Neotropical River Otter

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Neotropical River Otter
Conservation status
Data deficient
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Mustelidae Genus: Lontra Species: L. longicaudis
Binomial name
Lontra longicaudis (Olfers, 1818)

The Neotropical River Otter (or just Neotropical Otter), Lontra longicaudis, is an otter species found in Central and South America.

It is found in many different riverine habitats, including deciduous and evergreen forests, savannas, llanos and pantanal. It is possible that this species prefers to live in clear, fast-flowing rivers and streams, and is probably rare in sluggish, silt-laden lowland rivers.

Neotropical Otters are diurnal and nocturnal solitary animals. They feed, basically, on fish and crustaceans.

It is an endangered species, according to CITES Appendix I.

[edit] Subspecies

• Lontra longicaudis annectens
• Lontra longicaudis colombiana
• Lontra longicaudis enudris
• Lontra longicaudis incarum
• Lontra longicaudis longicaudis
• Lontra longicaudis platensis

[edit] References

• Waldemarin (2004). Lontra longicaudis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as data deficient

• Neotropical Rain forest Mammals, A Field Guide - Louise H. Emmons and Francois Feer, 1997