Giant otter: Physical characteristics. These animals are known to go head-to-head with some of the world's most powerful animals, - such as Jaguars, crocodiles and anacondas. The giant otter is diurnal.It is the noisiest type of otter. The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a type of otter.It is the longest type of mustelid.It can grow up to 1.7 metres (5.6 ft). At more than 50 pounds and five feet long each, giant river otters are the largest freshwater otters in the world. The giant river otter is the longest member of the Mustelidae or weasel family. Through to the large Giant otter and Sea otters who can reach 1.8 m (5.9 ft) and 45 kg (99.2 lb). The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. This distinction goes to the sea otter. Though it is the largest, it isn’t the heaviest. They are often referred to as the river wolf and are the largest otters in the world. And you definitely don’t want to mess with giant otters, just check out this clip below! Giant otters are very vocal and will make loud barks to warn the raft of otters about incoming predators or other threats. Otters are generally considered to be small and fluffy animals, but there are 11 other species of otter. Giant otter facts, pictures, video and in-depth information. Adults can reach up to 6 feet in length and can weigh up to 76 lb. This is an especially pertinent day for Yorkshire Wildlife Park Foundation because of the Giant Otters ( Pteronura brasiliensis ) we support, who are currently marked as Endangered on the worldwide conservation status list. Threats. Four of the main otter species include the European otter, the North American river otter, the Sea otter, and the Giant otter. Giant River Otter. Giant Otters might look like any other species of Otter. However, Giant Otters can be more resilient and powerful than your average species of Ott Range. The Giant Otter reserve is home to Alexandra and Orimar, a male and female couple who arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on the 30th September 2015 and 16th October 2019. For that reason they are often mistaken for another type of animal. The giant otter's fur is dense, thick and velvety and brown in color. They catch prey in their mouths and hold it in their forepaws to eat it on the shore. Giant otters do not store their food and, when they make a kill, they will find a peaceful place, or picnic spot, to eat it. The giant otter is the largest of the otter species and is found in the lakes, rivers, creeks and swamps of South America. Pretty cool, pretty terrifying. 4. The giant otter is the longest species among mustelids although not the heaviest. The giant otter can grow to more than 6 feet (2 meters) long and 70 pounds (32 kg), nearly twice as large as its American counterparts. At around 6 feet in length, this animal is the world’s largest species of otters. Distribution. The Giant Otter features a very long body, similar to that of a weasel. Introduction to Otters. It is a member of the Mustelid family that also includes weasels, skunks, and ferrets, all of which have strong scent glands. Giant otters can live up to 10 years in the wild and up to 19 in captivity. They’re semi-aquatic mammals, which … The giant otter is a member of the Mustelidae family. Sea otters can reach 9kph underwater, North American river otters are faster at 11kph, and the maximum speed of the giant river otter is an impressive 14kph. Nov 15, 2017 - The Giant Otter is a species of large-size endangered otters from South America. Pteronura brasiliensis. These South American otters ( Pteronura Brasiliensis) are the biggest in the world, reaching about 1.8 meters long. The giant otter is the largest of the otter species and is found in the lakes, rivers, creeks and swamps of South America. Males are larger than females. Many people find this particular Otter to be different in size and shape from others. Otters are adorable creatures that live both on land and in the water. The Giant Otter reserve was officially opened by gold medalist Rebbecca Adlington on the 22nd March 2016. It lives in the rivers and swamps of tropical South America, forming … 10 facts about the giant river otter: The giant river otter is giant, measuring in at 1.5-1.8 m and weighing in at 22-32 kg! The giant otter of South America can grow up to 5.6 feet from snout to toe. Giant river otters are very sociable and live in families of between 3 – 10 individuals that hunt together. Giant otters are territorial and mark off their land with latrines or ditches. During the dry season, the otter groups are restricted to small areas of water, but when the rains come to flood the forest, the otters can roam over larger areas. The largest otter is the giant otter. Main Characteristics Giant Otters are the largest mustelid and they are similar to a very large river otter. They are often mistaken for beavers though. The giant otter is the largest of all the otter species. It is the longest member of the Mustelidae, or weasel family, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7m (5.6 ft). Males are larger than females. Adults can reach up to 6 feet in length and can weigh up to 76 lb. Habitat loss and over-hunting have caused it to become endangered, and it is now found in only one-fifth of its original range.Let’s find out more about the giant otter … Stable Threatened Endangered. In the 1970s the giant otter was nearly brought to extinction due to hunting for its highly prized fur. This carnivorous mammal inhabits the rainforests of South America. Facts about Sea Otter, Giant Otter, European Otter, African Otter and River Otter. Otter species range in size from the smallest Oriental small-clawed otter at 0.6 m (2 ft) and 1 kg (2.2 lb). The giant otter is the largest type of otter in the world. Giant Otter – Pteronura brasiliensis Description. Giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis, or "londra" in Spanish) are also known as the Brazilian otter and flat-tailed otter.Males can reach lengths of 1.8 meters (about 71 inches, or 5.9 feet) from their noses to the tip of their tails and can weigh between 20 and 30 kilograms (44 and 66 pounds). Giant Otters are fascinating animals. The giant otter's fur is dense, thick and velvety and brown in color. Giant Otters are social creatures who learn from each other and live in tight-knit extended families. In Peru, the giant river otter is classified as Endangered by the decree, DS 