Marine Otter   OTTER
Marine Otter
Marine Otter
Scientific Name:
Lontra felina
Other Names and/or Listed subspecies:
Sea Cat, Lutra felina
Group:
Mammals
Status/Date Listed as Endangered:
EN-US FWS: June 14, 1976
EN-IUCN: 2008
Area(s) Where Listed As Endangered:
Peru south to Straits of Magellan
 
Advertisement
 

Also called the sea cat, the marine otter is found along the Pacific coastline from equatorial Peru to the southern tip of South America. It has a long body, a flat head with small ears, and a broad muzzle with whiskers. It has coarse, dense dark brown hair and lighter brown underparts. Its feet are equipped with webs for swimming. Adults can reach an average body length of 22 to 31 inches with a tail length of 12 to 14 inches. They can weigh up to 31 lb.

The marine otter prefers habitat with rocky coastal areas and bays and inlets near estuaries. It prefers to eat crustaceans and mollusks and occasionally fish and aquatic vegetation. The marine otter seems to prefer solitary living but has sometimes been seen in groups of three or more. Mating occurs in December until January. The female gives birth to two to five pups after a gestation period of 60 to 120 days.

The main cause of decline is hunting for its fur and loss of suitable habitat. Populations are small and isolated and the estimated but unconfirmed population is said to be 1000 individuals.




Wikipedia Article

This article is only an excerpt. If it appears incomplete or if you wish to see article references, visit the rest of its contents here.
Wikipedia Article
Copyright Notice: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Marine otter".

Featured Article

Ten creatures that may become extinct in the next 10 years
1. Leatherback Sea Turtle
Leatherback sea turtles have been around since pre-historic times. And unfortunately, if the species is allowed to vanish, scientists believe it will foreshadow the extinction of a host of other marine species. It is estimated that there are less than 5,000 nesting female leatherback sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean today, down from 91,000 in 1980.

Read More...


Advertisement


Endangered Species of Our Planet

Donate, Adopt, Get Involved

EEC Conservation Directory
Donate

Mailing List

Would you like to receive a notice and link when the new Creature Feature is posted?

Enter your e-mail address below:

 

Fun & Games

Are you inspired by endangered animals? Check out our games and coloring pages! More to come soon.
color endangered creatures
play hangman