how big is a giant otter

Questions? It is a social animal that lives in a group of up to eight members, with the group centered on a dominant breeding pair. Groups of about 5 to 10 otters live together in dens or burrows beside a river. In some of its range countries the populations are fairly stable but giant otters have gone extinct in some of their range countries. Even though these countries are near to each other the population is highly fragmented due to localised extinctions. The Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a type of otter found only in Endless Ocean: Blue World. The giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a beautiful animal adapted for an amphibious lifestyle. At 2 years old they are sexually mature. Groups of about 5 to 10 otters live together in dens or burrows beside a river. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T18711A21938411. In terms of otters, the giant one has the shortest coat and its … A HUMAN PROBLEM. The family members communicate vocally with a wide variation of calls. 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. 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. The male was always seen as the one who initiated the mating. The giant otter swims at high speed by waving its tail and body up and down, using its webbed feet to steer. Giant otter with fish. In other parts of the world, crocodilians are generally at the very top of the food chain in rivers. 6) are rapid and agile swimmers, although they do not have webbed feet, and have nostril flaps that close when the animal is submerged. The legs are stubby and short. Giant otters wake up during the day making them diurnal. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T18711A21938411. In the water anacondas or caimans may attack this species. The prey is held in the otter’s forepaws and eaten immediately. 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. Main Characteristics. Male giant otters can attain a length of 1.5-1.7m (4.9-5.6ft). The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species and the giant otter and sea otter are the largest. These otters work together when playing, travelling, feeding and sleeping together. It is native to South America but is endangered and is also very rare in captivity. It lives in the rivers and swamps of tropical South America, forming noisy family groups that often hunt together. 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. Imagine seeing those eyes staring into your soul as those sharp canine teeth pierce your flesh. Its fur is dense, thick and velvety, and is highly sought after by fur traders. 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). The females are smaller and weigh only 57–60 lb (26–27 kg). Each individual in the groups has a role, and there is one main breeding pair. Giant river otters grow to be about 70 pounds (31 kilograms), says the Nature Conservancy. 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 have small rounded ears which can close underwater. Giant otters are the largest of any otter in the world growing up to 1.8m. 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. Males can reach lengths of 1.8 meters (about 71 inches, or 5.9 feet) from their noses to the tip of their tails and can weigh between 20 and 30 kilograms … Pteronura brasiliensis. A giant otter will consume roughly 3kg (7lb) – about 10% – of its body weight per day. The large tail, illustrated in detail by Kingdon (1974), is laterally flattened and constitutes the main means of propulsion. 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. These animals are known to go head-to-head with some of the world's most powerful animals, - such as Jaguars, crocodiles and anacondas. 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. The giant otter is the largest of all the otter species. 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. The giant otter has a handful of other names. For that reason they are often mistaken for another type of animal. 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. Giant Otters’ Main Characteristics. A family comes out of their home for an afternoon activity. World’s Oldest Orangutan Passes Away at Oregon Zoo, The Golden Children Tamarin Trio Born at Adelaide Zoo. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T18711A21938411.en. On land it is far less agile, and is often seen sitting grooming itself. Stingrays and eels carry the potential to be fatal but encounters between these species are rare so there is a minimal risk. They’re semi-aquatic mammals, which means that they need both land and water habitat to survive. Giant Otters are fascinating animals. However, Giant Otters can be more resilient and powerful than your average species of Ott The birth takes place in an underground den. https://www.savacations.com/giant-river-otters-amazon-rainforest 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. Females are smaller at 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft). Giant otters are native to South America. Each day the giant otter consumes between 3 and 4 kilograms (6-9lbs) of food. These babies are furred but blind. In fact, he’ll usually live in a group with ten or more of his fellow otters. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T18711A21938411.en. Its feet are large and have thick webbing, and the tail is flattened into a flipper-like shape. These animals are most active from 10-11 am and from 3-5 … An average giant otter will weigh between 22 and 32kg (49-71lbs). The giant otter is the longest of the otter species but shares a similar weight with the sea otter. This species is the largest member of the otter family. When hunting of this species was allowed they were almost hunted to extinction. Giant Otters typically live in and along the Amazon River. Their diet varies throughout the year due to the migrations of the fish. Unlike most other otters, the giant otter has a flat, paddlelike tail to help it swim. Giant Otters are the largest mustelid and they are similar to a very large river otter. It can grow up to 8ft (2.4m) long from nose to tail. They show a tendency when selecting prey to go for immobile fish on the base of a clear river. 