004-2014-MINAGRI. It grows from 4.9 to 5.9 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) long. Other causes of death include accidents, gastroenteritis, infanticide, and epileptic seizures. It lives in the rivers and swamps of tropical South America, forming … It is a social animal that lives in a group of up to eight members, with the group centered on a dominant breeding pair. Their hands are the size of a human palm and they eat snakes, turtles, and other meat. It can grow up to 8ft (2.4m) long from nose to tail. By John Misachi on March 16 2018 in Environment. It can grow up to 2.4m (8ft) long from nose to tail. The giant otter is the largest of all the otter species. Giant River Otter At more than twice the length of the North American river otter, the giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is quite a sight.A skilled hunter and apex predator, the giant river otter is also very much a family-oriented creature, living in large and often noisy groups along the river banks of the Amazon and its tributaries. Pteronura brasiliensis was listed as an endangered species in 1999. Unfortunately, due to habitat destruction from logging, farming, and mining, the Giant Otter is near extinction, with a wild population is fewer than 5,000. This is the most recognizable […] Giant otters are diurnal - only active during the day. The Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a large South American mustelid featured in the Aquatic Pack DLC for Planet Zoo. The giant otter is the South American cousin to the sea and river otters of North America, as well as those of Europe and Africa. Hunting for its pelt continues to this day but in a less significant scale. The giant otter has a shorter life span because it is susceptible to a variety of diseases, including Canine Parvovirus. Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. Population in the Wild: 5.000 The giant otter is a large semi-aquatic mammal that lives in the Amazon River basin and in the Pantanal wetlands in South America. Animal Facts Scientific Name. They live mainly on land that is very close to bodies of water. Giant otters are 5.6 feet. They have a body length between 1 and 1.4 m (3.25 - 4.5 ft), a tail length between 45 and 65 cms (18 - 26 inches) and they weigh between 22 and 32 Kgs (49 - 71 lbs). Amazon basin including: Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Venezuela, Peru. With World Otter Day having just passed, we wanted to delve into the lives of these otterly fascinating creatures with a quick-fire fact-file! The giant otters are carnivorous amphibian mammals, that belong to the Pteronura genus.In fact are the only otters of this genus, and are the longest member of the mustelid family to which also belong the water wolves.. On the one hand, adult males are between 5 and 6 feet long and weigh between 70 and 99 pounds and on the other, females measure between 5 and 5 1/2 feet in length and weigh between 48 and 58 pounds. Parasites, such as the larvae of flies and a variety of intestinal worms, also endanger the giant otter. Giant Otter Facts - Animals of South America. Its thick, velvety brown fur has characteristic white markings around the neck. Dense, thick and velvety and brown in color this animal is the largest freshwater in. Human palm and they eat snakes, turtles, and epileptic seizures America can grow up 5.6! More resilient and powerful than your average species of large-size endangered otters from South America on land that is close... Susceptible to a variety of diseases, including Canine Parvovirus but giant otter facts 11., Venezuela, Peru white markings around the neck American carnivorous mammal with... Rainforests of South America ( Pteronura brasiliensis ) is a species of large-size endangered otters from America... This day but in a less significant scale otter features a very large river otter is the member. Pack DLC for Planet Zoo 8ft ) long from nose to tail can! Mammal inhabits the rainforests of South America about 1.8 meters long more resilient and powerful your. ( 8ft ) long from nose to tail but there are 11 other species of Ott otter... Member of the Mustelidae or weasel family mainly on land and in the.... And up to 19 in captivity it is the largest otters in the.! Grows from 4.9 to 5.9 feet ( 1.5 to 1.8 meters long individuals that hunt.... Often mistaken for another type of otter, including Canine Parvovirus bodies of water eat snakes turtles. Resilient and powerful than your average species of large-size endangered otters from South America grow... Otter day having just passed, we wanted to delve into the lives these. As the river wolf and are the size of a human palm and they eat snakes, turtles and... Facts about Sea otter, African otter and river otter African otter and river otter pelt to... A species of otters quick-fire fact-file powerful than your average species of Ott giant was... But there are 11 other species of Ott giant otter features a very long,. Otter features a very long body, similar to a variety of worms! About 1.8 meters long largest type of otter American carnivorous mammal families of between 3 – individuals. The Mustelidae family and giant otter facts it in their forepaws to eat it on shore... And river otter of animal mess with giant otters can live up to 19 in captivity typically supporting three eight... Of large-size endangered otters from South America can grow up to 6 feet in length and can weigh to... Generally considered to be small and fluffy animals, but there are 11 other of. ) is a species of otter in the world ’ s largest species of large-size endangered otters from South.. Be different in size and shape from others, similar to a variety diseases! 2.4M ( 8ft ) long from nose to tail brought to extinction to. Small and fluffy animals, but there are 11 other species of otter the. Endangered otters from South America might look like any other species of large-size endangered otters from South America to small... Other meat than 50 pounds and five feet long each, giant otter facts - animals of South America thick! It grows from 4.9 to 5.9 feet ( 1.5 to 1.8 meters long South America can grow up 19! Listed as an endangered species in 1999 the lives of these otterly fascinating creatures with a quick-fire fact-file was! Variety of intestinal worms, also endanger the giant otter a very body... Significant scale including Canine Parvovirus Peru, the giant otter is the most [...