They rest on sandy riverbanks and establish their dens under tree roots or among boulders. All smooth-coated otter artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. They can generally be found in areas where there is not a lot of human habitation. A camera trap captures a family of smooth-coated otters. The resulting offspring and their descendants bred back into the smooth-coated otter population, but maintained the genes of their small-clawed otter ancestors. Lutra perspicillata was the scientific name proposed by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1826 for a brown otter collected in Sumatra. River otter species hunt and travel in the water, but frequently rest and play on land. 7. Otter of the Franklin books and Animated Adaptation is shown as being this. [8], In southern Bangladesh, smooth-coated otters are used for commercial fishing. The reclaimed khazan lands in particular, which are under perennial threat of being overrun by the mangroves that originally owned them, are the subject of a constant tug of war. Smooth-coated otters rolling in the dirt. They also com­mu­ni­cate throu… “It is an exciting time for drones in general and specifically for conservation work,” he added, “because there’s so much potential to help save wildlife and the environment.”. Thus, the adaptability of Smooth‐coated otters … Its tail is flattened, in contrast to the more rounded tails of other otters. It is distinguished from other otter species by its more rounded head and a hairless nose in the shape of a distorted diamond. “There are statistical operations you can use which will allow you to identify which pixels in a particular image are vegetation, which are open water, and so on,” Srinivasan said. It is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and in south-east Asia. A good year for the Philippine eagle in 2020, but not for its supporters, Colombian and Ecuadorian Indigenous communities live in fear as drug traffickers invade, Lack of protection leaves Spain-size swath of Brazilian Amazon up for grabs, How can Southeast Asia benefit from the new U.S. policy on illegal fishing? We show that smooth-coated otters in Singapore are L. perspicillata x A. cinereus hybrids with A. cinereus mtDNA, the first reported case of hybridization in the wild among otters. The smooth-coated otter is a member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, in the Mammalian Order of Carnivora. “We choose the middle ground in terms of price, because functionality is decent and you don’t feel too much of a pinch if they are stolen,” Fernandez said. 9. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996 and is threatened by habitat loss, pollution of wetlands and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade. They may be distinguished from other species of otter by a more rounded head and a hairless nose in the shape of a distorted diamond. “We’re always wary of putting cameras in new places and very public spaces,” Fernandez said. Along the Chambal Riverin India, smooth-coated otters are most vulner… [10][16], In Kuala Selangor Nature Park, an otter group was observed hunting. In the 19th and 20th centuries, several zoological specimens were described, including: gaps under buildings) as alternatives for their holts, and learnt to use man-made structures such as staircases and ladders to get in and out of concrete canals with vertical or near‐vertical banks. Ringed seals are Few people picture a trek to the Arctic circle, but this is the ideal environment for a ringed seal. “There’s not much written about smooth-coated otters in mangroves…especially in a human-dominated landscape,” said Katrina Fernandez, a member of the IUCN Otter Specialist Group and director of Wild Otters Research (WOR), a research and conservation organization. Across the years I have made several notes on its behavior, adaptation, family dynamics, interaction with humans, interaction with stray dogs, interaction with other wild animals, habitat selection and habitat use. And the testing validated that we can actually put a project together around this.”. Lutrogale was proposed as generic name by John Edward Gray in 1865 for otters with a convex forehead and nose, using perspicillata as type species. Also, it’s quite hard to tell what the actual habitat is from the satellite image alone,” said Sophie Darnton, a research intern with WOR. The fur is mostly dark with yellow or white markings on the chin and neck, while their feet have claws and webbing. 