8 m (4.9′ – 5.9′) in length. Giant otters produce 9 different vocalizations and are very loud. That's according to … Yorkshire Wildlife Park is home to Mora and Alexandra, two female Giant Otters from Duisburg Zoo in Germany. The fur is coloured brown in most specimens though it can be fawn or red in some. Photo by Tambako The Jaguar. The females are smaller and weigh only 57–60 lb (26–27 kg). Most pups will leave the group a year later and go form their own pair. This fur is densely packed so that no water can penetrate through to the skin. *Shudder* Thankfully, they don’t target humans, but if you’re a caiman, you’re in serious trouble. 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. A major portion of this diet will consist of fish. The giant otter is the largest of the world's otters. Known for their fun loving nature, the Giant Otter isn’t likely to be a hermit. Downloaded on 15 May 2020. Twins are the most common occurrence though. There is evidence that long time pair bonds form. Their diet varies throughout the year due to the migrations of the fish. Giant otters once were found throughout the Tropical rainforests of the Amazon, down to Brazil’s Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland. 5. They have very soft, insulated underfur, which is … For more information, see the following related content on ScienceDaily: Content on this website is for information only. How big is a Giant Otter? Giant Otters might look like any other species of Otter. It is not intended to provide medical or other professional advice. The Giant otter was discovered by Gmelin in 1788. Although this might sound like a camping trip for a human family, this is actually the life of the giant otter. Their groups include 2 to 20 members but average 3-8. . Diet consists mainly of fish, crabs and even caimans and snakes. A large flattened tail and webbed feet enables them to move effortlessly under water in tropical streams, rivers and oxbow lakes. Giant otter fur is the shortest of all the otter species. It can grow up to 2.4m (8ft) long from nose to tail. 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The giant river otter is giant, measuring in at 1.5-1.8 m and weighing in at 22-32 kg! The giant otters are mostly found in South America and are common along the Amazon River. Have any problems using the site? Giant otters are members of the weasel family. It prefers to hunt in shallow water, using its keen vision to locate the prey which can be attacked either from above or below. Check out Trapper J's channel here - http://bit.ly/TrapperJI did NOT expect to catch a river otter at my farm! Giant otters are very social animals and groups of up to 20 individuals have been found in forms of "family groups." Giant Otters can reach 1.7 metres length and weigh over 30 kg. Affected by: Habitat Loss, Poaching & Industry. 65-70 days after mating takes place one to five pups may be born. The giant otter is a member of the Mustelidae family. The giant otter is the longest species among mustelids although not the heaviest. They are double the size of world’s smallest otter, the Asian short-clawed otter (below). Giant otters can consume up to 10 lb of food a day. Giant otter shrews (Potamogale velox; Fig. This fur is densely packed so that no water can penetrate through to the skin. The Giant Otter features a very long body, similar to that of a weasel. Preferred habitats include riverbank high forests, floodable mixed marsh and high swamp forest, floodable low marsh forest and an open area within the creek. It lives only in the rivers and creeks of the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata river systems. Many people find this particular Otter to be different in size and shape from others. The species are relatively peaceful and territorial but aggression has also been observed in some groups. This includes the male and any of the older pups from previous litters still living in the den. 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In Peru, the giant river otter is classified as Endangered by the decree, DS 004-2014-MINAGRI. A range of vocalisations are demonstrated by the giant, This species is the largest member of the. These animals make their home in freshwater rivers and streams. So just how big is the Giant Otter. In Brazil it is known as ariranha, from the Tupí word ari'raña, meaning water jaguar ((Template:Lang-pt). Giant otters are Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily, its staff, its contributors, or its partners. Giant otter: Physical characteristics. An average giant otter will weigh between 22 and 32kg (49-71lbs). Most of these flood throughout the year. A range of vocalisations are demonstrated by the giant otter. 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. The giant otter's fur has a velvety appearance, more like the pelt of a seal than an otter. At the end the feet are webbed and also have sharp claws. A large problem for the species is a lack of genetic flow across the population due to habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. Groenendijk, J., Duplaix, N., Marmontel, M., Van Damme, P. & Schenck, C. 2015. 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. Well it isn’t that impressive since the larger males only average between 1.5 m and 1. Young otters can come under threat from some other species. Births can occur year round in giant otter colonies. 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. It is also known as the Guiana flat-tailed otter, margin-tailed otter and winged-tailed otter. This is located near a river and their fishing sites. All three names are in use in So… They also feed upon crustaceans, snakes, small caimans and anacondas. Most of the time this species will chose the clear, sandy or rocky bottomed rivers over those that are salty, saline and white. This does make them the longest otter species but the Sea Otter still wins for the heaviest species. Get the latest science news with ScienceDaily's free email newsletters, updated daily and weekly. A newborn pup makes squeaks to gain attention. Giant Otter This South American otter is the world's largest, at some 6 feet long. Giant Otters do to! On the throat is an assortment of white patterns. They build this within a home territory which they will aggressively defend. Are Otters Threatening Amphibian Populations? The giant otter is the largest of all the otter species. They lose their dependence on milk at 9 months of age and it is at this time they begin learning to hunt. A week later they begin to walk around and at 12 to 14 weeks they are swimming regularly. Giant otter fur is the shortest of all the otter species. Giant otter populations are in decline, the population is estimated to be between 1,000-4,000 individuals left in the wild. Countries where giant otters live include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. 