european otter facts

European otter. They have a thick fur coat that keeps them warm even in freezing water. It is also known as the European otter and common otter. European otters are members of the Mustelid family (as are badgers and weasels) Otters are one of Britain’s largest, and only native semi-aquatic mammals. Predators: none. … Over the last two decades the literature on the European (or Eurasian) otter appears to have increased at an exponential rate.There is a wealth of information on diet,distribution and levels of toxic chemicals in otters,their faeces and their prey. Species information. In the late 1950s and early 1960s otters underwent a sudden and catastrophic decline throughout much of Britain and Europe. Origin: native. Otters have their cubs in underground burrows, known as 'holts'. Otters can be distinguished from Mink by their much larger size, more powerful body, paler grey-brown fur, broader snout and broader, pale chest and throat. How long can you hold your breath? You may not see the Otters move from the land to the water though because they tend to make underground tunnels for this to take place. Habitat: rivers, canals, lakes, wetlands, coastlines. Males are ready to mate first at about 2 years of age. The Eurasian otter has a diet mainly of fish, and is strongly territorial. They are also found in north Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) and the Middle East (Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Iran). It is the otter species with the widest distribution, being spread widely across Europe. The European Otter is one what has a distinct look to it. They can be found throughout all of Europe, many areas of Asia, and some territories in northern Africa too. Find out more on EU Exit information at NatureScot. Fish make up the majority of the diet for the European Otter. Each European otter within its territory of between 1 and 4 miles has fixed locations where it gets into and exits from the water, sunbathing, rolling and sliding about on "otter stairways". Thanks to conservation efforts to stop illegal hunting they have been able to increase in numbers. The European otter has a wide distribution but no overall population estimate is available. The European otter, a semi-aquatic species, lives along coasts and in a wide variety of freshwater habitats. The chest and belly fur is often paler in colour. Here are some interesting facts about our native Otters. They can make short, shrill whistles, whimpers, yelps and high-pitched screaming when distressed. They nest on land, tending to build underground tunnels to move between the two. The elusive otter is one of our top predators, feeding mainly on fish (particularly eels and salmonids), waterbirds, amphibians and crustaceans. They tend to be more adaptable than other otter species, and can survive on a large assortment of foods from fish to crab to muskrats and young beavers. Although the mating system in European otters has not been well studied, they are thought to be either polygynous (one male mates with multiple females) or polygynandrous (promiscuous) (both males and females have multiple mates), as both males and females associate with each other only during mating. It is a European branch of the weasel or Mustelidae family. They won’t be taken into the water to swim until they are about 2 months of age. While it does have the brownish color of coat, it also features white along the length of it. European otters live throughout Europe, North Africa and Asia, inhabiting streams, rivers, lakes, freshwater and peat swamp forests, ocean shores, rice fields, fjords, caves, and other terrestrial habitats close by waterways. Otter cubs only open their eyes about five weeks after they are born. Otters not only mark vegetation and logs with their scent but cover their fur as well. In the past it was also located in Switzerland and the Netherlands but they have been wiped out from those locations long ago. Otter is a common name for a carnivorous mammal in the subfamily Lutrinae. It has many sensitive whiskers around its snout; these help to locate prey. They remain with their mothers up to the age of 14 months, reaching reproductive maturity at the age of 2 or 3 years. They are solitary animals unless in a mating pair or a mothers with her young. They usually stay on all four legs, but they can stand up as well but they are expert swimmers and spend a lot of time in water. But it survived in Scotland’s cleanest bodies of water in the north and west. The Eurasian beaver is a keystone species, as it helps to support the ecosystem which it inhabits.It creates wetlands, which provide habitat for European water vole, Eurasian otter and Eurasian water shrew.By coppicing waterside trees and shrubs it facilitates their regrowth as dense shrubs, thus providing cover for birds and other animals. Otters communicate using their spraint (droppings). They have very soft, insulated underfur, which is protected by an outer layer of long guard hairs. Type: Mammal. At any age they will trot, and gallop, and chase one another in water. Males can be up to 1.2 metres long and weigh up to 10 kilos (about the size of a small dog). Mammals; Statistics Length: 60-80cm Tail: 32-56cm Weight: 6-8kg Average lifespan: 5-10 years. Due to having large lungs and being able to slow down their heartbeat, otters can stay underwater for as long as four minutes. 57-95 cm The European otter, a semi-aquatic species, lives along coasts and in a wide variety of freshwater habitats. Stricter laws have been put into place but it is often very hard to enforce them. They spend their day in the den staying nice and cool. Otters are ready to reproduce when they are from 2 to 3 years of age. The reduction of the use of pesticides in Europe is also believed to have helped them because many died due to such toxins in the water. From one to four pups may be born which is different from most of the species that only have one at a time. Currently this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) and its numbers today are decreasing. Excellent and lithe swimmers, the young are in the water by 10 weeks of age. Those living on the coast are susceptible to oil spills. According to the IUCN Red List, the overall estimate of the population in the United Kingdom was around 10,395 individuals in 2004. The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is a large member of the weasel family that can reach nearly a metre in length and weigh up to 12 kilograms. They are also found all along Asia and Africa. