River otter (photo): a wonderful swimmer of the family martyrs

Classification

View: Otter – Lutra lutra

Family: Kunyi

Order: Predatory

Class: Mammals

Type: Chordates

Subtype: Vertebrates

Sizes: body length – 55 – 95 cm, tail – 26 – 55 cm; weight – 6 – 10 kg

Life span: up to 10 years

A smart and natural swimmer, a river otter has long attracted human attention.

We appreciate the animal not only for its practical and durable fur, but also for its friendly nature.

She gets along fine in captivity, bringing joy to her owners of high learning ability and quite peaceful temper.

River otter prefers rivers with a fast flow and rocky upside down. It is desirable that the river was not wide, within 10 – 15 m

Content

1 Habitat
2 Characteristic
3 Appearance
4 Key Features
5 Nutrition
6 Reproduction
7 Content and breeding

Habitat

The animal populated all of Western Europe, like the desman mastered the vast territories of Asia, reaching the southern borders of Hindustan and China.

In their usual habitats, Sweden, Spain, Great Britain and Switzerland, river otter, whose photo decorate various atlases of animals of these regions, was ruthlessly exterminated.

Today, attempts are being made to resettle the animal in its lakes and water bodies of these countries, but so far it is on the list of endangered species.

In terms of landscape, the animal prefers rivers with a fast flow. and rocky bottom. It is desirable that the river was not wide, in within 10 – 15 m.

The total number of species is approximately 90 thousand individuals, which, certainly a drop for the vast territory of the Earth.

Interesting! In the XVIII century, when the hunt was ubiquitous occupation, the number of otters was 5 times more than today.

As a representative of the Kunih family, the river otter is very cunning and a masterly hunter. The main object for hunting is fish, which the animal catches up with rapid speed.

Characteristic

The semi-aquatic lifestyle left a solid imprint on behavior and animal habits.

As a representative of the marten family, which include ferrets, she is very cunning and virtuoso hunter.
The main object of hunting is the fish that the animal catches up with with rapid speed.
On land he moves a little hunched over, however, this is not affects running speed.
An otter will easily run away from a man on the earth.
For permanent residence chooses deaf, inaccessible places for a person. To the detriment of the feed base, she prefers safety. for yourself and your offspring.

The otter has a cheerful disposition, she likes to play, which she especially likes those who keep the animal at home

Likes to hunt in the morning and evening twilight. Does not favor strong wind and snowfall, for a long time lying in the shelter.
The animal, like a mongoose, is very secretive and careful, constantly inspected, and never goes ashore in open areas. Near her home she covers the exit from water lapnikom or chooses places overgrown with shrubs.
The otter has a cheerful disposition, she likes to play, which she especially likes those who keep the animal at home.

Interesting! You can often see adults otters and their cubs, amusingly rolling down the slopes into the water. it one of the animal’s favorite pastimes.

The main feature of the river otter is its semi-aquatic image of life. Wherever she dwells, there must be a reservoir. However, scientists note that the animal can go through dozens kilometers by land, looking for a more satisfying place to live

Key Features

The main feature of the river otter is its semi-aquatic image of life.

As with beavers or muskrat, wherever she lives, there must be must be a pond.

However, scientists note that the animal can go through dozens kilometers by land, in search of a more satisfying place for housing.

An otter is not tied to one place, unless it provides her with enough food for several years old.

In winter, the animal does not hibernate, therefore, it accumulates near non-freezing completely water spaces.

Wormwoods allow the otter to swim, breathe, and climb out after a successful hunt.

Interesting! At home keeping an otter quickly becomes attached to a person, loves to play with him, easy can be trained and quickly becomes universal darling.

Most of the diet of the animal falls on various species of fish. Common carp, trout, pike alternate with small roach and crucian carp. On the land the animal hunts for rodents, marsh birds, frogs. Can feast on a large bug or clam

Food

Most of the diet of the animal falls on various species fish.

Common carp, trout, pike alternate with small roach and crucian carp. On the land animal hunts rodents like lemmings, wading birds, frogs.

Can feast on a large beetle or clam.

In order to get food, an otter can visit a fish pit, where a large number of different species of fish gather.

Slow flocks she easily catches up and bursting into their thick grabs the largest specimens.

The animal is waiting for lonely predators among the fish in ambush, attacking lightning fast and not leaving the victim and a moment for salvation.

She also preys on small rodents.

The otter river reaches puberty by 2 – 3 years. Pregnancy lasts about 8 months, which also affects the small number of animals. The female gives birth a little, only 2 – 4 cubs, which still need to be protected from enemies and the vagaries of the weather

Breeding

River otters belong to animals leading a solitary image of life.

They have not established clear dates for mating, all occurs depending on the climatic conditions of the area where they live.

In the temperate zone, the mating season falls on March-April, and under the sky of foggy Albion and in countries with a warm climate, animals can breed all year round.

The otter river reaches puberty by 2 – 3 years.

Pregnancy lasts about 8 months, which also affects the small number of animals.

The female gives birth to few, only 2 – 4 cubs, which still need protect from enemies and the vagaries of the weather.

The otter mom is very brave, and may even be the first to rush who, as it seems to her, encroaches on the life of her offspring.

Small otter grow quickly, but often stay with their mother until year old.

The otter mom is very brave, and may even be the first to rush who, as it seems to her, encroaches on the life of her offspring. Small otter grow quickly, but often remain with their mother until the one-year-old age

Content and breeding

For home contents, the otter is not recommended.

However, if you have the opportunity to provide the animal deep pond with clear water and the possibility of hiking in shore, then you can try to make such a home pet.

Note that the animal is emptied very often and loose stool with bad smell. This is a consequence of the fish diet.

And this is another minus to the attempt at home content of the otter.

Industrial breeding of otters is carried out in large nurseries, in which are created as close as possible to natural conditions animal life.

However, they do not cover all the needs of fashionistas and manufacturers of fur products, because the animal is reproduced very slow.

River otter is not recommended for home keeping. However, if you have the opportunity to provide the animal with a deep pond with clear water and the possibility of hiking along the coast, then you can try to get such a pet

The animal is bred for fur, expensive and rare. Among specialists otter fur is considered an absolute standard socks.

Dark fur products look especially chic. The outer hair is coarse, but the downs are very tender and fluffy.

Sometimes designers resort to plucking the outer hair, and create amazing things covered with the most delicate underfur.