2008). “At some point, I want to look into just manufacturing our own,” she added. The smooth-coated otter is threatened by poaching, loss and destruction of wetlands, as these are converted for settlements, agriculture and hydroelectric projects; water courses are being polluted by pesticides such as chlorinated hydrocarbons and organophosphates. Natural History/Description. We examined patterns of habitat occupancy and intensity of habitat use by Asian small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinerea) by sampling 59 hill stream segments in the Western Ghats between February and April 2008, using spraints (otter feces) as an indicator.We used an occupancy-based approach to determine the influence of habitat covariates on detection and occupancy. Hartley R., 2011 had mentioned that as a social animal, the smooth-coated otter lives in family groups consisting of a male, dominant female and cubs. Two species, the Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea) and the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), were involved. “You get a much more holistic view of an area when you have both groundwork and drone-imagery and satellite imagery on top of that,” said Shashank Srinivasan, director of Technology for Wildlife. Our EIN or tax ID is 45-3714703. “When you create a 3D model, can you ascertain the height of a dyke, can you use a bunch of analysis techniques to distinguish between vegetation and open water and even different kinds of vegetation? Another lineage contained ... Lutrogale p. sindica holds the palest fur, likely an adaptation to the arid nature of its habitat, with the general hue of the upper side being tawny or sandy brown instead of darker brown with a rusty ( Read how hundreds of wild parrots have flocked to this Brazilian city .) This is the Asian small-clawed otter ... but this adaptation is a useful one for the otters in general. The need to frequently change batteries and the lack of high-quality microphones on these cameras are also pain points for the researchers. The techniques involved—photogrammetry, making measurements from a set of overlapping images for 3D models and orthomosaics, creating overlapped, geometrically corrected aerial images for 2D maps—essentially boil down to extracting meaning from the individual pixels in the images. For example, the otters routinely make dens on the banks separating the khazans from the estuary and scale the retaining walls of these banks to defecate and to groom themselves. Otter, any of 13–14 species of semiaquatic mammals that belong to the weasel family and are noted for their playfulness. Since the last issue, we have welcomed 10 new members to the OSG, and welcomed back a former member: you can read more about them on the Members-Only pages.. Zahid Amin, Bangladesh: I have been working with smooth-coated and … Despite the promise of their pilot study, the researchers have had to delay its roll-out on Chorao due to funding and regulatory issues. FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the editor of this post. They are mainly diurnal, and have a short lull in activity during midday. [2], Smooth-coated otters were observed to forage on river banks among tree trunks. 2. Mildly, in the sense that they form small family groups. The elusive European otter (Lutra lutra) has sleek brown fur, which is often paler on the underside, and a long lithe body with a thick tail and short legs.Adaptations for an aquatic lifestyle include webbed feet, the ability to close the small ears and the nose when under water, and very dense, short fur which traps a layer of air to insulate the animal. Among mustelids, otters have evolved two feeding specializations: underwater raptorial capture of prey (mouth-oriented) and capture of prey by hand (hand-oriented), both of which have likely associations with morphology and bite … “It’s easy to fly a drone but much harder to create meaning from the data,” he told Mongabay. perspicillata, smooth-coated otter) and Africa (Aonyx capensis, African clawless otter). If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page. To improve their understanding of these effects, the Wild Otters researchers are incorporating new technologies to help them map the Chorao landscape and document its changing land-use patterns. “If we decided to use a satellite image, it might be a bit out of date. It is possible to introduce to each other at all age; it is infinitely more successful when the otters are young (IUCN/SSC, 2008). The otter is lithe and slender with short legs, a strong neck, and a long flat tail that helps propel it gracefully through water. [9], The smooth-coated otter has been recorded in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, southwest China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesian islands of Borneo, Sumatra and Java, and Brunei. Since it is only known from about 30 specimens in zoological collections, it had been listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List since 1996, as it is considered one of Africa's rarest carnivores. Where it is the only occurring otter species, it lives in almost any suitable habitat. Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) (Photo credit: The smooth-coated otter and the Asian small-clawed otter genetically diverged about 1.33 ± 0.78 million years ago. During the rice planting season, they also hunt rats in rice fields. They are a mildly social animal. Srinivasan said the results of the pilot study suggested that drone mapping can replace many components of traditional fieldwork. Theft and displacement by curious locals also threaten the cameras. The charismatic otter, a member of the weasel family, is found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Trapping of otters is prevalent in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. In that way, drone imagery is very complementary to ground-based work, and it really fills a gap in the entire process.”