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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
giant
river otter, waterdog |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Carnivora |
| FAMILY: |
Mustelidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Pteronura
brasiliensis |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Short
coat appears brown when dry and a dark, shiny mocha
when wet. Lips, chin, throat, and upper chest exhibit
white blotches - which may merge into a single white
"bib". Paws are large and webbed. Tail
is thick at base and tapers to a dorsoventrally
flattened end. |
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| SIZE: |
Head
& body length = 864-1,400 mm
Tail length = 330-1,000 mm |
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| WEIGHT: |
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| MALE |
26-34 kg |
| FEMALE |
22-26 kg |
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| GESTATION: |
65-70
days |
| NURSING
DURATION |
Weaned
at 3-4 months |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
2 years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Approximately
14 years |
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| RANGE: |
Historically,
Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, eastern Ecuador,
Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and northeastern
Argentina were included. |
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| HABITAT: |
Slow-moving
rivers and creeks within forests, swamps, and marshes.
Shows a particular preference for waterways with
gently sloping banks and good cover. |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
No
data |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Vulnerable |
| CITES |
Appendix
I |
| USFWS |
Endangered |
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| 1. |
Giant
river otters are social, typically forming groups
of 4-8 individuals (though congregations of upto
20 indiviuals have been observed). These groups
generally maintain a home range of 12 km2.
This home range is regularly patroled and marked
(via the definitive anal glands typifiying mustelids). |
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| 2. |
Cubs
are reared in a central den area (1.2-1.8 meters
wide) which connects to an adjacent waterway via
a tunnel or series of tunnels. |
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| 3. |
Nine
distinct vocalizations have been characterized,
varying from screams of excitement to coos of recognition. |
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| The
giant river otter has become rare or nonexistent
over most of its range. This decline is largely
due to habitat loss and commercial fur hunting.
Though the fur trade is currently prohibited, hunting
does continue. |
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| Nowak,
Ronald M. Walker's Mammals of the World - Volume
I (Sixth Edition) |
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