Fish makes up the majority of their diet. They live in freshwater rivers and streams which are usually affected by seasonal flooding. Giant Anteater (Vulnerable. I'm meant to be doing a piece of Coursework on any Biological Issue (a problem) so i decided to do Conservation. The Giant River Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), often referred to as the river wolf, is a species in the Mustelid (weasel) family that is endemic to South America.It is both the world’s largest otter and largest member of the mustelid family, reaching up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in length. In addition, otters were caught, because they considered them competitors in fishing and shellfish production. Males are between 1.5 and 1.7 m (4.9 and 5.6 ft) in length from head to tail and females between 1 and 1.5 m (3.3 and 4.9 ft). The Giant River Otter only lives in three river systems: the Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata. A giant otter eats two to four kilograms of food per day. Giant otters are often hunted for their fur, which is valuable in places such as Russia because it is very warm, even when wet. Giant Otter Project. Giant Otters' primary diet is fish. There are multiple factors, including habitat degradation.) To make matters worse, it has gone extinct in some areas, so populations are no longer connected.) Each individual in the groups has a role, and there is one main breeding pair. Decreased by at least 30% in the last 10 years. They are at great risk of extinction due to many reasons such as fur trade, shark attacks, habitat degradation, oil spills ,fishing nets, disease and being viewed as competition. Hello all; this is my first question, so be nice! November 27, 2017 admintag People chased sea otters because of fur and skin. Unfortunately it is already extinct in Uruguay and Argentina. The giant otter is the longest of the otter species but shares a similar weight with the sea otter.Male giant otters can attain a length of 1.5-1.7m (4.9-5.6ft). I'd imagine the Galapagos Rice Rat is endangered because they only live in the Galapagos. Giant otters are very social animals and groups of up to 20 individuals have been found in forms of "family groups." The Giant Otter lives in South America as well. RE: Why are River Otters endangered? Females are smaller at 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft). Preferring slow-moving tropical rivers, the giant river otter is affected by habitat loss, illegal hunting and gold mining that has caused mercury poisoning. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/.../mammals/group/otters An average giant otter will weigh between 22 and 32kg (49-71lbs). The giant otter is clearly distinguished from other otters by morphological and behavioral characteristics. However, there are several emerging threats to this sensitive species. Diet consists mainly of fish, crabs and even caimans and snakes. It has the greatest body length of any species in the mustelid family, although the sea otter may be heavier. Fish are supplemented by crustaceans, snakes, and other river creatures. Conservation Status: IUCN Red List - Endangered Threats to Survival: Contamination; overfishing and conflict with fishermen; infrastructure such as roads and hydroelectric dams. They hunt either alone or in groups. Giant otters can consume up to 10 lb of food a day. Giant otters are very social animals and groups of up to 20 individuals have been found in forms of "family groups." According to the U.S. Diet consists mainly of fish, crabs and even caimans and snakes. The giant otter, an endangered apex predator in Amazon river ecosystems, was nearly driven to extinction because of demand for its fur. Sea otters are a highly endangered marine mammal. Sea otters have low genetic diversity, which could endanger their health as a species, a UCLA-led team of life scientists has discovered. Native to South America, giant river otters are mostly found in the Amazon basin. Why are sea otters endangered The sea otter is a marine mammal which lives on the coasts of the northern Pacific Ocean. Appearance. They have sharp teeth and strong jaws to help them catch fast moving fish and eat them whole, chewing up bones, scales, spines and all. Current estimates place the population between 1,000 and 5,000, placing it among the endangered otter species. Their primary form of insulation is their thick coat of fur, which is the densest fur known in the animal kingdom. Sea otters had have been listed as endangered for a long time. Following the banning of fur trade, giant otter populations have recovered across South America. Description. They also have a reduced population size, which puts them in danger of becoming extinct. Studying Giant Otter Demography. As its name suggests the giant otter is the largest of the otter species and can be found in … The giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is the largest member of the mustelid family, which includes otters, weasels, and ferrets, and are by far the loudest member of the group.Giant river otters are very sociable and live in families of between 3-10 individuals that hunt together. The southern sea otter was believed to be extinct, and otters in Alaskan waters were similarly imperiled. Sea otters are listed as an endangered species because they are vulnerable to oil spills from ships and coastal tanker traffic. With resplendent, thick fur, otters were voraciously hunted until not a single one could be seen along the California coast. Giant otters are large aquatic carnivores that inhabit rivers and seasonal lakes in South America. The two males and one female join their juvenile siblings born in September 2014. Giant river otters are listed as endangered under the red list of threatened species, published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. SAVING THE SEA OTTER. Each individual in the groups has a role, and there is one main breeding pair. If the otter is caught at a young age, it is easy to tame and teach to fish and bring it to the owner. CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM: There is just one Hairy Nosed Otter in captivity– a rescued male at the Wildlife … Their long tail may add as much as 70cm (28in) to this body length. This Site Might Help You. Why are sea otters endangered ? To prevent the fish bones from irritating their mouth and digestive tract, they have a very thick saliva to … Giant otters can consume up to 10 lb of food a day. Giant otters are also known as river wolves. Ka’apor Capuchin Monkey (Critically endangered Being diurnal and living in social groups Giant Otters are vulnerable to man's destruction. 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