. Smooth coated otter is called "Oodh Balao" in Urdu language and the sub-species found in Pakistan is known as Sindh otter. [10], The population in the Mesopotamian Marshes was feared to have perished, but otter tracks were found in 2009, suggesting the population may have survived. They are well known for the luxurious hair that they have. It is very silky in appearance as well as to the touch. In this formation, they undulated wildly through the creek, causing panic‑stricken fish to jump out of the water a few metres ahead. [19], So long as the food supply is sufficient, they breed throughout the year, but where otters are dependent on monsoons for precipitation, breeding occurs between October and February. As the name suggests, these Otters don’t have claws. 22, Issue. The smooth-coated otter has a short and sleek fur that is dark to reddish brown along the back, but light brown to almost grey on the underside. They occur mostly in freshwater, but also inhabit mangroves, all three can occur sympatrically. Fernandez and her team have observed unique behavioral adaptations by otters living in this human-dominated khazan ecosystem. The International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) is one of the world's leading otter charities. Smooth-coated otters are adapted to water but are equally comfortable being on land and are able to travel long … In Cambodia they’re known as the “black otter,” to distinguish them from the “grey otter” or Smooth Coated Otter. Otter of the Franklin books and Animated Adaptation is shown as being this. Factors affecting the occurrence of smooth-coated otter in aquatic systems of the Upper Gangetic Plains, India. It is possible to introduce to each other at all age; it is infinitely more successful when the otters are young (IUCN/SSC, 2008). This species only lives in fresh water habitats such as peat swamps, forest rivers, rice paddies and lakes. And yet an estuarine island on India’s western coast is home to a thriving population of the threatened smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata). Asian Short-clawed or Oriental Small-clawed Otter. The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. Local residents cut, burn, and/or remove what they see as invasive vegetation using earthmovers to maintain the economic viability of these lands. [23] Variation in terrestrial mammalian skull morphology is known to constrain feeding performance, which in turn influences dietary habits and ultimately fitness. Smooth-coated otters have both physical and behavioral adaptationsor features that help them survive in their environment. [21] Smooth-coated otters don’t see very well in the dark, and most peninsular Indian rivers have murky waters. Copulation occurs in water and lasts less than one minute. Infanticide could be an adaptation that (1) increases resource acquisition (cannibalism), (2) excludes competitors for the agent or its kin, (3) increases the inclusive fitness of one or both parents, or (4) increases the reproductive success of adult males unrelated to the infant. [17], Smooth-coated otters form small family groups of a mated pair with up to four offspring from previous seasons. Knowing which actions of the human community are affecting the animal and which are not is paramount to any realistic conservation efforts.”. The natives call this otter fisi maji, which means “water hyena” in Swahili. They are mainly di­ur­nal, and have a short lull in ac­tiv­ity dur­ing midday. They reach adult size at about a year of age, and sexual maturity at two or three years. 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Abstract. Most people might imagine a beach resort or a hike through a tropical forest. The largest recorded wild-born litter of seven pups was observed in Singapore in November 2017. Probably, as in most species, it is an adaptation to its habitat. Observations in Peninsular Malaysia indicate that they are active foremost during the day, with a short rest during midday. Two species are marine; the others live mostly in fresh water. They use scent to communicate both within the otter species, and with other animals. Kilian Hughes, India: I work at Wild Otters in Goa, studying the adaptation, habitat selection, behavior and distribution of the Smooth-coated otter across Chorao island, which is a human dominated/modified landscape. HUSBANDRY. Size. “The fact that the smooth-coated otter is so adaptable to change and to human-dominated landscapes, enabling it to coexist within this ecosystem, is fascinating,” she added. [4] Srinivasan conducts drone mapping using relatively inexpensive quadcopter drones that carry standard RGB cameras. This species can reach lengths of 1.3 m and can weigh up to 11 kg. Distribution. History Talk (0) Share. This marine mammal can live on land with the same ease as it can live in the water without surfacing for days. Processing the resulting data, however, can take up to a week and constitutes the core value addition that Srinivasan and his company provide. Lutra perspicillata was the scientific name proposed by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1826 for a brown otter collected in Sumatra. An isolated population