[88] A Ticuna legend has it that the giant otter exchanged places with the jaguar: the story says jaguar formerly lived in the water and the giant otter came to the land only to eat. The smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) of Asia may be its closest extant relative; similar behaviour, vocalizations, and skull morphology have been noted. When in the water, the giant otter faces danger from animals not strictly preying upon it: the electric eel and stingray are potentially deadly if stumbled upon, and piranha may be capable of at least taking bites out of a giant otter, as evidenced by scarring on individuals. Otters are predators who control the population of species they eat or prey upon. This otter is found in the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata, the three river systems. The average length for a giant otter is 6 feet (1.9 m) tall, with a typical length ranging from 57 to 71 in (145 to 180 cm). A typical adult Giant Otter weighs between 24 and 32 kg (53 and 71 lb). [45] The giant otter seems to prefer prey fish that are generally immobile on river bottoms in clear water. Giant Otter Common Name: Giant Otter Scientific Name: Pteronura brasiliensis Type: Mammals Diet: Carnivore Size: Up to 6 feet Weight: 75 pounds Size relative to a 6-ft man: IUCN Red. Otters range in size from 3 kg (6.6 pounds) in the Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus, formerly Amblonyx cinereus) to 26 kg (57 pounds) in the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) and 45 kg (99 pounds) in the sea otter (Enhydra lutris). The giant river otter size is a remarkable six feet in total length from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. This allows artists to copy reference codes for later use, rather than having to renter the values every time. There are estimates for the populations of a few areas: 2,000-5,000 individuals in the Brazilian Pantanal; 180-400 individuals in Madre de Dios, southeastern Peru; 31 individuals in Cantao State Park, Brazil; 75 individuals in Amana, Brazil; at least 130 individuals in Balbina Lake, Brazil; 54 individuals in Araguaia, above Bananal Island; 32 individuals in Yasuni National Park, Ecuador; and at least 35 individuals in Rewa Head, Guyana. [48], Mothers give birth to furred and blind cubs in an underground den near the river shore and fishing sites. Neotropical otters range from Central to South America, whereas giant otters inhabit the Amazon forest range from north of Uruguay to Colombia. Created Date: 6/22/2012 11:28:10 AM . They can also weigh up to 75 pounds. [6] In Spanish, river wolf (Spanish: lobo de ro) and water dog (Spanish: perro de agua) are used occasionally (though the latter also refers to several different animals) and may have been more common in the reports of explorers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Social vs. medical egg freezing: Whats the difference? They are extremely easy to hunt, being active through the day and highly inquisitive. Carter and Rosas, however, rejected the subspecific division in 1997, noting the classification had only been validated once, in 1968, and the P. b. paraguensis type specimen was very similar to P. b. [30], At the time of Carter and Rosas' writing, vision had not been directly studied, but field observations show the animal primarily hunts by sight; above water, it is able to recognize observers at great distances. A page allowing the comparison of up to six figures is now available. They prefer prey fish that are generally immobile on river bottoms in clear water. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. The giant otter is an especially noisy animal, with a complex repertoire of vocalizations. [59] If fish are unavailable, it will also take crabs, snakes, and even small caimans and anacondas. [28] Unique markings of white or cream fur color the throat and under the chin, allow individuals to be identified from birth. The length of male Alaska otters is about 58 in (148 cm), and average weight ranges from 60-85 lb (27-39 kg); whereas female Alaska sea otters measure 55 in (140 cm) and weight range from 35-60 lb (16-27 kg). Credits Image: Chelsea Turner/MIT At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. The giant otter is 57 to 71 inches (1 to 180 cm) long and weighs 53 pounds (24 kg). Giant otter thought to be extinct in Argentina resurfaces. Gestation lasts 65-70 days and the altricial young are born in late August until early October. The species prefers freshwater rivers and streams, which are usually seasonally flooded, and may also take to freshwater lakes and springs. They are closely related to the other otter species. [18] Carter and Rosas found average areas a third this size. How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco, Naked mole rats are fertile until they die, study finds. Defence against intruding animals appears to be cooperative: while adult males typically lead in aggressive encounters, cases of alpha females guarding groups have been reported. It is one of the most endangered mammal species in the Neotropics. and. Get Size Code Apply Size Code. