Diet European Otters mainly feed on fish, but they will also hunt other aquatic prey, such as amphibians. It is endangered in some parts of its range, but is recovering in others. The aquatic habitat of otters is very vulnerable in the face of change. The sea otter can live its entire life without leaving the water. Jaguars, which inhabit the same territory as Giant Otters, are only slightly longer but they are much heavier. The most popular color? [11] Eurasian otters may also live along the coast, in salt water, but require regular access to fresh water to clean their fur. In conclusion, the study discovered that despite the population declines, the Eurasian otter was not a victim of declining genetic variability. A group of otters is called a "romp", because they play together and are energetic. It is a European branch of the weasel or Mustelidae family. 1. IUCN Otter Spec. Female otters become sexually mature between 18 and 24 months old and the average age of first breeding is found to be .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}2+1⁄2 years. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/otters-of-the-world However, it has been observed that in the case of twins, only one pup survives. It is also called the elusive common otter and measures an average of 14 lbs in weight and about 16 inches in length. There are many different kinds of otters. [4] The otter's average body weight is 7 to 12 kg (15 to 26 lb), although occasionally a large old male may reach up to 17 kg (37 lb). The samples were collected between 1883 and 1963 in Denmark (Funen, Zealand, and Jutland). Giant Otters can reach 1.7 metres length and weigh over 30 kg. Read on and enjoy our interesting information about otters. Europe Facts | Animals: In Europe, there are 270 species of mammals, such as boar, bat, deer, hare and otter. Though currently believed to be extinct in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, they are now very common in Latvia, along the coast of Norway, in the western regions of Spain and Portugal and across Great Britain, especially Shetland, where 12% of the UK breeding population exists. Lifespan. White-tipped hairs are common in older otters. [13] During the winter and in colder environments, though, fish consumption is significantly lower, and the otters use other sources of food, including amphibians,[14][15] crustaceans, insects, birds and sometimes small mammals, including young beavers. Otters are known to predate on fish farms, as it’s an easy way to get food. 9. Otters are sexually dimorphic, with males about 5% larger than females. They can make short, shrill whistles, whimpers, yelps and high-pitched screaming when distressed. One of the interesting otter facts is that European otters eat 15% of their body weight every day and sea otters consume around 20 to 25% of their body weight each day. The pup weighs between 1.5 and 2.5 kg. Jaguars, which inhabit the same territory as Giant Otters, are only slightly longer but they are much heavier. They nest on land, tending to build underground tunnels to move between the two. It has many sensitive whiskers around its snout; these help to locate prey. in body length, with a tail that is up to 45 cm. Oct 26, 2015 - File:European Otter (Lutra lutra) (5584351087).jpg - Wikimedia Commons Some of the best known are the giant otter, the sea otter, the European otter, the Northern river otter among others. [20][21], The Eurasian otter declined across its range in the second half of the 20th century[22] primarily due to pollution from pesticides such as organochlorine and polychlorinated biphenyls. European Otter on The IUCN Red List site -, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_otter, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/12419/0. The European otter is the most widely distributed otter species being widely spread across Europe. Other threats included habitat loss and hunting, both legal and illegal. There are 13 species of otter found all around the world. These adorable little guys have long, streamlined bodies that are just made for being in the water. [28][29][30] In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 170. The European Otter is one what has a distinct look to it. Find out more on EU Exit information at NatureScot. There is no change to the protection of European protected species as a result of EU Exit. An otter's den is called a holt or couch. 1) Otters are one of thirteen different species of semiaquatic or aquatic mammals. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T12419A21935287.en, "Bone Inner Structure Suggests Increasing Aquatic Adaptations in Desmostylia (Mammalia, Afrotheria)", "Joshi, AS, Tumsare, VM, Nagar, AK, Mishra, AK and Pariwakam, MP (2016). Otter is a common name for a carnivorous mammal in the subfamily Lutrinae. 