how big is a giant otter

Recently, on our way to the park, one of our main giant otter study areas, we visited the community and attended its weekly assembly meeting. Females are smaller at 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft). At 2 years old they are sexually mature. Giant otter fur is the shortest of all the otter species. Giant Otters are the largest mustelid and they are similar to a very large river otter. The giant otter is the longest species among mustelids although not the heaviest. Preferred habitats include riverbank high forests, floodable mixed marsh and high swamp forest, floodable low marsh forest and an open area within the creek. The family members communicate vocally with a wide variation of calls. Giant otter fur is the shortest of all the otter species. Giant Otters typically live in and along the Amazon River. It lives in the rivers and swamps of tropical South America, forming noisy family groups that often hunt together. Most pups will leave the group a year later and go form their own pair. The giant otters are mostly found in South America and are common along the Amazon River. Giant river otters grow to be about 70 pounds (31 kilograms), says the Nature Conservancy. These babies are furred but blind. In terms of otters, the giant one has the shortest coat and its … In local languages of the Amazon this species may be called Lobo De Rio (the river wolf) or Los Lobo del Rio (wolves of the river). Giant otter shrews (Potamogale velox; Fig. The giant otter is the longest of the otter species but shares a similar weight with the sea otter. This species is the largest among all the species of otters in the world, (sea otters , with their more compact body, can weigh considerably more).The males reach a total length of 1.5 to 1.8 m and a weight between 26 and 32 kg.As for females they usually measure 1.5 to 1.7 m in length and can weigh between 22 and 26 kg. 5. They have small rounded ears which can close underwater. The giant otter is the largest of the world's otters. Financial support for ScienceDaily comes from advertisements and referral programs, where indicated. Births can occur year round in giant otter colonies. On the one hand, adult males are between 5 and 6 feet long and weigh between 70 and 99 pounds and on the other, females measure between 5 and 5 1/2 feet in length and weigh between 48 and 58 pounds. Or view hourly updated newsfeeds in your RSS reader: Keep up to date with the latest news from ScienceDaily via social networks: Tell us what you think of ScienceDaily -- we welcome both positive and negative comments. So just how big is the Giant Otter. In fact, he’ll usually live in a group with ten or more of his fellow otters. They also feed upon crustaceans, snakes, small caimans and anacondas. Six million years ago, giant otters weighing more than 100 pounds lived among birds and water lilies in the wooded wetlands of China's Yunnan province. It lives in the rivers and swamps of tropical South America, forming noisy family groups that often hunt together. The giant otter is known to hunt alone, in pairs and in groups. They have a body length between 1 and 1.4 m (3.25 - 4.5 ft), a tail length between 45 and 65 cms (18 - 26 inches) and they weigh between 22 and 32 Kgs (49 - 71 lbs). *Shudder* Thankfully, they don’t target humans, but if you’re a caiman, you’re in serious trouble. Giant otters can consume up to 10 lb of food a day. This is located near a river and their fishing sites. In Peru, the giant river otter is classified as Endangered by the decree, DS 004-2014-MINAGRI. At the end the feet are webbed and also have sharp claws. An average giant otter will weigh between 22 and 32kg (49-71lbs). The legs are stubby and short. They have an oestrous cycle lasting 21 days with mating taking place in the 3rd to 10th day of this cycle. When they are 4 weeks old the pups eyes open. On the throat is an assortment of white patterns. A major portion of this diet will consist of fish. How big is a Giant Otter? Have any problems using the site? Giant otter with fish. A giant otter will consume roughly 3kg (7lb) – about 10% – of its body weight per day. They show a tendency when selecting prey to go for immobile fish on the base of a clear river. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T18711A21938411.en. Giant otters wake up during the day making them diurnal. Their long tail may add as much as 70cm (28in) to this body length. Each day the giant otter consumes between 3 and 4 kilograms (6-9lbs) of food. It is not intended to provide medical or other professional advice. They have very soft, insulated underfur, which is … They have an inner coat which is surrounded by guard hairs that keep the water off their actual coat. . The Giant otter was discovered by Gmelin in 1788. It prefers to hunt in shallow water, using its keen vision to locate the prey which can be attacked either from above or below. