Giant Otters are the largest mustelid and they are similar to a very large river otter. Diane McTurk is an inspirational woman. Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) images and facts - the stock photos in this gallery give us a scope into the beauty of the largest river otter in the world, the giant otter. Dali, the young giant river otter, and his family attacked by a black caiman several times their size. The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) inhabits South America, especially the Amazon river basin, but is becoming increasingly rare due to poaching, habitat loss, and the use of mercury and other toxins in illegal alluvial gold mining. Here’s why. Being diurnal and living in social groups Giant Otters are vulnerable to man's destruction. First up, the Giant Otter is enormous. 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). Otter Population Analyses 2018 By Nathan M. Roberts Abstract Aerial surveys were conducted for river otters during the winter of 2017-18. At 110 lbs. This study presents the weight-length relationship of Amazonian giant otters using 15 captive individuals. Medical Information Search. Geographical range: Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata river systems; Interesting Giant River Otter facts . Giant otters are carnivorous and have acute agility in the water. Only 5,000 left in the wild: This may sound like a lot to some people. Giant Otter was listed as endangered in 1999 and has a current population of about 5,000. We present findings on the demography of a population inhabiting the floodplain of Manu National Park, south-eastern Peru, arising from 14 annual dry season censuses over a 16 year period. RED LIST status: Endangered alias: ariranha, river wolf, water dog predators: big cats, caimans threats: pollution, poaching, habitat loss, persecution size: 145-180 cm (body 96-123 cm; tail 45-65 cm) weight: 24-34 kg The largest extant otter species in the world is the giant otter from South America. The shrew slid into the nearby river and used its feather like tail to propel itself with grace through the water. The otters are active during the day fishing and making loud whistles to themselves and the home range of the group may reach up to 12km. Males are from 4.9 to 5.6 ft (1.5 to 1.7 m) and females from 3.3 to 4.9 ft (1 to 1.5 m). In the central and southern management zones, 3 and 14 transects were surveys respectively. In Bolivia populations remain, despite dangers that threaten them. Some local tribes have dubbed them “aquatic jaguars." They range in size between 1.5 to 1.8 m in length. ABSTRACT. Top predators: Because of the size and the diet, Giant River Otters are top predators in the Amazon being the only competitors the black caiman, anacondas, or a jaguar. Litter size: 1 to 5 young (average number 2) Natural habitat: Lowland lakes (especially oxbow lakes), streams, rivers and palm swamps. In the northern management zone 27 transects were surveyed. Nearly hunted to extinction, it can reach up to 170 cm in length and … The otters form social groups to help maintain control of their territories and to protect one another. The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is an endangered semi-aquatic carnivore of South America. Your Giant River Otter stock images are ready. Management zones have been (50 kilograms) the otter was a behemoth, about twice as heavy as the South American giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), the largest otter living today. View top-quality stock photos of Giant River Otter. At 5.6 feet (1.7 meters), they are the biggest otters in the world and the longest members of the weasel family. You know those little otters you have seen at the zoo? These questions will be answered with more studies, Dr. Denise Su, another member of the team, suggested. Surely, the vicious, toothy crocodilians would chomp clear through the cute, loveable river otters. In South America, the giant otter resides among hundreds of hungry caimans (a type of crocodilian related to alligators) without any issue. The largest living otter species of today, the South American giant river otter. Few giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) have been measured and weighed and its actual size is controversial in the literature. Giant Otters have thick, brown fur and a creamy-white pattern on their throats – a mark which is believed to be unique to each individual. Giant otters are among the most rare and endangered otters in the world, as there are estimated to be less than 5,000 left in their South American range. That’s about as long as a tall human man and twice the size of the North American river otter. Select a category... Otters Animal Nutrition Sciences Giant Cells Oceanography Giant Cell Arteritis Giant Cell Tumor of Bone New Hampshire Trees Semliki forest virus Heart Forestry Breeding Tool Use Behavior Animal Nutrition Sciences Giant Cells Oceanography Giant Cell Arteritis Giant Cell Tumor of Bone New Hampshire Trees The three most striking things about giant otters are their size, their throat markings and their social nature. to detect dinner, TOP teamwork and teamwork to swim it down, Unrivaled SIZE and aggression: but their size and aggression sets them apart from other otters and that's why, they're on my list. Not quite. Well, you can forget about them. The Giant Otter can grow up to six feet long. 