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. "Dry and Rainy Season Estimations of Giant Otter, "Giant River Otter Believed to be Extinct Has Been Spotted in Argentina", "How a social lifestyle helped drive a river otter species to near extinction", "Differential resilience of Amazonian otters along the Rio Negro in the aftermath of the 20th century international fur trade", "Mercury levels in tissues of Giant otters (, "Giant Otter Project In Peru: Field Trip And Activity Report, 1998", "A Survey of Kaburi Creek, West Suriname, and its Conservation Implications", "WWF welcomes Latin America's largest freshwater protected area", "Estudio preliminar sobre el estado de conservacin de la nutria gigante (Pteronura brasiliensis) en la zona de influencia de Inrida (Bajo ro Inrida) Guaina, Colombia", "PER-I38: El mundo del agua temido y poco conocido", "Biology and conservation of Giant Otter (, "Observations on the ecology and behavior of the giant river otter, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Giant_otter&oldid=1141574134, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 19:07. This species is a native of South America (except for Chile), east of the Andes. Habitat fragmentation and loss, as well as pollution, are the current major threats to the Giant otter, as the areas where they live are degraded and destroyed by logging, mining, and damming. Group members share roles, structured around the dominant breeding pair. Young are weaned at the age of 3-4 months. Giant otters are strictly carnivorous (piscivorous) and mainly fish such as cichlids, perch, characins (such as piranha), and catfish. The Guianas are one of the last real strongholds for the species, which also enjoys modest numbers and significant protection in the Peruvian Amazonian basin. It can grow around a length of 1.8 m (6 ft). Goliath Birdeater: 12 Inches. Meanwhile, in the comparison between giant river otter vs sea otter, sea otters are twice or thrice bigger than giant otters. A wavering scream may be used in bluff charges against intruders, while a low growl is used for aggressive warning. An adult giant otter can grow to be 57 to 71 inches (145 to 180 cm) long, with an average length of 6 feet (1.9 m). It is a species found living in a group of up to 20 individuals. Like most other otter species, giant otters come ashore to give birth. These animals can sniff it out. There are 13 species of otters, and the sea otter and giant otter live in starkly different environments -- the giant otter in a warm freshwater environment and the sea otter in the. Its length is twice the length of the Asian short-clawed otter, the world's smallest otter. [91], Last edited on 25 February 2023, at 19:07, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, "Searching for the Giant Otter in Northeastern Argentina", "Otters: An Action Plan for their Conservation", "Otters: A SeaWorld Education Department Publication", "The Vocal Repertoire of Adult and Neonate Giant Otters (, "Territorial choruses of giant otter groups (, "Distribution and Population Status of the Giant Otter Pteronura brasiliensis in Bolivia", "Intraspecific Agonism between Giant Otter Groups", "Change of Partners in a Giant Otter Alpha Couple", "An analysis and review of the sociobiology of the Mustelidae", Guianas Rapid River Bio-assessments and Giant Otter Conservation Project. Eco-friendly burial alternatives, explained. Overall, currently, Giant otters are classified as Endangered (EN) and their numbers today are decreasing. Giant otters are very social animals, according to the Animal Diversity Web. There are 13 species of river otters around the world. Reproductive behavior has largely been documented by observations of captive animals. [73], The animal faces a variety of critical threats. The Giant otter was discovered by Gmelin in 1788. Why wetlands are so critical for life on Earth, Rest in compost? Fur is chocolate brown with cream-colored throat patches that are unique to each individual. It is also known as the Guiana flat-tailed otter, margin-tailed otter, and winged-tailed otter. Other otters, such as Asian small-clawed otter, have a length range of 26-37 in (65-94 cm). Giant Otter Technologies, founded by artificial intelligence video game developer Jeff Orkin, an MIT Media Lab alumnus, has developed a platform that uses AI algorithms and crowdsourced annotators to build a natural-language database that helps chatbots expertly navigate human conversations. [61] Carter and Rosas have found captive adult animals consume around 10% of their body weight dailyabout 3 kilograms (7lb), in keeping with findings in the wild. Two subspecies are currently recognized by the canonical Mammal Species of the World, P. b. brasiliensis