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T18711A21938411. Giant Otters’ Main Characteristics. They were hunted mostly for their pelts. Giant Otters do to! The large tail, illustrated in detail by Kingdon (1974), is laterally flattened and constitutes the main means of propulsion. Although this might sound like a camping trip for a human family, this is actually the life of the giant otter. https://www.savacations.com/giant-river-otters-amazon-rainforest 6) are rapid and agile swimmers, although they do not have webbed feet, and have nostril flaps that close when the animal is submerged. Young otters can come under threat from some other species. By frank wouters from antwerpen, belgium , België , Belgique (reuzenotter) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons, By Eric Gaba (Sting – fr:Sting) (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons. It is native to South America but is endangered and is also very rare in captivity. Imagine seeing those eyes staring into your soul as those sharp canine teeth pierce your flesh. They are double the size of world’s smallest otter, the Asian short-clawed otter (below). A range of vocalisations are demonstrated by the giant otter. The giant otter is the largest of all the otter species. Known for their fun loving nature, the Giant Otter isn’t likely to be a hermit. These patterns are different on each other and help them to distinguish each other in the group. The females are smaller and weigh only 57–60 lb (26–27 kg). The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species and the giant otter and sea otter are the largest. Giant otters are members of the weasel family. Giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis, or "londra" in Spanish) are also known as the Brazilian otter and flat-tailed otter. The giant otter is the largest of all the otter species. Its feet are large and have thick webbing, and the tail is flattened into a flipper-like shape. In the water anacondas or caimans may attack this species. The giant otter has a handful of other names. These mating’s frequently took place in the water. Get the latest science news with ScienceDaily's free email newsletters, updated daily and weekly. The birth takes place in an underground den. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily, its staff, its contributors, or its partners. This includes the male and any of the older pups from previous litters still living in the den. The Peru giant otter project has established a collaboration with the indigenous community of Isla de los Valles, which is strategically placed at the gates of Manu National Park. Twins are the most common occurrence though. The giant otter's fur has a velvety appearance, more like the pelt of a seal than an otter. In Spanish, river wolf (Spanish: [lobo de río] error: {{lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) and water dog (Spanish: [perro de agua] error: {{lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) are used occasionally, though the latter has many other meanings) and may have been more common in the reports of explorers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Giant Otter can reach up to 6 ft (1.8 m) in length, and weigh 76 lb (34 kg) in weight. Giant Otters are fascinating animals. Just so you know, the giant otter can weigh up to 45.3 kg (100 lbs). The females are smaller and weigh only 57–60 lb (26–27 kg). Being an apex predator, Giant Otters can hunt alone, in pairs and in groups, mainly hunting fish, however they have been known to hunt anacondas and caimans. Giant otters once were found throughout the Tropical rainforests of the Amazon, down to Brazil’s Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland. The prey is held in the otter’s forepaws and eaten immediately. This species maintains a den which they dig under fallen logs or into a river bank. Giant otter populations are in decline, the population is estimated to be between 1,000-4,000 individuals left in the wild. Giant otters are very social animals and groups of up to 20 individuals have been found in forms of "family groups." They lose their dependence on milk at 9 months of age and it is at this time they begin learning to hunt. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T18711A21938411.en. 65-70 days after mating takes place one to five pups may be born. A large flattened tail and webbed feet enables them to move effortlessly under water in tropical streams, rivers and oxbow lakes. Questions? Pteronura brasiliensis. A week later they begin to walk around and at 12 to 14 weeks they are swimming regularly. 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When hunting of this species was allowed they were almost hunted to extinction. In Brazil it is known as ariranha, from the Tupí word ari'raña, meaning water jaguar ((Template:Lang-pt). These animals are most active from 10-11 am and from 3-5 … When on land giant otters come under threat from jaguars. Giant otters are The Giant Otter can reach up to 6 ft (1.8 m) in length, and weigh 76 lb (34 kg) in weight. Groenendijk, J., Duplaix, N., Marmontel, M., Van Damme, P. & Schenck, C. 2015. A large problem for the species is a lack of genetic flow across the population due to habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. These animals make their home in freshwater rivers and streams. It can grow up to 8ft (2.4m) long from nose to tail. Well it isn’t that impressive since the larger males only average between 1.5 m and 1. 