The genus most likely evolved in Asia during the late Pliocene epoch;[1] the oldest fossil belonging to the genus is of the species L. palaeindica, and dates from the late Pliocene.[2]
Habitat
Lutra species are semiaquatic mammals, so they are well-adapted to both water and land. They prefer shallow, narrow areas of streams surrounded by mature trees and with rocks, especially where weirs reduce the flow of the water, as well as attract fishes. They seem to tolerate roads and residential and agricultural areas, but only moderate human interaction. They clearly avoid areas without vegetation cover and rocks.[3]
Diet
The otters' diets consist mainly of fish (hence, the aquatic environment). However, during the winter and in colder environments, fish consumption is significantly lower and the otters use other resources for their food supply. Their diets can consist of amphibians (mainly frogs and pond turtles), bird predation (mainly anserine species), small rodents, and invertebrates such as water beetles, snails, and crayfish. They have also feed on plants, specifically grasses. With this large diversity of prey and resources for their diets, otters are considered "opportunistic eaters".[4]
Behavior
Some otters live in solitude, while others live in groups.
References
^Koepfli, K.-P.; et al. (2008). "Multigene phylogeny of the Mustelidae: Resolving relationships, tempo and biogeographic history of a mammalian adaptive radiation". BMC Biology. 6 (10): 10. doi:10.1186/1741-7007-6-10. PMC2276185. PMID 18275614.
^Larivière, S. (2002). "Lutra maculicollis". Mammalian Species. 712: Number 712: pp. 1–6. doi:10.1644/1545-1410(2002)712<0001:LM>2.0.CO;2. S2CID 198968980.
^Cho, Hee-Sun; Choi, Kwang-Hee; Lee, Sang-Don; Park, Young-Seuk (2009). "Characterizing habitat preference of Eurasian river otter (Lutra lutra) in streams using a self-organizing map". Limnology. 10 (3): 203. doi:10.1007/s10201-009-0275-7. S2CID 20000248.
^Lanszki, József; Molnár, M. & Molnár, T. (2006). "Factors affecting the predation of otter (Lutra lutra) on European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)". Journal of Zoology. 270 (2): 219. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00132.x.
lutra, genus, otters, seven, subfamily, lutrinae, eurasian, otter, lutra, scientific, classificationkingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclass, mammaliaorder, carnivorafamily, mustelidaesubfamily, lutrinaegenus, brisson, 1762type, speciesmustela, lutralinnaeus, 17. Lutra is a genus of otters one of seven in the subfamily Lutrinae LutraEurasian otter Lutra lutra Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder CarnivoraFamily MustelidaeSubfamily LutrinaeGenus LutraBrisson 1762Type speciesMustela lutraLinnaeus 1758SpeciesLutra lutra Lutra sumatrana Lutra nipponRange of Lutra lutra brown Lutra sumatrana green Contents 1 Taxonomy and evolution 1 1 Extant species 1 2 Extinct species 2 Habitat 3 Diet 4 Behavior 5 ReferencesTaxonomy and evolution EditThe genus includes these species Extant species Edit Image Scientific name Common name Distribution L lutra Eurasian otter coasts of Europe many parts of Asia and parts of northern Africa L sumatrana Hairy nosed otter Southeast AsiaExtinct species Edit Image Scientific name Common name Distribution L nippon Japanese otter Japan Lutra affinis Lutra bressana Lutra bravardi Lutra castiglionis Lutra euxena Lutra fatimazohrae Lutra franconica Lutra palaeindica Lutra simplicidens Lutra trinacriaeThe genus most likely evolved in Asia during the late Pliocene epoch 1 the oldest fossil belonging to the genus is of the species L palaeindica and dates from the late Pliocene 2 Habitat EditLutra species are semiaquatic mammals so they are well adapted to both water and land They prefer shallow narrow areas of streams surrounded by mature trees and with rocks especially where weirs reduce the flow of the water as well as attract fishes They seem to tolerate roads and residential and agricultural areas but only moderate human interaction They clearly avoid areas without vegetation cover and rocks 3 Diet EditThe otters diets consist mainly of fish hence the aquatic environment However during the winter and in colder environments fish consumption is significantly lower and the otters use other resources for their food supply Their diets can consist of amphibians mainly frogs and pond turtles bird predation mainly anserine species small rodents and invertebrates such as water beetles snails and crayfish They have also feed on plants specifically grasses With this large diversity of prey and resources for their diets otters are considered opportunistic eaters 4 Behavior EditSome otters live in solitude while others live in groups References Edit Koepfli K P et al 2008 Multigene phylogeny of the Mustelidae Resolving relationships tempo and biogeographic history of a mammalian adaptive radiation BMC Biology 6 10 10 doi 10 1186 1741 7007 6 10 PMC 2276185 PMID 18275614 Lariviere S 2002 Lutra maculicollis Mammalian Species 712 Number 712 pp 1 6 doi 10 1644 1545 1410 2002 712 lt 0001 LM gt 2 0 CO 2 S2CID 198968980 Cho Hee Sun Choi Kwang Hee Lee Sang Don Park Young Seuk 2009 Characterizing habitat preference of Eurasian river otter Lutra lutra in streams using a self organizing map Limnology 10 3 203 doi 10 1007 s10201 009 0275 7 S2CID 20000248 Lanszki Jozsef Molnar M amp Molnar T 2006 Factors affecting the predation of otter Lutra lutra on European pond turtle Emys orbicularis Journal of Zoology 270 2 219 doi 10 1111 j 1469 7998 2006 00132 x Wikispecies has information related to lutra Wikimedia Commons has media related to lutra This article about a carnivoran is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lutra amp oldid 1119959702, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