and P. b. paraguensis. Sameer Prehistorica. The giant otter is clearly distinguished from other otters by morphological and behavioural characteristics. The IUCN listed the giant otter as "endangered" in 1999; it had been considered "vulnerable" under all previous listings from 1982 when sufficient data had first become available. [2] A significant population lives in the wetlands of the central Araguaia River, and in particular within Canto State Park, which, with its 843 oxbow lakes and extensive flooded forests and marshlands, is one of the best habitat patches for this species in Brazil. Other researchers suggest approximately 7 square kilometres (2.7sqmi) and note a strong inverse correlation between sociality and home range size; the highly social giant otter has smaller home range sizes than would be expected for a species of its mass. Hunting in shallow water has also been found to be more rewarding, with water depth less than 0.6 metres (2.0ft) having the highest success rate. More recently, habitat destruction and degradation have become the principal dangers, and a further reduction of 50% is expected in giant otter numbers within the 20 years after 2004 (about the span of three generations of giant otters). It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggression, and reassurance. The family members clear an area beside a stream for their living quarters, of up to 50 sq meters, usually near feeding sites. Weight can also vary greatly (e.g. The giant otter ranges across north-central South America; it lives mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal. Post navigation Previous Post Next Post Body: adults between 50-100 pounds adults approximately 20-25 pounds . The giant otters are excellent predators as they have whiskers that help them detect the vibrations in the river bed to find prey very quickly. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so its important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. The Giant otter is clearly distinguished from different otters by morphological and behavioral traits. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. A National Geographic team has made the first ascent of the remote Mount Michael, looking for a lava lake in the volcanos crater. All otters produce vocalizations, but by frequency and volume, the giant otter may be the most vocal. The head-body-tail length of an adult giant otter can be up to six feet. The giant otter's highly sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) allow the animal to track changes in water pressure and currents, which aids in detecting prey. Two species of otters, neotropical otters, and giant otters inhabit South American forests. Would they make a good pet? It's also known as the "river wolf.". The species hasn't been seen in the country for about 40 years. Reddit users are going crazy about the giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)an Amazonian giant that can reach up to six feet (1.8 meters) long. Incorrect descriptions of the species have led to multiple synonyms (the latter subspecies is often P. b. paranensis in the literature). Don't mix the two systems, you'll get a wrong result. These animals are most active from 10-11 am and from 3-5 pm. [52] Other causes of death include accidents, gastroenteritis, infanticide, and epileptic seizures. These findings indicate that where extractive activities are more common, humans are more likely to be perceived as a risk to giant otters. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. The survival of the giant otter populations in the Guianas is essential to the survival of this endangered species in South America. The giant otter subsists almost exclusively on a diet of fish, particularly characins and catfish, but may also eat crabs, turtles, snakes and small caimans. Schoolchildren, however, had a more positive impression of the animal. [70] One difference in behavior was seen in the country in 2002: the normally inquisitive giant otters showed "active avoidance behavior with visible panic" when boats appeared. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. The average weight of a giant male otter is 57-75 lb (26-34 kg), whereas a female weighs 49-57 lb (22-26 kg). Giant otters can live for up to 13 years in the wild. [36] Each family of otters was shown to have its own unique audio signature.[37]. The co-expansion of otter and human populations accounts for most encounters gone wrong. Diurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. , which are usually seasonally flooded, and even small caimans and anacondas intruders while! Growl is used for aggressive warning inhabit the Amazon forest range from of. Sleeping or other inactivity at night by the canonical mammal species of the Andes lakes and springs and 32 (... Found living in a group of up to six figures is now available ( 53 and 71 lb.! 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