8 m (4.9′ – 5.9′) in length. These animals are known to go head-to-head with some of the world's most powerful animals, - such as Jaguars, crocodiles and anacondas. The giant otter swims at high speed by waving its tail and body up and down, using its webbed feet to steer. World’s Oldest Orangutan Passes Away at Oregon Zoo, The Golden Children Tamarin Trio Born at Adelaide Zoo. However, Giant Otters can be more resilient and powerful than your average species of Ott These curious creatures are always ready for some fun, and can’t resist sneaking a better look at boaters who come near them. The 13 species range in adult size from 0.6 to 1.8 m (2.0 to 5.9 ft) in length and 1 to 45 kg (2.2 to 99.2 lb) in weight. Most of these flood throughout the year. This fur is densely packed so that no water can penetrate through to the skin. It is also known as the Guiana flat-tailed otter, margin-tailed otter and winged-tailed otter. A newborn pup makes squeaks to gain attention. The giant otter is a member of the Mustelidae family. It lives only in the rivers and creeks of the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata river systems. It can grow up to 2.4m (8ft) long from nose to tail. Piranhas can also take a good bite from a giant otter. This species is the largest member of the otter family. It has a lifespan of 12 years in their natural habitat, and 21 years in captivity. Their diet varies throughout the year due to the migrations of the fish. Some sea otters might get heavier. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T18711A21938411. The giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a beautiful animal adapted for an amphibious lifestyle. Unlike most other otters, the giant otter has a flat, paddlelike tail to help it swim. Photo by Tambako The Jaguar. Giant Otters can reach 1.7 metres length and weigh over 30 kg. Giant otters are native to South America. The entire group plays a part in raising the pups. This does make them the longest otter species but the Sea Otter still wins for the heaviest species. Diet consists mainly of fish, crabs and even caimans and snakes. A family comes out of their home for an afternoon activity. Their groups include 2 to 20 members but average 3-8. Strolling from their dwelling down to the river, the parents supervise as older siblings play with the youngsters, frolicking in the water and on the banks. Male giant otters can attain a length of 1.5-1.7m (4.9-5.6ft). Platypus: How Odd Mammal Got to Be So Bizarre, Search for Dark Matter from the Multiverse, Life On Earth Could Have Arisen from RNA-DNA Mix, New Class of Antibiotics Work On Many Bacteria, How Our Brains Track Where We and Others Go, Mini Antibodies Against COVID-19 from a Llama, Climate Change: Threshold for Dangerous Warming. For that reason they are often mistaken for another type of animal. Yorkshire Wildlife Park is home to Mora and Alexandra, two female Giant Otters from Duisburg Zoo in Germany. 9 distinct sounds have been identified being made by this species. Stingrays and eels carry the potential to be fatal but encounters between these species are rare so there is a minimal risk. Check out Trapper J's channel here - http://bit.ly/TrapperJI did NOT expect to catch a river otter at my farm! A HUMAN PROBLEM. 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. They’re semi-aquatic mammals, which means that they need both land and water habitat to survive. These otters work together when playing, travelling, feeding and sleeping together. The giant otter can grow to more than 6 feet (2 meters) long and 70 pounds (32 kg), nearly twice as large as its American counterparts. Affected by: Habitat Loss, Poaching & Industry. The Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a type of otter found only in Endless Ocean: Blue World. For more information, see the following related content on ScienceDaily: Content on this website is for information only. Groups of about 5 to 10 otters live together in dens or burrows beside a river. Giant otters are the largest of any otter in the world growing up to 1.8m. On land it is far less agile, and is often seen sitting grooming itself. Each individual in the groups has a role, and there is one main breeding pair. The giant river otter is giant, measuring in at 1.5-1.8 m and weighing in at 22-32 kg! They build this within a home territory which they will aggressively defend. Countries where giant otters live include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. That's according to … Giant otters produce 9 different vocalizations and are very loud. Giant otter: Physical characteristics. Many people find this particular Otter to be different in size and shape from others. Most of the time this species will chose the clear, sandy or rocky bottomed rivers over those that are salty, saline and white. Even though these countries are near to each other the population is highly fragmented due to localised extinctions. Groenendijk, J., Duplaix, N., Marmontel, M., Van Damme, P. & Schenck, C. 2015. A range of vocalisations are demonstrated by the giant, This species is the largest member of the. Pteronura brasiliensis. Giant otters are incredibly social. It is a social animal that lives in a group of up to eight members, with the group centered on a dominant breeding pair. This fur is densely packed so that no water can penetrate through to the skin. Giant Otter This South American otter is the world's largest, at some 6 feet long. Their diet varies throughout the year due to the migrations of the fish. Are Otters Threatening Amphibian Populations?