Hairy- Nosed Otter

Lutra sumatrana

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mustelidae

Scientific name: Lutra sumatrana

       The Hairy-nosed Otter is medium in size. From its head to its body it is 500 to 820mm long. Its tail is 350 to 500mm long. In total it is 1050 to 1330mm long.

        There are strong claws on the well-webbed feet of the Hairy-nosed Otter.

       The hair, like most Otters, is fine and velvety in texture. Their guardhair is moderately small in size, 12 to 14mm long. Their underfur is 7 to 8mm long.

        Very dark brown above, with a slightly paler color. The difference between the underside and the back is incredibly sharp.

        The nose looks like an upside down trapezoid with large dips on each side. The nostrils are on the sides.

        It inhabits freshwater and coastal areas, especially mangroves in Indonesia. Based on the capture of a specimen in Bentong, Malaysia, it is believed that the rare hairy-nosed otter occupies a specific niche in inland forests at higher elevations. Subsequently, after the discovery of two road kill specimens obtained near peat swamp forests in Malaysia, it was suggested that peat swamp forest is the species' major habitat. This suspicion has been supported recently by the discovery of hairy-nosed otters from peat swamp forests in Thailand. Occurrence of L. sumatrana has also been reported from shallow, coastal oceanic waters.

        The Hairy-Nosed Otter lives in south Asia. It has been reported from Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Malaysia, Thailand and Indochina.

      The Hairy-Nosed Otter Otter likes to eat crustaceans and fish.

Threats

    A potential threat to the hairy-nosed otter is the destruction of its habitat particularly peat swamp forests due to changing land use patterns, fire, and depletion of its prey base. There are also some deaths due to road kill. Detailed threats to the hairy-nosed otter population, however, are not well documented.

Breeding and Propagation

In captivity, the number of cubs for the Hairy Nosed Otter can reach up to three. However, it has been found that propagating this otter in captivity is difficult. It has been observed that the male likes to take part in the rearing of the young.

Other otter links

Otternet

Hairy-nosed otter in Tialand

International Otter Survival Fund

For more information contact the Small Carnivore TAG education liaison

Page by: Stephanie Whitbeck, Zoo Animal Tech Program, 2003-2004