Marine Otter

Lontra felina

 

Identification

 

Size: The Marine Otter is 87 to 115 cm long from nose to tail. The tail alone is 30 to 36 cm long.

Color: This otter is dark brown, with a lighter belly.

Nose: The Marine Otter's nose is covered in fur.

Feet: Webbed, with strong claws.

Fur: Coarse and rough, with guardhairs that are 2 cm long. The underhairs are 12 mm long.

Track/Sign: Marine otters scent mark rocks with a very pungent smelling urine.

 

Ecology

Habitat: Rocky marine shoreline. They generally live in caves above the shoreline, hidden by vegetation. Marine otters do not seem to require fresh water to wash themselves in as most other otters do.

Range/Distribution: Coastal Chile and Peru.

Threats: Marine otters have been hunted for their pelts for several centuries. Unlike most otters, whose pelts are used for coats, the marine otter's fur is coarse (but just as thick) and is used largely for shoes. The marine otter's population has been declining steadily for the last 200-300 years due to hunting for footwear and persecution by fishermen. More recently, habitat loss has become a major issue as tourism and watersports become more common. Water pollution from heavy metal mining and oil spills, over-fishing of prey species, and drowning in fishing nets are also major issues for this otter.

Marine otters are legally protected in Peru, Chile, and Argentina, but so far this has had little efffect. Law enforcement on conservation issues in these areas is poor and one marine otter's pelt is worth a month's wages for coastal fishermen, so so far the benefits for them far outweigh the risks. Hopefully increasing conservation work in the marine otter's habitiat will increase public awareness, but for many fishermen and their families, the extra income generated by selling marine otter pelts is very important. Until conservation issues are demonstrated to have as large a positive economc impact on fishing communities as the sales of otter pelts, or until the local economy improves, this situation is unlikely to change.

Natural predators to the marine otter are sharks and orcas. Adolescent otters are also in danger of being eaten by large birds of prey. Parasites- specifically nematodes and acanthocephalans from crustaceans- are also a major natural threat to this otter

Conservation Status: Endangered

 

Food: Fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, and cephalopods. They also occasionally eats fruit when in season. When hunting, the marine otter makes ~30 second dives to a depth of about 100 ft, where they swim along the bottom looking for fish. Small things are eaten in the water, and larger things are taken to the shore and consumed there. Hunting patterns are not affected by tides. Marine otters do not appear to use tools to catch or eat their prey. Sometimes they hunt cooperatively, groups of two or three otters working together to catch larger fish.

 

Behavior

Life Cycle: Mating between marine otters generally occurs between December and January. It appears that they are monogamous unless there is an abundance of both prey and potential mates. Cubs are born from January to March in dens or concealed areas amongst rocks and vegetation. Between two and five cubs are born (usually two or three) and these remain with their parents for around 10 months as they are fed and taught to hunt for themselves. Dens are crevices and caves, preferably with tunnels leading both landward and to the ocean; the seaward entrance is often only exposed at high tide. Preferred sites have thick vegetation above, difficult access from land (for predators), and are near feeding patches and offshore rocks in shallow water protected from winds. Life expectancy of these otters is unknown.

Social: Though marine otters tend to be solitary, they are generally friendly (but not highly sociable) with other otters. Their territories overlap and are rarely a cause of argument. One thing that these otters are very protective of is their food. Marine otters will fight over food and favored rocks (for sunning themselves and eating the food), squealing loudly and biting each other's faces for several seconds. An otter's range includes a den (possibly multiple), resting spots, spraint sites, rocks for eating, playing and basking, and fishing areas. Generally there are between 0.6 and 16.5 otters per mile of coastline, depending on the type of habitat, amount of food, and human factors.

Individual: The Marine Otter is very elusive, and will hide when approached. This makes them difficult to study. Males and females look prettymuch alike. Marine otters are good rock climbers, and appear to be diurnal.

 

 

About: Marine otters are the smallest of the American otters. They are sometimes domesticated by fishermen and trained to catch fish for them.

Names:

Spanish: Gato del mar, Nutria de mar, Chungungo, Chinchimen
French: Loutre de Mer
German: MeerOtter
Italian: Lontra Felina
Other scientific names: Lontra Felina

 

Subspecies:

unknown

 

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