OTTERS!

Eurasian Otter
Lutra lutra
IUCN status: Near Threatened
alias: old world otter, river otter,
European otter
predators: birds of prey, crocodiles,
dogs
threats: habitat loss, poaching,
accidental trapping, pollution,
roadkill
size: 102-138 cm
(body 57-70 cm tail 35-40 cm)
weight: 4-11 kgs
The Eurasian otter is an elusive, solitary otter that has one of the widest
distributions of all palearctic mammals, from Ireland to China and
down to Southeast Asia. Notwithstanding its large range, its population
is declining in many countries in which it is not protected and in
others its status is unknown. This species has made a spectacular
comeback in the British Isles since the 1980s when pollution levels
decreased and it became protected. This playful otter has a varied
diet which includes fish, crustaceans, amphibians and sometimes
reptiles, birds, eggs, insects and worms. It is usually nocturnal and can
be found in many freshwater environments. In some environments,
however, such as the Scottish Isles, it has diurnal habits and forages
in the sea, later looking for freshwater pools to wash the salt out of
its pelt. The Eurasian otter is solitary, but sometimes it is seen in family
groups, composed of a mother and her offspring.
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