The southern river otter (Lontra provocax ) is a species of otter that lives in Chile and Argentina. Although called a "river otter", it inhabits both marine and freshwater environments. It sometimes is considered a subspecies of Lontra canadensis. The southern river otter is listed as endangered, due to illegal hunting, water pollution, and habitat loss.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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PiscivoresA piscivore is a carnivorous animal that eats primarily fish. Piscivorous is equivalent to the Greek-derived word ichthyophagous. Fish were the die...
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SemiaquaticSemiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe Southern river otter is a medium-sized otter that lives in South America. Its fur is dark brown in color on the top and has a lighter cinnamon color on its underside. Although called a "river otter", it inhabits both marine and freshwater environments.
Southern river otters are found in Chile and Argentina. They inhabit marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats, but are mostly found in freshwater lakes and rivers having a significant amount of dense vegetation, especially along the shorelines, which must be present to use as cover. Their habitats also need the root systems of mature trees, as well as fallen tree debris.
Southern river otters are active during the night. Females and their young live in family groups, while males usually lead a solitary life.
Southern river otters are carnivores (piscivores). They feed mainly on fish and crustaceans, but will also supplement their diet with mollusks, and birds.
Southern river otters breed in the winter and spring. After the gestation period of 2 months, females give birth to a litter of 1 to 2 pups, but up to 4 can also be born at a time. Pups are born altricial being blind and helpless. They remain with the family group for the first year before they become independent and reach reproductive maturity when they are between 2 and 3 years old.
Southern river otters are threatened by illegal hunting, water pollution, and habitat loss. They were vigorously hunted for their pelts throughout the last 100 years. This is the major cause of their current low population numbers and endangered conservation status. The riparian forests and rivers in which these otters are mostly found have been disturbed by human presence. Dam and road construction, as well as stream canalization and drainage for agriculture, destroy many acres of what could be habitat for this species. The continual decrease in prey numbers also causes problems for Southern river otters. Some invasive aquatic species that have been introduced into that area are limiting the mollusks and fish available for otter prey. This causes the otters to move to other freshwater systems to hunt for food.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Southern river otter total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...