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Giant
Otter
(Pteronura brasiliensis)
The giant otter is
the largest of all the otter species, with a length of 2 m (including the
tail), and a weight of 35 kg.
Giant
otters are highly social animals and lives in families of 10 - 20 animals.
Giant otters have a gestation period of 65 - 70 days, after which a litter
of 2 - 5 pups is born. Giant otters are one of the largest predators of
their region. They feed mainly on fish. They can hunt in either groups
or alone, tending to forage in groups while hunting in deeper waters. The
fur is water repellent and has a chocolate brown coloration. Unique white
throats marks can be used in order to identify single individuals.
Giant
otters have a life span of approximately 12 years in the wild and 21 years
in captivity.
Jaguars,
as natural predators and humans, because of their fur are their main enemies.
CITES classified the giant otter as endangered species and banned all trade
in pelts. |
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