Smooth-coated ot­ters are rel­a­tively large for ot­ters, from 7 to 11 kg (15 to 24 lb) in weight and 59 to 64 cm (23 to 25 in) in head-body length, with a tail 37 to 43 cm (15 to 17 in) long. 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. The species is found in most of the Indian Subcontinent and eastwards to Southeast Asia, with a disjunct population in Iraq. The mothers give birth to and raise their young in a burrow near water. They have adapted to life in an aqueous habitat, but are nonetheless comfortable on land, and may travel long distances overland in search of suitable habitats. The mothers stay in the water to nurse their offspring. The IUCN Red List 2000 represents it as a lowland species, but Harris (1968) records that historically it was found in Yunnan Province, China, at 6000', and it is present today in Nepal. It is a mammal, often spotted in our mangroves, mudflats and coastal areas, where it forages for clams, fish, and other small creatures. They may either construct such a burrow themselves, or they may take over an abandoned one. The Sea Otter is the only species of otter to give birth in water. In Southeast Asian countries, intentional otter trapping does not seem to occur, though it is prevalent in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. This fishing technique is currently used by about 300 fishermen, with an additional 2,000 people indirectly dependent on the technique for their livelihood. They formed an undulating, slightly V-shaped line, pointing in the direction of movement and nearly as wide as the creek. But most range countries are not able to control the clandestine trade leading to extensive poaching. In fact, the Smooth-Coated Otter seems to be quite an adaptable species. Otters have two layers of fur, the top fur keeps the bottom one dry to help retain body temperature. Its tail is flattened, in contrast to the more rounded tails of other otters. Smooth-coated otters are found in areas where fresh water is plentiful — wetlands and seasonal swamps, rivers, lakes, and rice paddies. Most range countries are not able to control the clandestine tradeleading to extensive poaching. 4. Wildscreen's Arkive project was launched in 2003 and grew to become the world's biggest encyclopaedia of life on Earth. Closeup of a small-clawed otter's mouth. Smooth-coated otters are omnivorous and will eat insects, earthworms, crustaceans, frogs, water rats, turtles, large birds, and fish. Compared to Eurasian Otters, the Smooth Otter has a high domed skull, with the eyes set more forward and wider spaced. Smooth-coated otters form small family groups of a mated pair with up to four offspring from previous seasons. It grows from 4.9 to 5.9 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) long. Smooth-coated otter is characterized by a very smooth, sleek pelage. They may be dis­tin­guished from other species of ot­ters by a more rounded head and a hair­less nose in the shape of a dis­torted di­a­mond. There are 13 species of otters, in seven genera, according to Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Fishermen in India and Bangladesh use this group hunting behavior to train them to herd fish into nets. The smooth-coated otter was featured on the BBC documentary, Planet Earth, in the episode entitled "Fresh Water" (aired in the UK on March 19, 2006, and in the US on April 15, 2007). Though it is the largest, it isn’t the heaviest. The largest otter is the giant otter. Since 1977, Lutrogale perspicillata is listed on CITES Appendix II. Smooth-coated otters don’t see very well in the dark, and most peninsular Indian rivers have murky waters. Smooth-coated otters are used for commercial fishing in southern Bangladesh. Although they are often found in saltwater near the coast, especially on smaller islands, they require a nearby source of fresh water. Each otter possesses a pair of scent glands at the base of the tail which are used to mark land or objects, such as rocks or vegetation, near feeding areas in a behavior called sprainting. Smooth-coated otters are the largest of Asia’s otters and have a very smooth, sleek pelage. A monthly newsletter by NParks on conservation issues, lifestyle, pets and gardening tips. Smooth-coated otters occur throughout much of the Indian Subcontinent and contiguous regions of Southeast Asia, in the Indomalaya ecozone. They spend the night in dens dug in dense vegetation, under tree roots, or among boulders. your own Pins on Pinterest Sea Otters allow themselves to get entangled in kelp forests this creates a tether so they don’t drift away on sleep currents as they sleep. Smooth-coated otters hunt in groups, and they herd the fi… The charismatic otter, a member of the weasel family, is found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. At birth, the pups are blind and helpless, but after 10 days, their eyes open, and they are weaned at about three to five months. They come in many sizes. Characteristics. The Smooth‐coated otters were absent from Singapore in the 1960s through to the 1990s because of the heavy urbanization during that period, such as rivers being canalized, coastal areas reclaimed and coastal development intensified (Theng & Sivasothi, 2016). It is a protected species in almost all the range countries, which prohibits its killing. It is usually … These sightings are of much delight to conservationists, as the presence … This distinction goes to the sea otter. Copulation occurs in water and lasts less than one minute. The tail is flat­tened, in con­trast to the more rounded tails of other species. At Wingham Wildlife Park we have one male smooth coated otter named Bob and a female named pong. Back in the older days, they are widely trained and employed by fishermen, with trained otters being highly valued. Smooth-coated Otters can be trained by fishermen to herd fish into nets. Major threats to Asian otter population are loss of wetland habitats due to construction of large-scale hydroelectric projects, reclamation of wetlands for settlements and agriculture, reduction in prey biomass, poaching, and contamination of waterways by pesticides. The legs are short and strong, with large webbed feet bear­ing strong claws. Fishermen in these areas train smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) to chase fish into their nets. An isolated population of the species is also found in the marshes of Iraq. In the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, an otter group was observed hunting. The Sea Otter is a water baby. Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae.The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates.Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which also includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines, among other animals. Cute as it may be, the otter can smell quite pungent, particularly near where it leaves its spraints (otter defecation) to mark its territory. Due to the draining of the Mesopotamian Marshes during the presidency of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi population of otters was feared to have perished. When fishing they travel in a V-formation going upstream. The Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) is usually spotted in pairs or in small families in our mangroves, mudflats, and other coastal areas. Their fur is velvety and thick and has two layers: their guard fur keeps their underfur dry under water to keep their body heat. Here's more on how to distinguish an otter on Meryl Theng's Otters in Singapore blog. Let us know via this form. Smooth-coated otter. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. The smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) is an otter species occurring in most of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with a disjunct population in Iraq. As their name suggests, they have unusually short and sleek fur; this is dark to reddish brown along the back, while the underside is light brown to almost grey in color. Smooth-coated otters are generally social and live in pairs or family groups of parents and their young. They are mainly diurnal, and have a short lull in activity during midday. They sometimes hunt in groups of up to 11 individuals. 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