IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
© IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group
Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 1 - 57 (January 2010)
Abstracts
Tracks and Other Signs of Otters in
Rice Fields in Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra: a Preliminary Study
Pages 6 - 11 (Report)
Aadrean, Siti Salmah, Anas Salsabila, Rizaldi and M. Nazri Janra
We identified otters based on tracks and other signs in a West Sumatran rice
field. Field surveys were conducted from July to December 2008 at Padang Pariaman,
West Sumatra, Indonesia. We identified one species, Aonyx cinereus (Illiger,
1815) based on the size and form of 8 fore and 17 hind footprints. Further, we
describe three types of spraint site, sliding sites and other evidence of otter
existence in this area.
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Food And Habitat Of Asian Small-Clawed
Otters In Northeastern Cambodia
Pages 12 - 23 (Report)
Naven Hon, Phearoom Neak, Vengsong Khov and Vichet Cheat
We identified otters based on tracks and other signs in a West Sumatran rice
field. Field surveys were conducted from July to December 2008 at Padang Pariaman,
West Sumatra, Indonesia. We identified one species, Aonyx cinereus (Illiger,
1815) based on the size and form of 8 fore and 17 hind footprints. Further, we
describe three types of spraint site, sliding sites and other evidence of otter
existence in this area.
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Annual and Interannual Food Habits Variability
of a Neotropical Otter (Lontra longicaudis) Population in Conceição
Lagoon, South of Brazil
Pages 24 - 32 (Report)
Oldemar Carvalho-Junior, Luis C.P. de Macedo-Soares and Alesandra Bez Birolo
This work studies the monthly and annual diet composition and variability of
an otter population living at Conceição Lagoon, Santa Catarina
Island, south of Brazil. Analysis of food item proportion through the years reveals
that fish and crustacean are the main food items, followed by mollusks, birds
and mammals. The results do not show interannual or monthly variability for the
items that compose the otter’s diet within the study area. However, interannual
and monthly spatial variability is found throughout the area.
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Pregnancy among Otters (Lutra lutra) found Dead in England and Wales: Foetal Development and Lack of Seasonality
Pages 33 - 41 (Article)
Elizabeth Chadwick and Eleanor Sherrard-Smith
In some parts of its range, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is reported to exhibit seasonal breeding, but in England and Wales breeding is thought to occur throughout the year. Here, we test that assumption using data from 206 female otters found dead in England or Wales between 1992 and 2008. Pregnant females were found in all months except June; no evidence for seasonality was found. The mean number of implantations (based on placental scarring) was 2.36. Information on foetal development of otters is limited; here we use foetal otters found in utero to describe development, and make a call for information from other researchers.
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Age Structure of the Otter (Lutra lutra) Population in England and Wales, and Problems with Cementum Ageing
Pages 42 - 49 (Article)
Eleanor Sherrard-Smith and Elizabeth Chadwick
Age is an important parameter in understanding population structure and age-dependent processes such as accumulation of contaminants. In the current study, canines and incisors of sub-adult and mature wild otters (Lutra lutra) from England and Wales were sectioned and incremental cementum lines were used as an indication of age. The age structure of the sample population is much younger than some European populations (of 110 otters aged, only 10 were aged four or older). Cementum ageing is useful here in giving a broad indication of age structure, but is imprecise for species which do not exhibit seasonal breeding. Age is likely to be underestimated in most cases.
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A Record of Invasive Black Catfish (Trachelyopterus lucenai) Predation by the Neotropical River Otter (Lontra longicaudis) in Restinga of Rio Grande, Southern Brazil
Pages 50 - 53 (Report)
Rafael Almeida Porciuncula and Fernando Marques Quintela
Trachelyopterus lucenai (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) is an invasive fish in restinga of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil. In April 2007 remains of T. lucenai were found in the stomach of an individual of Lontra longicaudis which was run over near a pluvial channel in the restinga area. The present record contributes to the knowledge on otters predation on exotic/invasive species in aquatic environments.
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