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. Several of these species are highly endangered, including the California Condor which nearly went extinct just a few years ago. The European otter (Lutra lutra) was common as recently as the 1950s, but became rare because of DDT pesticides, habitat loss and water pollution. The Eurasian otter is an aquatic mammal belonging to the Mutelidae family together with weasels and badgers. Photographic Records of Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra from the Central Indian Landscape. In the United Kingdom, the number of sites with an otter presence increased by 55% between 1994 and 2002. In the study, they examined teeth of otter skulls at the Zoological Museum, Copenhagen and the Natural History Museum, Aarhus. Learn where the otter lives, what they eat, what a group of otters is called, the names of various otter species and much more. Weaning takes place when they are 3 months old. In warm waters (with a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius or 50 degrees Fahrenheit), an otter has to catch a … Otter facts for kids. They can be found in freshwater and coastal areas throughout Europe, in north Africa and Asia. Otters are adorable creatures that live both on land and in the water. It is able to generate heat internally thus is "endothermic." Awesome facts down below:) Otter-world. Eurasian Otter: Habitat, Diet, Lifespan & Facts Habitat. Though long thought to hunt using sight and touch only, evidence is emerging that they may also be able to smell underwater – possibly in a similar manner to the star-nosed mole. Gestation lasts 60 to 70 days and weaning occurs at 3 months. Otters are part of the Mustelid family of animals which also includes badgers, pine martens and … Each European otter within its territory of between 1 and 4 miles has fixed locations where it gets into and exits from the water, sunbathing, rolling and sliding about on "otter stairways". Their sleek, streamlined bodies are perfect for diving and swimming. Excellent and lithe swimmers, the young are in the water by 10 weeks of age. Rivers, canals and lakes are ideal, and coastlines too if there's a freshwater source nearby. Otters are very playful animals and have been seen sliding down snowdrifts or mud banks on their bellies. They are the most territorial of otter species. Species Factsheet: The Otter (Lutra lutra) Conservation status Otters are strictly protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and cannot be killed, kept or sold (even stuffed specimens) except under licence. European otters live throughout Europe, North Africa and Asia, inhabiting streams, rivers, lakes, freshwater and peat swamp forests, ocean shores, rice fields, fjords, caves, and other terrestrial habitats close by waterways. The Eurasian otter uses its feces, called spraints, to mark its territory and prioritize the use of resources to other group members. There are 13 species of otter found all around the world. However, sometimes they form loosely knit groups numbering as many as six animals. According to the scientific resources, the total population size of European otters in Belarus is around 12, 000 individuals and in Sweden - 500-1000 individuals. Some of the best known are the giant otter, the sea otter, the European otter, the Northern river otter among others. North American river otters weigh 11 to 31 pounds and range from 26 to 42 inches long plus a 12 to 20 inch tail. For example, Ferrets (probably a domesticated form of the European Polecat) are used to hunt rabbits in some parts of Europe. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. European otter. European Otter Habits The otter is a shy and solitary animal and is mostly nocturnal (active at night). In India, the species is distributed in the Himalayan foothills, southern Western Ghats and the central Indian landscape.[10]. Pups are born with their eyes open and a fine set of teeth. The voice of L.lutra consists of short, shrill whistling, yelps, whimpers, and high pitched screams of distress. In the British Isles , they were common as recently as the 1950s, but became rare in many areas due to the use of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides , habitat loss and water pollution (they remained relatively common in parts of Scotland and Ireland). The mother does the usual things so that her pup can get used to … Did you scroll all this way to get facts about european otter? The word otter derives from the Old English word otor or oter.This, and cognate words in other Indo-European languages, ultimately stem from the Proto-Indo-European language root *wódr̥, which also gave rise to the English word "water".. Terminology. [9] In Italy, they can be found in southern parts of the peninsula. It is also called the elusive common otter and measures an average of 14 lbs in weight and about 16 inches in length. Hunting of otters was also common. The most common european otter material is paper. Gestation is for 60 to 70 days, each female bearing 2 or 3 pups. The female is shorter than the male. About 18% of all Europeans consider themselves as atheist or not religious. 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