User:Caph Dias/sandbox

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Not to be confused with sea otter.

Marine otter
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Genus: Lontra
Species:
L. felina
Binomial name
Lontra felina
(Molina, 1782)
Marine otter range

The marine otter (Lontra felina) is a mammal of the weasel family (Mustelidae) found on the southwestern coastlines of South America. The scientific name means "otter cat". The marine otter is also referred to as gato marino ("marine cat" in Spanish) and chungungo. It lives almost exclusively in saltwater coastal environments. This saltwater exclusivity is unlike most other otter species, except for the almost fully aquatic sea otter (Enhydra lutris) of the North Pacific.

Description[edit]

The marine otter is one of the smallest otters and the smallest marine mammal,[3][4] measuring 87 to 115 cm (34 to 45 in) from the nose to the tip of the tail and weighs 3 to 5 kg (6.6 to 11.0 lb). The tail measures 30 to 36 cm (12 to 14 in).[5][6] Its fur is coarse, with guard hairs measuring up to 2 cm (0.79 in) in length covering dense, insulating underfur. The marine otter is dark brown above and on the sides, and fawn on the throat and underside.[5]

The marine otter has webbed paws and strong claws. The ventral side (underside) of the paws are partially covered in fur. It has 36 teeth and a dental formula of 3.1.3-4.13.1.3.2. The teeth are developed for slicing instead of crushing. The marine otter does not display sexual dimorphism.[5][7]

Depiction of marine otter, including skull and dental structure.
Art by Jacques Christophe Werner, 30 April 1848

Distribution and habitat[edit]

Marine otters are found in littoral areas of southwestern South America, close to shore and in the intertidal areas of northern Peru (from the port of Chimbote), along the entire coast of Chile, and the extreme southern reaches of Argentina.[1] Occasional vagrant sightings still occur as far afield as the Falkland Islands.

The marine otter mainly inhabits rocky shorelines with abundant seaweed and kelp. They favor denning in caves and rocky areas that are safe from humans. Caves and crevices in the rocky shorelines may provide them with the cover they need, and often a holt will have no land access at high tide. Marine otters avoid sandy beaches.

Behavior[edit]

Two marine otters socializing.
Two marine otters socializing. Photo taken by Camila Fernanda Reyes Vera, March 3 2018.

Rocky intertidal zones with natural crevices are ideal for marine otter dens and feeding areas. Because most of their time is spent hidden in caves, their behavior is difficult to observe.

Marine otters actively avoid humans. In response to human activity, they will spend less time on coasts and stray from their dens during the day to fissures inaccessible to humans.[8] Though generally avoidant of humans, their inhabitance of fishing villages is an indicator of the marine otter's ability to adapt to urbanization.[9]

Reproduction[edit]

Marine otters may be monogamous or polygamous, and breeding occurs in December or January. Litters of two to five pups are born in January, February or March after a gestation period of 60 to 70 days. The pups remain with their mother for about 10 months of parental care, and can sometimes be seen on the mother's belly as she swims on her back, a practice similar to that of the sea otter. Parents bring food to the pups and teach them to hunt.

Feeding[edit]

Studies have shown latitudinal variations in diet, feeding periods, and dive time throughout the marine otter's distribution. Marine otters of southern Chile primarily feed on fish, while those in northern Chile mostly feed on crustaceans and mollusks.[10]

Taxonomy[edit]

The marine otter is of the lutrinae, a subfamily of mustelidae. It's exact taxonomy has been debated due to lack of data. A phylogenetic study by C. G. Van Zyll De Jong in 1987 proposed the following phenogram of the lutrinae, based on morphological data.

Aonyx cinereus

Jong's proposed phenogram implied that the marine otter descended from the Asian small-clawed otter, and it's closest relative being the North American river otter.[11] A 2004 study contradicted Jong's research. The following was proposed as a part of the taxonomy of the Mustelidae, based on cytochrome b sequences.[12]

Lontra canadensis

Lontra longicaudis

Lontra felina

Threats[edit]

Human activity on coastlines poses disturbance to marine otters. Humans introduce domestic animals which may also disturb their dens.[8] Humans, as well as domesticated species, may expose a marine otter population to disease. Marine otters may be entangled in fishing nets and die.[7]

Microplastics have been found in the scat of marine otters.[13] The effects of microplastics in marine mammals are still unclear.

