ANIMAL WORLD
Giant otter- pteronura brasiliensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Lutrinae
Genus: Pteronura
Species: P. brasiliensis
General description: Pteronura brasilensis has a variety of adaptations that makes it suitable to an amphibious lifestyle, including excelent dense fur, a wing-like tail, and webbed feet. The species prefers freshwater rivers and streams, which are usually seasonally flooded, and may also take to freshwater lakes and springs. It constructs extensive campsites close to feeding areas, clearing large amounts of vegetation. The giant otter largely subsists on a diet of fish. A globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7m (5.6 ft). Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members.
Evolution and biogeography: Satherium, is believed to be ancestral to the present species, having migrated to the New World during the early Pleistocene. Pteronura brasiliensis lives in South America with three of the four members of the Lontra genus of otters: the neotropical river otter, the southern river otter, and the marine otter. It seems to have evolved independently of Lontra in South America, despite the overlap. Lutrogale perspicillata of Asia may be its closest extant relative; similar behaviour, vocalizations, and skull morphology have been noted. Both species also show strong pair bonding and paternal engagement in rearing cubs.
Extinction: his species is considered to be Endangered due to an inferred future population decline due to habitat loss and exploitation. While in the past, hunting for pelts strongly affected giant otter populations, currently the species is threatened by multiple anthropogenic influences arising from increased colonization of tropical lowland rainforests. Illegal harvesting for pelts continues in some regions, but otters are also killed by logging and mining workers who blame otters for depleting local fish resources.
Animal behavior: Very social animal. and lives in groups that go from 2 to 20 members, the otters sleep, play, travel, and feed together. This species is very territorial and it marks its territory with latrines, gland secretions and vocalizations.The giant otter is large, gregarious, and diurnal.
Isolation mechanisms: Temporal isolation is the one used by pteronura brasiliensis to prevent mixing with the other species of otter that live in their habitat. It means that pteronura brasiliensis has different active seasons.i
