Creature Feature #550: Otter

There are thirteen species of Otter, aquatic members of the mustelid Family. They range in size from the Giant Otter, at almost two metres in length, to the diminutive Small-clawed Otter, at 60cm. The other large species, which I have not yet drawn, is the marine Sea Otter.

The Giant Otter (above) is the "wolf of the river", living in social groups consisting of a dominant breeding pair and their offspring - from various years. Older, grown youngsters help raise the new pups. Voracious diurnal fishers, they consume everything from crabs and other invertebrates, catfish and characin, and will even devour small caiman. Growing to almost 2 metres in length, Giant Otters are considered an apex predator of their environment, although youngsters are still vulnerable to predation from jaguars.

The European Otter (below) leads a more solitary lifestyle. He hunts at night, spending the day sleeping in his burrow (known as a "holt"). His territory often encompasses that of a female, but after mating he has nothing to do with raising the pups. Fish form the majority of his diet through the summer and spring months, but during winter he relies more on insects, crustaceans, amphibians and even birds or small aquatic rodents.