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Location: Bhaderwah, Doda
Image: Neeraj Sharma

Eurasian Otter

Lutra lutra

The Eurasian Otter or European Otter is a semi-aquatic mammal found across Europe, including parts of the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and parts of Asia, including Iran and the Russian Far East. It typically inhabits rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal areas, preferring clean, well-vegetated water systems.

 

Eurasian Otters have a sleek, muscular body adapted for swimming, with short legs and webbed feet. Their dense, water-resistant fur is usually dark brown, with a lighter belly, and they have a long, tapered tail that aids in swimming. Adult otters usually weigh between 5 to 12 kg, with males being slightly larger than females. The Eurasian Otter is a carnivore and primarily feeds on fish, but it will also eat amphibians, small mammals, and invertebrates.



IUCN Status: Near Threatened

IWLPA: Schedule I

CITES: Appendix I