The giant otter is a South American carnivorous mammal and the longest member of the weasel family.
The giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. They live in groups which is extremely cooperative and coordinated. They are generally a peaceful species but they are territorial and can use aggression if they have to.
The giant otters are usually active in the daytime and are the noisiest of their species. They vocalize their aggression, comfort, or warnings.
The species was listed as endangered in 1999 as their number rapidly fall to 5000. The main reason for that was poaching during the 1950s and 1960s.
In the Peruvian Amazonian basin, The Guianas are protected and are the last ones that are left in significant numbers. It is one of the most endangered mammal species in the Neotropics.
The giant otter lives on both lands and water. Their exceptionally dense fur, wing-like tail, and webbed feet help them live that lifestyle easily. They usually like to live in freshwater rivers and streams. Their diet consists of fish, particularly characins and catfish, but may also eat crabs, turtles, snakes, and small caimans.
Otters are greedy predators, close to being the top predators in most places where they live. They sometimes may overlap with gators as they are also living in the same areas as the giant otters. It is a pretty common occurrence.
That’s not a small alligator, probably three or four years old and five feet [1.5 meters] long. If that’s a male otter it might be 30 pounds. That’s a very bold animal!
Otter goes straight to the gator’s neck from behind so that the gator cannot hurt him by biting. It is a learned behavior, that may be picked from attacking the smaller ones.
How does the otter kill the gator?
The otter cannot directly kill the gator. That is a pretty hard animal to bite through. But the otter still wins.
Because Otters have sustainable energy they fight for long and the gator’s energy is like a grande. It explodes but cannot last long enough for otters’ energy to wear out. By this tactic, the otter wins after a few minutes of struggle. their muscles fill with lactic acid and are no longer functioning making him almost intoxicated.
The gator dies of lactic acid buildup and the otter drags it up to the shore. While the gator is still alive the otters can rip off the pieces with their very sharp teeth.
The otters’ kill looks a lot like a lion’s with the parts spread around. If there is a couple of otters and kids this is a good learning opportunity and a good feast for them.
The giant otters can eat animals they can get their hands on. They are smart, agile, and strong predators with skills.
