Pteronura brasiliensis

(Gmelin, 1788)

Vernacular names
English : Giant otter
French : Loutre géante d’Amazonie

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Mustelidae
Notes : 2 subspecies known.

Identification
Body length of 130 cm, tail length of 65 cm, weight up to 32 kg. Head broad, short and flattened, long flattened tail. Fur from reddish-brown to nearly black. Yellow markings on chin and breast, lips are usually grey to very light beige.

Range and habitat
The species is found in South America, from central Colombia, Venezuela and Guianas to south-central Brazil, Bolivia and northern Paraguay. Lives in large and slow-moving rivers, lakes and swamps, to 1000 meters asl.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : ENDANGERED
CITES : Appendix I
Status : This species is in a bad shape in the wild since most of its populations are fragmented, isolated and very small. Still suffers from habitat loss.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America, EEP in Europe

Observation

 

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