I'm meant to be doing a piece of Coursework on any Biological Issue (a problem) so i decided to do Conservation. Each individual in the groups has a role, and there is one main breeding pair. The giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is the largest member of the mustelid family, which includes otters, weasels, and ferrets, and are by far the loudest member of the group.Giant river otters are very sociable and live in families of between 3-10 individuals that hunt together. Each individual in the groups has a role, and there is one main breeding pair. The giant otter, an endangered apex predator in Amazon river ecosystems, was nearly driven to extinction because of demand for its fur. To make matters worse, it has gone extinct in some areas, so populations are no longer connected.) Endangered Species Spotlight: Hairy Nosed Otter SPECIES: Hairy Nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana) CURRENT RANGE: Small isolated populations in southeast Asia. Appearance. Unfortunately it is already extinct in Uruguay and Argentina. Preferring slow-moving tropical rivers, the giant river otter is affected by habitat loss, illegal hunting and gold mining that has caused mercury poisoning. Sea otters had have been listed as endangered for a long time. Giant otters are very social animals and groups of up to 20 individuals have been found in forms of "family groups." Giant Otter Project. A giant otter eats two to four kilograms of food per day. However, there are several emerging threats to this sensitive species. I wrote about the long tailed otter a few weeks ago but that is not the only endangered otter living in South America! Their long tail may add as much as 70cm (28in) to this body length. They also have a reduced population size, which puts them in danger of becoming extinct. Conservation Status: IUCN Red List - Endangered Threats to Survival: Contamination; overfishing and conflict with fishermen; infrastructure such as roads and hydroelectric dams. Sea otters are listed as an endangered species because they are vulnerable to oil spills from ships and coastal tanker traffic. They are at great risk of extinction due to many reasons such as fur trade, shark attacks, habitat degradation, oil spills ,fishing nets, disease and being viewed as competition. The Giant River Otter only lives in three river systems: the Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata. Studying Giant Otter Demography. To prevent the fish bones from irritating their mouth and digestive tract, they have a very thick saliva to … Giant otters can consume up to 10 lb of food a day. Diet consists mainly of fish, crabs and even caimans and snakes. Diet consists mainly of fish, crabs and even caimans and snakes. Males are between 1.5 and 1.7 m (4.9 and 5.6 ft) in length from head to tail and females between 1 and 1.5 m (3.3 and 4.9 ft). The Giant River Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), often referred to as the river wolf, is a species in the Mustelid (weasel) family that is endemic to South America.It is both the world’s largest otter and largest member of the mustelid family, reaching up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in length. It has the greatest body length of any species in the mustelid family, although the sea otter may be heavier. Their primary form of insulation is their thick coat of fur, which is the densest fur known in the animal kingdom. Giant otters are also known as river wolves. According to the U.S. Fish makes up the majority of their diet. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/.../mammals/group/otters They hunt either alone or in groups. Being diurnal and living in social groups Giant Otters are vulnerable to man's destruction. Giant Otters' primary diet is fish. Fish are supplemented by crustaceans, snakes, and other river creatures. Why are sea otters endangered ? Why are sea otters endangered The sea otter is a marine mammal which lives on the coasts of the northern Pacific Ocean. SAVING THE SEA OTTER. CURRENT THREATS: Habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade (both for skins and for pets). Following the banning of fur trade, giant otter populations have recovered across South America. The giant otter is clearly distinguished from other otters by morphological and behavioral characteristics. Ka’apor Capuchin Monkey (Critically endangered Native to South America, giant river otters are mostly found in the Amazon basin. They have sharp teeth and strong jaws to help them catch fast moving fish and eat them whole, chewing up bones, scales, spines and all. I'd imagine the Galapagos Rice Rat is endangered because they only live in the Galapagos. RE: Why are River Otters endangered? The two males and one female join their juvenile siblings born in September 2014. Females are smaller at 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft). November 27, 2017 admintag People chased sea otters because of fur and skin. The southern sea otter was believed to be extinct, and otters in Alaskan waters were similarly imperiled. Hello all; this is my first question, so be nice! This Site Might Help You. If the otter is caught at a young age, it is easy to tame and teach to fish and bring it to the owner. Current estimates place the population between 1,000 and 5,000, placing it among the endangered otter species. In addition, otters were caught, because they considered them competitors in fishing and shellfish production. Giant otters are often hunted for their fur, which is valuable in places such as Russia because it is very warm, even when wet. CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM: There is just one Hairy Nosed Otter in captivity– a rescued male at the Wildlife … Giant otters can consume up to 10 lb of food a day. Fish and Wildlife Service, sea otters have been protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1977. They live in freshwater rivers and streams which are usually affected by seasonal flooding. On March 28, 2015, our giant river otter family welcomed three new pups. Largely as a result of hunting the Giant Otter is now classed as seriously endangered in Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay and Venezuela. Giant Otter (Has lost as much as 80% of its range. An average giant otter will weigh between 22 and 32kg (49-71lbs). The giant otter is the longest of the otter species but shares a similar weight with the sea otter.Male giant otters can attain a length of 1.5-1.7m (4.9-5.6ft). Giant otters are very social animals and groups of up to 20 individuals have been found in forms of "family groups." Giant otters are large aquatic carnivores that inhabit rivers and seasonal lakes in South America. Sea otters have low genetic diversity, which could endanger their health as a species, a UCLA-led team of life scientists has discovered. Decreased by at least 30% in the last 10 years. There are multiple factors, including habitat degradation.) Giant river otters are listed as endangered under the red list of threatened species, published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Giant Otter lives in South America as well. Giant Anteater (Vulnerable. As its name suggests the giant otter is the largest of the otter species and can be found in … Description. Sea otters are a highly endangered marine mammal. With resplendent, thick fur, otters were voraciously hunted until not a single one could be seen along the California coast. 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