Conservation status[edit]

Marine otters are rare and are protected under Peruvian, Chilean, and Argentine law.[1] In the past, they were extensively hunted both for their fur and due to perceived competition with fisheries. Hunting extirpated them from most of Argentina and the Falkland Islands. Poaching is still a problem, but one of unknown magnitude. It is unknown how many marine otters exist in the wild or what habitats should be preserved to encourage their recovery. Marine otters were listed under CITES Appendix I in 1976, and are listed as endangered by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The species shows the potential to adapt to modifications in their environment, including habitat fragmentation, and the ability to coexist with humans. Marine otters have been recorded living in ship wrecks and fishing boats. However, coexistence with humans leads to competition for resources.[7]

Resources[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Valqui, J.; Rheingantz, M.L. (2021). "Lontra felina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T12303A95970132. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  3. ^ "The Hunt: Race Against Time (Coasts)". BBC. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Chilean marine otter: Meet the sea cat". BBC Wildlife. Immediate Media Company. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Jefferson, Thomas A.; Webber, Marc A.; Pitman, Robert L. (2015). Marine Mammals of the World: A Comprehensive Guide to their Identification. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 539–541. ISBN 978-0124095922.
  6. ^ "Marine Otter - Lontra felina". Encyclopedia of Life. n.d. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  7. ^ a b c Valqui, Juan (16 November 2012). "The marine otter Lontra felina ( ): A review of its present status and implications for future conservation". Mammalian Biology. 77 (2): 75–83. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2011.08.004.
  8. ^ a b Gutiérrez, Laura; Vargas, Fernanda; Pinto, Pía; Troncoso, Walter; Santos-Carvallo, Macarena; Sepúlveda, Maritza (14 March 2019). "Impact of human activities in habitat use and activity patterns of the marine otter (Lontra felina) in central Chile". Latin american journal of aquatic research. 47 (1): 122–128. doi:10.3856/vol47-issue1-fulltext-13. ISSN 0718-560X – via SciELO.
  9. ^ Ortiz‐Alvarez, Clara; Alfaro‐Shigueto, Joanna; Mangel, Jeffrey C. (24 February 2021). "Insights into marine otter ( Lontra felina ) distribution along the Peru coastline". Marine Mammal Science. 37 (3): 993–1007. doi:10.1111/mms.12789. ISSN 0824-0469.
  10. ^ Medina-Vogel, Gonzalo; Rodriguez, Claudio Delgado; Ricardo E. Alvarez, P.; Jose Luis Bartheld, V. (1 January 2004). "FEEDING ECOLOGY OF THE MARINE OTTER (LUTRA FELINA) IN A ROCKY SEASHORE OF THE SOUTH OF CHILE". Marine Mammal Science. 20 (1): 134–144. doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2004.tb01144.x. ISSN 0824-0469.
  11. ^ Jong, C. G. van Zyll de (1 October 1987). "A phylogenetic study of the Lutrinae (Carnivora; Mustelidae) using morphological data". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 65 (10): 2536–2544. doi:10.1139/z87-383. ISSN 0008-4301.
  12. ^ Marmi, Josep; Lopez-Giraldez, Juan Francisco; Domingo-Roura, Xavier (6 November 2004). "Phylogeny, evolutionary history and taxonomy of the Mustelidae based on sequences of the cytochrome b gene and a complex repetitive flanking region". Zoologica Scripta. 33 (6): 481–499. doi:10.1111/j.0300-3256.2004.00165.x. ISSN 0300-3256.
  13. ^ Santillán, Luis; Saldaña-Serrano, Miguel; Enrique De-La-Torre, Gabriel (13 May 2020). "First record of microplastics in the endangered marine otter (Lontra felina)". Mastozoología Neotropical. 27.

External links[edit]

. International Otter Survival Fund

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