| Lutra | |
|---|---|
| Lutra lutra | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Subfamily: | Lutrinae |
| Genus: | Lutra |
| Species | |
| Lutra ranges | |
Contents |
Lutra are semi-aquatic mammals and therefore need to be well-adapted to both water and land. They prefer shallow, narrow areas of streams surrounded by mature trees and with rocks, especially where weirs reduced the flow of the water as well as attracted fishes. They seem to tolerate roads, residential and agricultural areas, but only moderate human interaction. They clearly avoid areas without vegetation cover and rocks. [1]
The otter's diet consists mainly of fish (Hence, the aquatic environment). However, during the winter and in colder environments fish consumption is significantly lower and the otters use other resources for their food supply. Their diet can consist of amphibians (mainly frogs and pond turtle), bird predation (mainly anserine species), small rodents, and invertebrates like water beetles, snails and crayfish. They have also fed on plants, specifically grasses. Its with this large diversity of prey and resources for their diet, that otters are considered "opportunistic eaters".[2]
Otters most commonly live in solitude (by themselves, and away from other otters).