison of up to six figures is now available. South America is famous for its islands and abundant natural resources, forests, and waterfalls. 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. The giant otter or giant river otter ( Pteronura brasiliensis ) is a South American carnivorous mammal. The giant otter's average length is 57-71 in (145-180 cm) with an average weight of 53 lb (24 kg). The giant otters have also been named the river wolf and belong to the weasel family endemic South America. This otter is found in the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata, the three river systems. The family members clear an area beside a stream for their living quarters, of up to 50 sq meters, usually near feeding sites. [52], Studies of giant otters in captivity have given indications about the environment necessary to both maintain a physically and behaviorally healthy population and allow successful cub-rearing. Other names: huallaca, chingungo, sea cat. There are 1-5 pups in a litter (usually 2-3) and they stay in the family den until they are 2-3 weeks old. At two years of age, the young one gains sexual maturity. What is wind chill, and how does it affect your body? [62] The spectacled caiman is another potential competitor, but Duplaix found no conflict with the species in Suriname. Female otters in the California region can weigh up to 60 pounds, while males can weigh up to 90 pounds. The giant otter has a handful of other names. Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. Young otters remain in the den for a month but grow up quickly. [5] They are weaned by nine months and begin hunting successfully soon after. [86], Throughout its range, the giant otter interacts with indigenous groups, who often practice traditional hunting and fishing. Giant otters can hunt singly, in pairs, and in groups, relying on sharp eyesight to locate prey. They're semi-aquatic mammals, which means that they need both land and water habitat to survive. They also have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. [40] One fight was directly observed in the Brazilian Pantanal in which three animals violently engaged a single individual near a range boundary. [63] Otters do not visit or mark every site daily, but usually patrol all of them, often by a pair of otters in the morning. Giant Otter Technologies, founded by artificial intelligence video game developer Jeff Orkin, an MIT Media Lab alumnus, has developed a platform that uses AI algorithms and crowdsourced annotators to build a natural-language database that helps chatbots expertly navigate human conversations. of food each day. Giant otter pups are taken by locals for illegal pet trades. [84][85] Bolivia designated wetlands larger than the size of Switzerland as a freshwater protected area in 2001; these are also home to the giant otter. Newborn pups squeak to elicit attention, while older young whine and wail when they begin to participate in group activities. [2] It has no serious natural predators other than humans, although it must compete with other predators, such as the Neotropical otter, jaguar, and various crocodilian species, for food resources. These include providing at least the minimum recommended land-to-water area ratio, and that all enclosure land surfaces (both artificial and natural) are nearly entirely covered with the recommended substrate conditions (e.g. The IUCN lists Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela as current range countries. It is the longest member of the . The giant otter or giant river otter(Pteronura brasiliensis ) is a South American carnivorous mammal. The giant otter's weight is more than all the other otters in the world. The species is territorial, with groups marking their ranges with latrines, gland secretions, and vocalizations. tree-bark mulch and soft pebble-free sand/soil). Illegal killing still occurs, often at the hands of fishermen, who see Giant otters as competition for fish. brasiliensis. Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. Watch also The Story of Sea Otters & the Bomb that Split an Island" https://youtu.be/SX_uplnUaTsThe Pantanal: the largest tropical wetland on earth. [59] If fish are unavailable, it will also take crabs, snakes, and even small caimans and anacondas. Direct conflict with humans, through shootings, fishing gear entanglements and boat strikes, take a toll on sea otters, but oil spills, pollution, disease and loss of kelp pose major threats. The IUCN Red List has no current estimate for the total Giant otter population. [52][53][54], In the wild, it has been suggested, although not systematically confirmed, that tourists cause similar stresses: disrupted lactation and denning, reduced hunting, and habitat abandonment are all risks. 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). [62] In addition, solitary animals and young may be vulnerable to attacks by the jaguar, cougar, and anaconda, but this is based on historical reports, not direct observation. In Spanish, it is called a river wolf or water dog. 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. The average height of an adult human is about 1.5 to 1.8 m (5 to 6 feet) tall, although this varies significantly from place to place and depending on ethnic origin. The Rainbow Bridge comforts many pet parents. Would they make a good pet? Why wetlands are so critical for life on Earth, Rest in compost? Giant otters are a species of South American mammals belonging to the Pteronura genus. Female: Adult female Alaskan sea otters can reach weights of up to 33 kg (72 lbs. A comparison of all the otter jaw simulations revealed a linear relationship between jaw stiffness and animal size: Smaller otters had sturdier jaws. 