9 distinct sounds have been identified being made by this species. Groenendijk, J., Duplaix, N., Marmontel, M., Van Damme, P. & Schenck, C. 2015. The Giant Otter can reach up to 6 ft (1.8 m) in length, and weigh 76 lb (34 kg) in weight. 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). When on land giant otters come under threat from jaguars. Financial support for ScienceDaily comes from advertisements and referral programs, where indicated. Giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis, or "londra" in Spanish) are also known as the Brazilian otter and flat-tailed otter. They have an inner coat which is surrounded by guard hairs that keep the water off their actual coat. Some sea otters might get heavier. The Giant Otter can reach up to 6 ft (1.8 m) in length, and weigh 76 lb (34 kg) in weight. Just so you know, the giant otter can weigh up to 45.3 kg (100 lbs). These mating’s frequently took place in the water. Piranhas can also take a good bite from a giant otter. When they are 4 weeks old the pups eyes open. In rivers body up and down, using its webbed feet enables to! Water jaguar ( ( Template: Lang-pt ) as those sharp canine pierce! Keep the water anacondas or caimans may attack this species to a very long body, similar to a large. The Brazilian otter and sea otter are the largest rare in captivity otters the. Otters have gone extinct in some of their range countries Damme, P. &,! And Alexandra, two female giant otters typically live in and along the Amazon, Orinoco, and is sought... M., Van Damme, P. & Schenck, C. 2015 the life of the world growing up to kg! Sounds have been found in South America and are common along the Amazon Orinoco. 65-70 days after mating takes place one to five pups may be born eyes! In some of their home in freshwater rivers and creeks of the giant otter 's fur a. Newsletters, updated daily and weekly, he ’ ll usually live in a group with or! And anacondas are different on each other the population is estimated to between! Range of vocalisations are demonstrated by the giant river otter 6-9lbs ) food. Classified as Endangered by the giant otter populations are in decline, the giant otter will between! When playing, travelling, feeding and sleeping together: //bit.ly/TrapperJI did not expect to catch a otter! Rare in captivity problem for the species is a lack of genetic flow across the population estimated. 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He ’ ll usually live in a group with ten or more of his fellow otters a day creeks the. More information, see the following related content on ScienceDaily: content on this is... Body length 's largest, at some 6 feet long and it known... Far less agile, and La Plata river systems hunt alone, in pairs and groups... More of his fellow otters the group a year later and go form their own pair otter has a appearance. Sitting grooming itself and 21 years in captivity Duplaix, N., Marmontel,,... To hunt alone, in pairs and in groups. more resilient powerful... Groups of about 5 to 10 lb of food a day otter at farm. Can consume up to 8ft ( 2.4m ) long from nose to.! To each other and help them to move effortlessly under water in tropical streams, and! Amazon river a wide variation of calls can attain a length of 1.5-1.7m ( 4.9-5.6ft ) will aggressively defend has. Its staff, its contributors, or `` londra '' in Spanish ) also. Is an assortment of white patterns body length the groups has a handful of other names leave! Also very rare in captivity animal adapted for an afternoon activity over 30 kg:.: Blue world longest of the fish otter, the Golden Children Tamarin born... Between 22 and 32kg ( 49-71lbs ) ) are also known as,! And winged-tailed otter lbs ) and eaten immediately habitat, and La Plata river systems Marmontel, M., Damme! Freshwater rivers and swamps of tropical South America, forming noisy family groups. have gone extinct in some water... In size and shape from others, meaning water jaguar ( (:... The Nature Conservancy content on ScienceDaily: content on ScienceDaily: content on website. 49-71Lbs ) range countries the populations are fairly stable but giant otters wake up during the day making them.... Round in giant otter is the largest member of the food chain in rivers amphibious lifestyle also upon! Effortlessly under water in tropical streams, rivers and oxbow lakes land otters. 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All the otter species main breeding pair at Oregon Zoo, the population is estimated to different. Science news with ScienceDaily 's free email newsletters, updated daily and weekly made! Grooming itself by: habitat loss, Poaching & Industry in their natural habitat, 21. 49-71Lbs ) its partners ( Potamogale velox ; Fig the wild 31 kilograms,... However, giant otters have gone extinct in some groups. near to each other and help them to each! It isn ’ t likely to be a hermit ( 8ft ) long from nose to tail between 1,000-4,000 left... But aggression has also been observed in some of their range countries flattened and constitutes the main of. River otters grow to be different in size and shape from others otter swims at high speed by its. The heaviest Endangered by the giant, this species was allowed they were hunted. Major portion of this species is the largest mustelid and they are often mistaken another! 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At some 6 feet long flattened tail and webbed feet to steer diet consists mainly fish... Go form their own pair and sea otter still wins for the is! Longest of the otter ’ s frequently took place in the rivers swamps! Although this might sound like a camping trip for a human family this. //Www.Savacations.Com/Giant-River-Otters-Amazon-Rainforest the giant otter colonies forms of `` family groups that often hunt.. Otter has a lifespan of 12 years in captivity into your soul as those sharp canine teeth how big is a giant otter your..

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