Spotted-necked Otter
Lutra maculicollis
Classification Range Description Diet Behavior Reproduction Predators Status Links
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vetebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Lutrinae
Genus: Lutra
Species: maculicollis
Southern Africa, south of the 10º line of latitude.
The spotted-necked otter is a medium to small sized species with a long and slender shape. The males are about 40-45 inches long with the tail making up about one-third of its length and weigh around 10 to 15 pounds. Females are slightly smaller and lighter than the males. The thick, velvety coat ranges in color from a light milk chocolate to almost black with a lighter colored belly. The fun on their back is glossy and has a metallic look. Spot patterns on the top lip, chin, throat, and groin areas are individual to each animal and some show no spotting at all. Their feet are webbed almost to the end of the toes with fine hairs on the underside of the webbing. They have strong but short claws.
The spotted-necked otter's diet consists mainly of fish, crustaceans, and amphibians but they also eat insects, water bird chicks, and mollusks when they can be found. They hunt their prey using sight and carry it in their mouths to the surface of the water where they eat. They will make several short hunting trips throughout the day, resting in vegetation in between. In some areas they are found to be nocturnal.
Spotted-necked otters establish territories of up to 2 miles of shoreline. Males will generally overlap territories with one or more females. They are not overly protective of their territories, allowing others to hunt within them if a large school of fish or other prey is available. Some have been found in the great lakes of Africa to have formed social groups of 5 to 20 individuals. Their sociality seems to be dependent on the region they inhabit. Vocalizations are a sharp "F" alarm call and small chirping sounds. Females have been documented as making bird-like series of metallic chirps to communicate with their young. The spotted-necked otter is almost completely aquatic, only coming out of the water to bask.
These otters are believed to breed seasonally between September and December, but in captivity they are polyestrous. There is not much known about their breeding behaviors, Some sources say the female chases the male off and others say that the pair work together to help raise their young. The female's holt or den is found in the bank of the river. The gestation period of most otters is 60-65 days and they produce one to three offspring. Spotted-necked otters are most commonly seen with two. The young are born grey with their spotting already present. The cubs will begin swimming at 8 weeks and are weaned at 12 to 16 weeks. The young otters have been seen playing a game of tossing an object in the water and diving in to catch it before it hits the bottom; this is believed to help them build their hunting skills. They will stay with their mother for around a year.
The spotted-necked otter is preyed on by crocodiles, eagles, and pythons. They are hunted by man for their pelts.
Habitat destruction, pollution, and over fishing due to increases in industry and population are taking their toll on the spotted-necked otter. Deforestation in the region is causing soil run-off which reduces visibility in the water. Since these otters hunt using sight, it reduces their success. The wet lands are also being drained due to an increase of population and industries, decreasing the area for habitat of the otter and its prey species. Sewage drainage and run-off of mining silt are poisoning both the otters and their prey. The otters are also hunted for their pelts. They are protected by the African government, but little is done to actually protect the animals. In 1997, this species was placed on CITES Appendix II, considered Vulnerable. It was on the IUCN Red Lists for 1999 and 2000.
For more information contact:
the Small Carnivore TAG Education Liaison
webpage design by
Lauren McCoy
PJC Zoo Tech Student Fall 2004
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