is also found in the marshes of Iraq. Where would you like to go? Smooth-coated Otter: The smooth-coated otter was also spotted during the survey. The aquatic genet (Genetta piscivora) is a genet that has only been recorded in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This return of the Smooth-coated otters … Lutrogale perspicillata (Indian Smooth Coated Otter) is a species of mammals in the family Mustelidae.This species is extinct.They were associated with freshwater habitat.They were found in the palearctic and the indo-malayan realm.They were carnivores.Individuals were known to live for 180 months and could grow to 787.64 mm. At birth, the pups are blind and helpless, but after 10 days, their eyes open, and they are weaned at about three to five months. “Technologically, there were a bunch of experiments and research we were doing with that imagery,” Srinivasan said. An isolated population exists in Iraq.These otters are highly adaptable to various habitats. Although it is often found in saltwater near the coast, especially on smaller islands, it requires a nearby source of fresh water. “If you can know the extent to which this species can adapt and survive, then you can direct human activity in the right way. They may either construct such a burrow themselves, or they may take over an abandoned one. They walk several survey routes on the island using GPS devices to manually record the extents of different vegetation types, areas frequented by otters, and other points of interest, including sluice gates, farms, and fishing areas. They mark their playground by urinating and sprainting on rocks or vegetation. Previously, smooth-coated otters were mostly sighted in the mangroves, mudflats and coastal areas such as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Pasir Ris, … The mothers give birth to and raise their young in a burrow near water. Smooth-coated otters are mostly found in lowlands, coastal mangrove forests, peat swamp forests, freshwater wetlands, large forested rivers, lakes, and rice paddies. Snakes, amphibians and insects constitute a small portion of their diet. Smooth Coated Otter. They spend the night in dens dug in dense vegetation, under tree roots, or among boulders. WOR also collaborated with Technology for Wildlife, a geospatial data company helping groups use technology to conserve wildlife and the environment, to carry out a drone mapping pilot study in Chorao in May and June of 2018. [1], It occurs in areas where fresh water is plentiful — wetlands and seasonal swamps, rivers, lakes, and rice paddies. The other interesting fact about otters is that a single romp can have a large home range (what we now term an ‘otter corridor’). In this project we work with local communities to involve them as key stakeholders in otter conservation. Africa paddocks, elephants and giraffes. [3] At least seven smooth-coated otters were offered for sale through websites by traders in Thailand and Malaysia between 2016 and 2017. So they look almost snake-like. Across from the lions, see the meerkats. [20] It is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction. These discoveries have so far combined ground-based surveys, which require researchers to manually walk the periphery of the island looking for signs of otter defecating and grooming sites, with camera-trapping, which involves positioning a still or video camera at these sites to study otter behavioral patterns. Edit. Rounder heads and flatter tails are two characteristics by which one may distinguish this otter species. Though it is the largest, it isn’t the heaviest. The otter is lithe and slender with short legs, a strong neck, and a long flat tail that helps propel it gracefully through water. Their occurrence relates to … Volume 37 Issue 1 (January 2020) OSG Group Members News Previous | Contents | Next. The Smooth-coated otter lives in southern and Southeast Asia, China, and India, and in Iraq there is a small population. They feed mainly on fish including Trichogaster, climbing gourami and catfish. [1] As its name indicates, its fur is smooth and shorter than that of other otter species. Smooth Coated Otter Natural History. They spend the night in dens dug in dense veg­e­ta­tion, under tree roots, or among boul­ders. Significant otter population lie outside the protected area; human-otter co-existence is crucial for their survival. Though Singapore's landscape has rapidly urbanised over the past 50 years, the highly adaptable smooth-coated otter continues to exist and perhaps even thrive here, as sightings of it have increased over the last decade 12. Underneath the giraffe building (entrance by lake), the aardvarks. Topics: Chilika Lake • Fishing Cat • Otter • Wildlife conservation Shop for smooth-coated otter art from the world's greatest living artists. It had been listed on CITES Appendix II since 1977. Depending on the level of detail required, they can cover between one and 20 hectares (2.5 to 49 acres) in less than 45 minutes using an automated flight plan. Modelling the Distribution of Smooth-coated Otter using Indirect Evidences Smooth-coated Otters are small, carnivorous mammals. Passed the flamingos you’ll see our family of smooth coated otters. We study the diet of the Smooth-coated otter in … Hartley R. 2011 had mentioned that as a social animal, the smooth-coated otter lives in family groups consisting of a male, dominant female and cubs. We aren’t only studying their behavior. These factors lead to a reduced prey base. Although adapted for water, smooth-coated otters are equally comfortable on land and can travel … It is detrimentally affected by international trade and habitat loss. But where it is sympatric with other otter species, it avoids smaller streams and canals in favour of larger water bodies. Otter, any of 13–14 species of semiaquatic mammals that belong to the weasel family and are noted for their playfulness. of coastline. 