[6] In Spanish, river wolf (Spanish: lobo de ro) and water dog (Spanish: perro de agua) are used occasionally (though the latter also refers to several different animals) and may have been more common in the reports of explorers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The last sighting of a giant otter in the wild in Argentina was in the 1980s. A sea otter's survival depends on their ability to catch and eat prey. 4. Alaska otters' size is a bit larger than California otters. [39] 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. Explore a billion-year-old volcanic mystery on Lake Superior, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, These Lake Superior islands are no place for amateurs, Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark, Photograph by Ernane Junior, National Geographic Your Shot, 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 otters can hunt singly, in pairs, and in groups, relying on sharp eyesight to locate prey. Would they make a good pet? The length of male Alaska otters is about 58 in (148 cm), and average weight ranges from 60-85 lb (27-39 kg); whereas female Alaska sea otters measure 55 in (140 cm) and weight range from 35-60 lb (16-27 kg). Giant otter muzzles are short and sloping and give the head a ball-shaped appearance. Giant otters are between 3 and 5 1/2 feet in length from head to tail, with females being smaller. The peak breeding season is between late spring and early summer. 2nd scenario . Giant otters are the largest of any otter in the world growing up to 1.8m. If you like the giant otter facts, refer to Kidadl's other content. They are closely related to the other otter species. If fish is not available, they adjust themselves by eating small caimans or snakes. [63] It occurs in freshwater rivers and streams, which generally flood seasonally. The established territory is then marked by the scent from the animals' anal glands. 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. Its distribution has been greatly reduced and is now discontinuous. 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. The giant otter subsists almost exclusively on a diet of fish, particularly characins and catfish, but may also eat crabs, turtles, snakes and small caimans. Duplaix documented interaction with the Neotropical otter. (Siamogale melilutra) weighed 110 lbs. Why wetlands are so critical for life on Earth, Rest in compost? Northern sea otters can measure up to 5 feet (1.5 m). Parasites, such as the larvae of flies and a variety of intestinal worms, also afflict the giant otter. A family has a home range of 12 sq. Habitat degradation and loss is the greatest current threat. [40] Duplaix suggests a division between "residents", who are established within groups and territories, and nomadic and solitary "transients"; the categories do not seem rigid, and both may be a normal part of the giant otter life cycle. Pairwise tests among the four different categories indicated that follow duration was higher in giant otter groups in areas without human activity compared to mined (Z = 4.44; P adj < 0.001) and fished (Z = 2.74; P adj = 0.01) lakes, and that groups in lakes with ecotourism had higher follow duration compared to mined lakes (Z = 3.56 . All rights reserved. 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. They will seek a peaceful place (or "picnic spot") to eat their prey. John Mitchell / Getty Images. [38] The species has likely been extirpated from southern Brazil, but in the west of the country, decreased hunting pressure in the critical Pantanal has led to very successful recolonization; an estimate suggests 1,000 or more animals in the region. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. Listed Endangered. Subadults leaving in search of new territory find it impossible to set up family groups. [59] If fish are unavailable, it will also take crabs, snakes, and even small caimans and anacondas. Hunting in shallow water has also been found to be more rewarding, with water depth less than 0.6 metres (2.0ft) having the highest success rate. Unauthorized use is prohibited. [74][81], In 2006, most of this species lived in the Brazilian Amazon and its bordering areas. Lobo de Rio (the River wolf), Los Lobos del Rio (Wolves of the River), Ariranha, Giant otter, Giant river otter. Listed Endangered. Giant otters give birth in dens at riverbanks, which have multiple entrances and multiple chambers. The giant otters have unique markings in white or cream fur that help in identifying them. The otter, Enhydriodon omoensis, is the largest ever found. The skull, which is 23cm long and more than 15cm wide, is substantially larger than a modern human's and has ample room, at 1,420ml, for a modern human brain. Who created it? Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. [83] (One researcher has suggested the giant otter is hunted only in desperation due to its horrible taste. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Quick hah barks or explosive snorts suggest immediate interest and possible danger. No chlorine in case that matters. Giant otters are able to swim 330 feet (100 meters) in less than 30 seconds. Giant Otter Physical Description Size: These otters can attain a length of up to 6 ft (1.8 m). Some pups in the wild are taken for pets and usually die because of the inexperience of caretakers. Two river dolphins, the tucuxi and boto, might potentially compete with the giant otter, but different spatial use and dietary preferences suggest minimal overlap. [50] Males actively participate in rearing cubs and family cohesion is strong;[51] older, juvenile siblings also participate in rearing, although in the weeks immediately after birth, they may temporarily leave the group. Unlike most marine mammals, sea otters lack a thick layer of blubber to insulate them from the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean. 