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Can otters use tools? While it does have the brownish color of coat, it also features white along the length of it. This is better than the rating it had in the 1950’s of Endangered. Location: One of the widest distributions of a UK mammal species, the Eurasian Otter is found throughout Europe, eastern Russia and China, south and south east Asia and north Africa. It is a European member of the Mustelidae or weasel family and is typical of freshwater otters. Their dense fur is brown in colour with a … There are 13 species of otter around the world and many of them are endangered. Scent marking is a form of communication between otters about the territorial boundaries, identity, and sexual state of each otter. The European otter is the most widely distributed otter species being widely spread across Europe. Rewards for reports of illegal poaching though have encouraged people to come forward with information. For the females it is about 3 years of age. Weaning takes place when they are 3 months old. The average otter is 1–1.3 metres in length, and weighs up to 9kg. Origin & Distribution: The otter is a secretive semi-aquatic species which was once widespread in Britain. The Otter is a European protected species and is afforded protection under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. However, sometimes they form loosely knit groups numbering as many as six animals. Therefore they are free to engage in it when they feel like it. Some otter species spend all their time in the water while others are land and water based animals. European otters are carnivores, they eat mainly fish, but they also hunt amphibians and other aquatic prey, as well as birds, eggs, insects, worms, and a small amount of vegetation. It is believed that they have a distribution that is wider than any other species. There isn’t a set mating season for this particular type of Otter. The pups will feed from the milk their mother provides for the first year of life. Home Into the Forest Trees, Plants & Animals Mammals Otter European otter facts The otter (Lutra lutra) is a top predator in freshwater ecosystems, being at home both on land and in water, and is renowned for its agility and playful nature. Still, they continue to be illegally hunted in many areas for their pelts. This is one way to easily identify them in the wild or in captivity. A Eurasian otter can hold its breath for twice that long, quite easily! Both males and females hold territories, although male territories tend to be slightly … Some of the best known are the giant otter, the sea otter, the European otter, the Northern river otter among others. If there Otters habitat is thriving with enough room for them and plenty of food then they may mate more than once in a give season. They take the opportunity to consume whatever they can find both on land and in the water though. Category. Such behavior is seen as helping young otters improve their hunting techniques. Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) are semiaquatic, which means they split their time between land and water. European Otter on The IUCN Red List site -, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_otter, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/12419/0. Within this range there are 10 recognised subspecies. Otter facts A group of river otters is known as a romp The position of its eyes are high on its head which means it can see out of the water whilst the rest of its body stays submerged below - like a hippo! As you can guess from the name they are primarily found in Europe. The aquatic habitat of otters is very vulnerable in the face of change. Dry resting sites and covered dens are found in tree roots, earth tunnels, boulder piles, banks and shrubs. You will notice that these white markings are different on each of them. You will notice that these white markings are different on each of them. At night they come out with the desire to feed. Lutra lutra has historically occupied a broad range from Ireland in the west to Japan in the east and the arctic north to the semi-desert of North Africa. Males are usually slightly larger than females (which tend to be no more than 1 m long). The European Otter is one what has a distinct look to it. They can spend several hours each night searching for food and consuming it. Common names: common otter, Eurasian otter, European otter. The Latin name for the European otter is Lutra lutra pronounced “lootra lootra”! During the day they are in their dens on the land, staying cool, coming out at night to eat. Without special training, most people can hold their breath for 30 seconds to a minute before they are pretty uncomfortable. The pollution of lakes and rivers affects the fish that are their main food source. Right now the European Otter is listed as Near Threatened. Scientific name: Lutra lutra. The most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae), it is found in the waterways and coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa. The otter (Lutra lutra) was lost from most of England and Wales between the 1950s and the 1970s because of pesticide pollution of waterways. The European otter has been here for millions of years; it is a member of the Mustelid family, which also includes the badger, mink, weasels, stoats, martens and polecats, and is the only truly semi-aquatic member of the weasel family. Amazing Facts About the Otter The European or Eurasian otter is often referred to as the common otter. The white is also there under the face and down to the belly. Their territory can be as big as 25 miles wide but is usually about 11 miles. However, aggressive behavior will occur when the same sex tries to cross into it. They also consume a wide variety of other items including birds, frogs, crustaceans, and even small beavers that happen to be in the area. Otters are strictly protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and cannot be killed, kept or sold (even stuffed specimens) except under licence. The white is also there under the face and down to the belly. They are the most territorial of otter species. The European otter, also known as