The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. The river otter population continues to decline to this day. The river otter had almost been moved out of the Smokies altogether and then in the early 1990s, the Park Service began to reintroduce otters to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, these games are not undertaken purely for enjoyment. The hindmost upper teeth (pm4 and m3) are broad and robust and are specialized for crushing the exoskeletons of crabs and other hard shelled prey. One of the most unfortunate river otter facts is that these animals are currently threatened by habitat loss. In head-to-body length, it ranges from 470 to 610 mm (18.4 to 24 in) with a 260 to 350 mm (10.2 to 13.6 in) long tail. This gives it a high degree of manual dexterity so that it can use its paws to feed on molluscs, crabs and other small aquatic animals. At least 711 Asian small-clawed otters were offered for sale through online websites by 280 traders in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam between 2016 and 2017. This semiaquatic mammal has the weight of 11 to 30.9 lb or 5 to 14 kilograms. In the wild the otters eat primarily crustaceans and mollusks but will also eat fish, insects, amphibians and reptiles. With the ability to smell concentrations of fish and their high metabolisms, otters spend most of their time hunting for their next meal. These include game fishes, bass (Centrarchidae) suckers (Catostomidae), and shiners. They use grassy or sandy banks for resting, sun bathing and grooming. [23] [27], The Asian small-clawed otter was listed on CITES Appendix II and is protected in almost all range countries prohibiting its killing. However, otters differ from similar species like beavers, muskrats, and nutria that feed on plants. These skills include hunting and fighting. River otters live in dens, also known as holts. Japanese River Otters. They are well adapted to swimming and hunting. When and where available, it also catches snakes, frogs, insects, rats and rice field fish like catfish, Anabas testudineus and Channa striata. They are great swimmers, and on land, they can run at speeds of 15 miles an hour. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. Behavior: Rivers otters are … [3] Its paws are a distinctive feature; its claws do not extend beyond the fleshy end pads of its partially webbed fingers and toes. Volunteers and DEC staff live-trapped otter primarily in the Adirondacks (DEC Regions 5 and 6), but some otter from the Catskills and Hudson Valley (DEC Regions 3 … Otters eat from 15% to 25% of their body weight each day. It does not have upper premolars and only four postcanine teeth above. Its diet varies seasonally. You can expect Arkansas otters to dine on fish, turtles and crayfish at some of the state’s best fishing spots: Little Red River, Bull Shoals Lake and fishing holes in the northwest region. They use their long whiskers when swimming underwater to feel for the movement of their prey. These names are: river otter, North American river otter, northern river otter, common otter, American otter, Canada otter, Canadian otter, fish otter, land otter, nearctic river otter, and the Prince of Wales otter. Information about the Asian small-clawed otter's mating and breeding behaviour has been studied in captive environments. In marshes, they use mostly islands. They have webbed feet for swimming, dense fur for warmth, and can close their ears and nose underwater. Its paws are narrow with short digits that are webbed to the last joint. It also occurs in mangroves. River otters are predators; they avoid feeding on carrion. [10], The Asian small-clawed otter groups with the African clawless otter and the smooth-coated otter into a sister clade to the genus Lutra. The Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus), also known as the oriental small-clawed otter or simply small-clawed otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to South and Southeast Asia. Otter Diet: Otters live near water because it provides them with everything they need—including food. The four-lobed plantar pads are longer than wide. Humans do not usually eat sea otters and generally kill them by accident. The sides of the neck and head are brown, but its cheeks, upperlip, chin, throat and sides of the neck are whitish. River otters are semi-aquatic mammals. [17], The Asian small-clawed otter is mostly active after dark. Did you just call me a sea otter? Giant ottters are very sociable animals and often live in groups of up … The muzzle has long coarse vibrissae on either side. 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