Smooth-coated Otter Did you see this animal?
Scientific Name : Lutrogale perspicillata
Family : Mustelidae
Order : Carnivora
Class : Mammalia
Phylum : Chordata
Other Name : Indian Smooth-coated Otter.
Habitat : Forest, Shrubland, Grassland, Wetlands (inland), Marine Neritic, Marine Intertidal, Marine Coastal/Supratidal
Description : As the name suggests, Smooth-coated Otters have short, sleek, and glossy fur that is usually dark brown or black. They have a long, streamlined body that can grow up to 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) in length and weigh up to 11 kg (24 pounds). They also have webbed feet and a powerful tail, which they use for swimming.
Smooth-coated Otters are primarily aquatic and can be found in a variety of freshwater habitats, including rivers, lakes, and wetlands. They are especially common in areas with dense vegetation along the banks of rivers and lakes.
These otters are carnivores and feed mainly on fish, but they will also eat crustaceans, mollusks, and small mammals. They are skilled hunters and can catch fish weighing up to 2 kg (4.4 pounds).
Smooth-coated Otters are social animals and usually live in groups of up to 10 individuals. They are active during the day and are excellent swimmers, capable of holding their breath for up to eight minutes. They are also known for their playful behavior, often sliding down riverbanks and playing with objects they find in the water.
The Smooth-coated Otter is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss, pollution, and hunting. Populations have declined in many areas, and conservation efforts are underway to protect these otters and their habitats.
Smooth-coated Otters are primarily aquatic and can be found in a variety of freshwater habitats, including rivers, lakes, and wetlands. They are especially common in areas with dense vegetation along the banks of rivers and lakes.
These otters are carnivores and feed mainly on fish, but they will also eat crustaceans, mollusks, and small mammals. They are skilled hunters and can catch fish weighing up to 2 kg (4.4 pounds).
Smooth-coated Otters are social animals and usually live in groups of up to 10 individuals. They are active during the day and are excellent swimmers, capable of holding their breath for up to eight minutes. They are also known for their playful behavior, often sliding down riverbanks and playing with objects they find in the water.
The Smooth-coated Otter is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss, pollution, and hunting. Populations have declined in many areas, and conservation efforts are underway to protect these otters and their habitats.
Distribution in Bangladesh
Other Species from Group
References:
description written by:Asad U. Tanvir,Department of Zoology,Jagannath University,Dhaka; reviewed by:Muntasir Akash,Department of Zoology,University of Dhaka;Taxonomic Checklist:Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals, 2015, IUCN; information sources:wikipedia,iucnredlist.org; photo credit:budak(www.inaturalist.org/people/budak), photo copyright: iNaturalist.more information please contact with us.
description written by:Asad U. Tanvir,Department of Zoology,Jagannath University,Dhaka; reviewed by:Muntasir Akash,Department of Zoology,University of Dhaka;Taxonomic Checklist:Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals, 2015, IUCN; information sources:wikipedia,iucnredlist.org; photo credit:budak(www.inaturalist.org/people/budak), photo copyright: iNaturalist.more information please contact with us.