Eurasian Otter

About Eurasian Otter:

• It is a semi-aquatic carnivorous mammal.
• Scientific Name: Lutra lutra
• Distribution:
  • It has one of the widest distributions of all Palaearctic mammals.
  • Its range covers parts of three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa.
  • In India, it occurs in northern, northeast, and southern India.
• Habitat:
  • It lives in a wide variety of aquatic habitats, including highland and lowland lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, swamp forests, and coastal areas.
  • In the Indian sub-continent, Eurasian otters occur in cold hill and mountain streams.
• Features:
  • It has a long lithe body with a thick tail and short legs.
  • It has sensitive whiskers around the snout to help detect prey.
  • It has two layers of fur: a thick waterproof outer one and a warm inner one with 50,000 hairs/cm 2
  • It has an acute sense of sight, smell, and hearing.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Near threatened
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II
  • CITES:  Appendix I