Smooth-coated otters are often sighted in our mangroves, mudflats and coastal areas. It was previously known as Lutra perspicillata. Acccording to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the first record of the Smooth-coated otter was of a male, collected in 1938 from Lazarus Island. The second otter sighting was recorded at Sungei Buloh in 1990. The local population may not be strictly resident as they travel easily between Johor and Singapore across the Johor Straits. Features: Head and body to 75cm, tail to 45cm. Long body and a long tail, covered in short sleek fur. It has short limbs with webbed fingers and prominent claws. The upperparts are greyish brown and the underside is buffy. Smooth-coated otters are generally social and live in pairs or family groups of parents and their young. They are active both during the day and at night. What does it eat? It eats mainly fish, but also turtles, crustaceans and clams and snails. Otter babies: Babies are born in a litter of 1-2, in a den dun in the river bank. The young stay with the parents in a family group for some time. Status and threats: The Smooth-coated otter is listed as Critically Endangered in the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore. - Wild Singapore website
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 02:11:45 +0000
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