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. The Giant River Otter in Bolivia Pteronura brasiliensis, also known as the giant otter, is already extinct in Uruguay and possibly Argentina. But these animals stretch across an area similar in size to the continental United States, making them extremely rare! They have deep brown coloured fur that is dense, thick, velvety and water repellant. QUICK MOVERS: Speedy underwater swimmers, SENSITIVE WHISKERS: with super sensitive whiskers, SHARP TEETH: sharp teeth capable of dispatching slippery prey, This gregarious animal grows to a length of up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft), and is more aquatic than most other otters. The mother (and sometimes the father as well) will care for the pups. Giant Otters live in family groups along rivers and streams, sleeping in burrows dug out from the river bank. Giant Otter's velvet pellets have attracted hunters whose numbers have dropped significantly. Their short legs, webbed feet and long paddle-shaped tails make them at home in the water, and their sensitive whiskers help them find and catch fish to eat in dark coloured water. Common name: Giant otter, giant Brazilian otter, giant river otter. Web. Educational signs and kiosks are provided to inform visitors of the otters' endangered status and conservation work being performed. The Giant Otter is a giant otter found mostly in South America and is common on the banks of the Amazon River. The layout was incorporated into the Amazon and Beyond Exhibit to allow visitors an up-close view of the animals. Find premium, high-resolution stock photography at Getty Images. Giant otters use super sensitive whiskers! Photo credit: Patrick Beese, Giant Otter size comparison to human. The giant otter is a large semi-aquatic mammal that lives in the Amazon River basin and in the Pantanal wetlands in South America. Furthermore, it has made them ask more questions such as why the animal reached that size, how it ate its meal and how it moved about when in the water or on land. Giant Otters’ Main Characteristics. giant otters. Alligator Animal Bird. Giant otters are an endangered species living in the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata river systems in large, gregarious families. The maximum length and weight were 163cm and 22.5kg, and 162cm and 28.8kg, for the males and females, respectively. Another illustration of the size of a Giant Otter: taking into account its much longer tail and shorter legs, it is similar in size to the average German Shepherd dog. They reach adult size at 9 to 10 months old. At the age of 74, she is famous for her successes with the rehabilitation of rescued, orphaned giant otter pups. The Giant Otter is Huge. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. Giant River Otter At more than twice the length of the North American river otter, the giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is quite a sight.A skilled hunter and apex predator, the giant river otter is also very much a family-oriented creature, living in large and often noisy groups along the river banks of the Amazon and its tributaries. Its thick, velvety brown fur has characteristic white markings around the neck. The Giant River Otter Exhibit winds along the walkway of the exhibit. Males weigh from 57 to 71 lb (26 to 32 kg) and females from 49 to 57 lb (22 to 26 kg) It has webbed feet as an adaptation for living in water. Giant otters have webbed legs and a long tail adapted for swimming. Browse 272 river otter stock illustrations and vector graphics available royalty-free, or search for north american river otter or giant river otter to find more great stock images and vector art. In this second standoff between a young female jaguar and a family of otters, the otters prevailed again. Giant otters are as long as you are tall and are the largest of the world’s 13 otter species (though not the heaviest). They are the biggest species of all the 13 otter species and can measure up to 2 m (6 ft.) long. Ask those around you with a Nexus 6, or an iPhone 6 Plus, and they’ll tell you they don’t want a case that adds too much size to the already big devices. The giant otter or giant river otter[3] Researchers emphasize that even between groups, conflict avoidance is generally adopted. 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