Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this page were taken by Paul Smith, Ulf Drechsel and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
NEOTROPICAL RIVER OTTER Lontra longicaudis
Charismatic water weasels, the otters are well-loved, semi-aquatic mammals. In Paraguay you should have no problem in identifying the species, it is half the size of its gigantic cousin the Giant Otter! Otters are an uncommon sight along quiet waterways where they can easily go unnoticed. However every now and again they let you know they are there, bobbing in the water whilst uttering squeaky calls of alarm, following you as you walk along the riverbank until they are sure you are going to leave them in peace.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
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FIGURE 1 -  (FPMAM455PH) Adult roadkill, Ruta Trans Chaco, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Hugo del Castillo August 2007).
FIGURE 2 - (FPMAM456PH) Forefoot, location unknown (Ulf Drechsel www.pybio.org).
FIGURE 3 - (FPMAM457PH) Same individual as (FPMAM455PH) hind foot detail dorsal surface (Hugo del Castillo August 2007).
FIGURE 4 - (FPMAM458PH) Forefoot, location unknown (Ulf Drechsel www.pybio.org).
FIGURE 5 -  (FPMAM459PH) Footprints, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith February 2007).