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 giant otter or giant river otter[4] (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. Weight can also vary greatly (e.g. 7. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. Please be respectful of copyright. The implementation of CITES in 1973 finally brought about significant hunting reductions,[14] although demand did not disappear entirely: in the 1980s, pelt prices were as high as US$250 on the European market. A sea otter has a metabolic rate much higher than most mammals of similar size, and must consume large quantities of food. [48] Study of captive specimens has found only males initiate copulation. Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. [80], The giant otter has lost as much as 80% of its South American range. [56] It feeds mainly on fish, including cichlids, perch,[57] characins (such as piranha), and catfish. [30], At the time of Carter and Rosas' writing, vision had not been directly studied, but field observations show the animal primarily hunts by sight; above water, it is able to recognize observers at great distances. It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggression, and reassurance. A 2011 Oceanographic Environmental Research Society study of otter attacks found only 39 documented violent . Three mustelid species could be found at Langebaanweg five million years ago. One to five latrines for communal use are placed along the perimeter of the site. Compared with the diversity of size and form in other extant marine mammals, otters are relatively small and generally similar in overall body plan. Two subspecies are currently recognized by the canonical Mammal Species of the World, P. b. brasiliensis and P. b. paraguensis. One report found between three and eight campsites, clustered around feeding areas. 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. The species was listed as endangered in 1999 and wild population estimates are typically below 5,000. The first ever giant river otter cub born in Asia arrived at Wildlife Reserves Singapore just this last August, UPI reports. It's also known as the "river wolf.". A North American river otter's home range can be as large as 30 square miles (78 square kilometers), but a typical territory is 3 to 15 square miles (4.8 to 24 square kilometers). Habitat fragmentation and loss, as well as pollution, are the current major threats to the Giant otter, as the areas where they live are degraded and destroyed by logging, mining, and damming. Two of them were gigantic: Sivaonyx hendeyi was an otter the size of a wolf (around 40 kg) and Plesiogulo aff . . When born, each baby otter is tiny and weighs just around 1 lb (0.4 kg). The giant otter is a highly social animal and lives in extended family groups. . [48][49] Research over five years on a breeding pair at the Cali Zoo in Colombia found the average interval between litters was six to seven months, but as short as 77 days when the previous litter did not survive. The giant otter ranges across north-central South America; it lives mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal. Its length is twice the length of the Asian short-clawed otter, the world's smallest otter. Giant Otter on The IUCN Red List site -, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_otter, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/18711/0. (Siamogale melilutra) weighed 110 lbs. They can open their eyes after 1 month and start to regularly follow their parents out of the den. Listed Endangered. See what's so cool about these six-foot-long freshwater denizens. Habitat degradation and loss is the greatest current threat. Among the 13 living species of otters, the sea otter ( Enhydra lutris) and the freshwater-living giant otter ( Pteronura brasiliensis) are the largest (up to 45 kg) and longest (up to 1.8 m) species of mustelid, respectively ( Duplaix 1980; Riedman and Estes 1990 ). [2] Typically, loggers first move into rainforest, clearing the vegetation along riverbanks. Adult males weigh up to 70 pounds and females are a little smaller. Habitat degradation and loss is the greatest current threat. Known throughout much of their range as 'river wolf', they are amongst South America's top carnivores. 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. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. [52] This sensitivity is matched by a strong protectiveness towards the young. These animals are most active from 10-11 am and from 3-5 pm. 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. [68], Adult giant otters living in family groups have no known serious natural predators, however there are some accounts of black caimans in Peru and yacare caimans in the Pantanal preying on giant otters. The peak breeding season is between late spring and early summer. 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). Ecotourism also presents challenges: while it raises money and awareness for the animals, by its nature it also increases human effect on the species, both through associated development and direct disturbances in the field. 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