the Eurasian otter, or the common otter, has the widest range of all otter species. Today, the species is flourishing across Scotland, and recovering well across the UK as waterways are cleaned up. European otters have their most active time at dusk and at night. Welcome to the UK Wild Otter Trust! Removal of vegetation from stream or river banks, the draining of wetlands, the construction of dams and other man-made interventions impact greatly on otter populations. Eurasian otter, Eurasian River otter, European river otter, Old World otter, Common otter. Other threats are being caught in nets and fishing traps set for other species, as well as being hunted for their coat. European Otters have a body length between 57 and 70 cms (22.5 - 28 inches), a tail length between 35 and 40 cms (10 - 16 inches) and they weigh between 7 and 10 kgs (15 - 22 lbs). Otters are adorable creatures that live both on land and in the water. It is the otter species with the widest distribution, being spread widely across Europe. The males are the ones that seek out the females when they are ready to mate. This is one way to easily identify them in the wild or in captivity. They will breed any time during the year, most likely determined by the individual’s physiological state and reproductive maturity. Since they swim so much, and get much of their food from the water, holding their breath for a long time … It is an elusive animal which has sleek brown fur, often paler on its underside, covering its long lithe body, thick tail and little legs. Otters are very playful animals and have been seen sliding down snowdrifts or mud banks on their bellies. Their sleek, streamlined bodies are perfect for diving and swimming. The pups are 99 to 122gm when born, their eyes open at one month and after two months they start to leave the nest. The European Otter (Lutra lutra) is also known as the Eurasian River Otter, Common Otter and Old World Otter. Their area that they protect can be up to 25 miles wide. The British otter is also known as the European otter because of its vast geographical distribution. It is the only wild otter species found in the UK. However, most of them observed have a territory of about 11 miles. They will spend several hours nightly foraging in water. This traps a layer of air which keeps them dry and warm under water.They keep the air topped up by blowing into the fur with their mo… The season for mating depends on the region where they live. Otters are long and slim animals with four short legs that can be longer than a meter. These otters are vocal, having basic calls of greeting, alarm and mating, and up to 12 further calls. The European otter is an important part of the ecological systems and are an apex predator sitting at the top of the food chain. Diet: fish, amphibians, birds, eggs, insects. Gestation is for 60 to 70 days, each female bearing 2 or 3 pups. As a European protected species, the otter is fully protected under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended).. You can see our summary of offences in relation to this protected species below. They are also known to change the location of their den on a regular basis. The Eurasian otter is one of our top predators, feeding mainly on fish, waterbirds, amphibians and crustaceans. They are able to cross territorial boundaries without incident, but aggressive behavior will occur if the same gender tries to enter a territory. Males and females are able to cross the paths of boundaries without incident. Not all otters use tools, but sea otters use them all the time. According to the scientific resources, the total population size of European otters in Belarus is around 12, 000 individuals and in Sweden - 500-1000 individuals. Mating always occurs in the water so we don’t know very much about it. Thick brown fur covers a long slender body, a thick tail and short legs. There are 13 species of otter found all around the world. They are a protected species under schedule 5/6 of the Wildlife & Country Act 1981. However, numbers in Russia and most of Asia are unknown. Otters are part of the Mustelid family of animals which also includes badgers, pine martens and weasels. The European Otter tends to live in bodies of freshwater. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. This is because their coat hasn’t developed properly yet to keep the water from getting into their skin. Adaptations to an aquatic lifestyle are its webbed feet, its ability to close its small ears and its nose when it is under water, and its very dense, short fur that traps a layer of air for the purpose of insulating the animal. It is a European branch of the weasel or Mustelidae family. Scientific name: Lutra lutra. The sinuous otter is an excellent swimmer and can be seen hunting in wetlands, rivers and along the coast - try the west coast of Scotland, West Wales, the West Country or East Anglia for the best views. River otters have paired scent glands at the base of their tail which give off a heavy, musky smell. They live in lakes, streams, and rivers but tend to find the water that is clean as they don’t do well with pollution. Throughout Europe and Asia from Ireland in the west as far as eastern Russia and China. What do otters look like? Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub, 2. European otters sleep for half their lives, which equates to ten years of sleeping for many otters, with phases of inactivity often at the time of the zoo's opening hours. They have a long body and short, stocky legs. The offspring are born about 61 days after mating takes place. Family: Mustelidae. They are said to be the most territorial of all the species of Otters in the world. We are a Devon-based charity dedicated to protecting and promoting a positive understanding of the European otter and its conservation.We want everyone to be able to engage with and appreciate these beautiful animals, and we work hard to raise awareness, educate, and share information in as many ways as possible! There is no change to the protection of European protected species as a result of EU Exit. By the 1970s, otters were restricted mainly to Scotland, especially the islands and the north-west coast, western Wales, parts of East Anglia and the West Country (though they remained common and widespread also in Ireland).

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