Carnivores | Lutra Lutra

Otter

For many, the Otter (Lutra lutra) is one of those mythical animals that we hear about and would love to see, but which rarely allow themselves to be seen.

Characteristics

Status

Near Threatened (NT) Habitat

Coast and lake Diet

Piscivore

Otter IUCN Status

EX Globally extinct RE Disappeared at the regional level CR Critically endangered EN Endangered (EN) VU Vulnerable NT Near Threatened LC Least concern

Ecozone Into the wild of Russia

Description

A species adapted to semi-aquatic life

Thanks to:

- a streamlined, hydrodynamic body ending in a powerful, pointed tail

- dense fur that limits heat loss and ensures perfect waterproofing: up to 80,000 hairs per cm²!

- webbed front and rear paws.

- ultra-sensitive whiskers that detect the ripples in the water produced by prey.

- aquatic vision

- nostrils that can close

- small ears to limit heat loss.

Conservation

A species on borrowed time

The species was intensively hunted for its fur and meat, but also because this ‘fish eater’ was considered a competitor by fishermen. The degradation of natural habitats, the depletion of water resources and chemical pollution added to this persecution. As a result, the species became considerably rarer in many areas and even disappeared from some countries.

In France, at the end of the 1980s, the species survived almost exclusively along the Atlantic coast and in the Massif Central.

The European or Eurasian otter, which has been legally protected since 1972, is beginning to recolonise its former range. However, this recolonisation is very slow due to low reproduction rates linked to water pollution and the emergence of new threats such as increased road traffic. Nevertheless, populations are gradually recovering, with the otter's presence going hand in hand with cleaner waterways: it is a very good bio-indicator of ecosystems.