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). Who created it? It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in).Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The giant otter is a highly social animal and lives in extended family groups. They give birth within these dens during the dry season. If you travel further north to areas like the Alaskan seaboard, you could even find males weighing up to 100 pounds! The IUCN listed the giant otter as "endangered" in 1999; it had been considered "vulnerable" under all previous listings from 1982 when sufficient data had first become available. Limits on the number of tourists at any one time, fishing prohibitions, and a minimum safe distance of 50 metres (164ft) are proposed to offer further protection. It plays an important role in the mythology of the Achuar people, where giant otters are seen as a form of the tsunki, or water spirits: they are a sort of "water people" who feed on fish. The giant river otter size is a remarkable six feet in total length from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. and combined with the giant size . 300-1,000 kg. 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. They are double the size of world's smallest otter, the Asian short-clawed otter ( below ). [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. Weights vary between 40 and 70 pounds. [66] Giant otters may adopt preferred locations perennially, often on high ground. Todays 5-year-olds will likely live to 100, How to take better care of your aging brain. [14] (Larger figures may reflect two or three family groups temporarily feeding together. [48][49] They then search for new territory to begin a family of their own. Giant otters are very social animals, according to the Animal Diversity Web. [5] At Tierpark Hagenbeck in Germany, long-term pair bonding and individualized mate selection were seen, with copulation most frequently taking place in water. The Rainbow Bridge comforts many pet parents. Sameer Prehistorica. [34] Duplaix identified nine distinct sounds, with further subdivisions possible, depending on context. 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 ). The head-body-tail length of an adult giant otter can be up to six feet. The adult wolverine is about the size of a medium dog, with a length usually ranging from 65-107 cm (26-42 in), a tail of 17-26 cm (6.7-10.2 in), and a weight of 5.5-25 kg (12-55 . 1. Giant otters adopt communal latrines beside campsites, and dig dens with a handful of entrances, typically under root systems or fallen trees. The Giant Otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. )[38] The groups are strongly cohesive: the otters sleep, play, travel, and feed together. Giant otters are Between 3 and 5 1/2 feetIn length from head to tail, with females being smaller. Articles about travel, movies, people, animals and birds, pet care, and parenting are a few of the topics written by her. (Heaney et al. Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. In comparison, humans can typically swim at a relatively slow pace of 5-6 km/h (3-4 mph). That's according to new research from a. [2] A significant population lives in the wetlands of the central Araguaia River, and in particular within Canto State Park, which, with its 843 oxbow lakes and extensive flooded forests and marshlands, is one of the best habitat patches for this species in Brazil. By the 14th week, the young giant otters can swim confidently. [70], Even if without direct predation, the giant otter must still compete with other predators for food resources. Farmers follow, creating depleted soil and disrupted habitats. It has the greatest body length of any species in the mustelid family, although the sea otter may be heavier. [74] The animal's relatively late sexual maturity and complex social life makes hunting especially disastrous.[14][75][76]. [47], Suriname still has significant forest cover and an extensive system of protected areas, much of which protects the giant otter. In other otter species, vision is generally normal or slightly myopic, both on land and in water. [49] Females have a gestation period of 65 to 70 days, giving birth to one to five pups, with an average of two. Quick hah barks or explosive snorts suggest immediate interest and possible danger. Explore a billion-year-old volcanic mystery on Lake Superior, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, These Lake Superior islands are no place for amateurs, Photograph by Luciano Candisani, Minden Pictures/Corbis, One of Earth's loneliest volcanoes holds an extraordinary secret. When born, each baby otter is tiny and weighs just around 1 lb (0.4 kg). If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This species was excessively hunted up until the late 1970s for its valuable fur. The species was so thoroughly decimated, the number dropped to just 12 in 1971. 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