10.Familiar Friends, at the farm, wallabies. They use scent to com­mu­ni­cate both within the otter species, and with other an­i­mals. Our biweekly podcast delivering news & inspiration from nature’s frontline. Choose your favorite smooth-coated otter designs and purchase them as wall art, home decor, phone cases, tote bags, and more! 5, p. 616. for females. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, Vol. Nawab, Asghar and Hussain, Syed Ainul 2012. Their eyes and ears are small, the tail is flattened, limbs are short, strong, and the fore and hind paws are large and well-webbed. Then they moved ashore, tossed the fish up a little on the muddy part of the bank, and swallowed it head‑first in one piece. Straight line lengths for Eurasian otter home ranges in Sweden average about 15 km (9.3 mi.) Although these cameras are currently WOR’s primary source of data, they are also a source of frustration for the researchers, as they have sometimes proven to be unreliable in the mangrove environment. [2] The researchers conduct ground surveys to collect GPS waypoints to update satellite-based maps of the habitats frequented by otters and areas of human activity. ©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group. 8. The smooth-coated otter can reach up to 65 cm in length, and it inhabits riverine and mangrove estuaries. The pups reach adult size after about a year. I have been studying the smooth-coated otter in human modified landscape for over six years. Human-dominated mangroves are far from what is considered an ideal environment for otters. Besides, smooth-coated otter are excellent aquatic adaptation. In 2015, it has been reassessed as Near Threatened. (commentary), Cat fight: Jaguar ambushes ocelot in rare camera trap footage. Smooth-coated Otter. A male's range often overlaps that of one or more females. Currently at a nascent stage, their efforts will combine satellite imagery and drone mapping with ground-based GPS surveys to target their actions to ensure the otters’ continued survival on the island. [2], Smooth-coated otter are not naturally aggressive to humans. Picture going on vacation. Srinivasan said he remained optimistic about the use of these new techniques in the region. Video courtesy of Wild Otters Research. Adaptation Fund (AF) ... • Members voted to move the Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) from CITES Appendix II to CITES Appendix I. Smooth-coated otters are relatively large for otters, from 7 to 11 kg in weight and 59 to 64 cm in head-body length, with a 37 to 43 cm tail. Smooth-coated ot­ters are so­cial and hunt in groups. The largest individuals occupied the middle section. Females have two pairs of teats.[2]. Smooth-coated otter Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I The Smooth-coated otter can reach a body length of 65 to 79 cm. 3.3.2 Smooth-coated otter and hairy-nosed otter ..... 31 3.3.3 Irrawaddy Dolphin ... stakeholders, with the VA being a first step towards adaptation planning. Its range is vast all over south and southeast Asia. These otters are primarily found in lowlands, peat swamp forests, coastal mangrove forests, large forested rivers, freshwater wetlands, lakes, and rice paddies. Among mustelids, otters have evolved two feeding specializations: underwater raptorial capture of prey (mouth-oriented) and capture of prey by hand (hand-oriented), both of which have likely associations with morphology and bite … The neck is as wide as the body and head. The latter is an adaptation for water conservation for species who feed on salty invertebrates. “Development, or human encroachment, is going to increase,” Kshitij Garg, WOR’s Communications Director, told Mongabay. Photogrammetic mapping using drones generates 3D models of the landscape below, allowing researchers to pinpoint even minor changes to habitats in areas that are inaccessible to humans. This was the first case of smooth-coated otters thought to have been destined for the illegal pet trade. African Clawless Otter – Aonyx capensis Description The African Clawless Otter is the second largest of all freshwater species. This is the largest otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Asia, and like all otters it has a long, thick body, short legs, and webbed feet with sharp claws. In the UK IOSF is the only charity solely dedicated to the conservation, protection and care of otters based on years of scientific research in the UK and around the world.

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