giant otters
Amazon aquatic predators
Giant otters are the largest otters in the world, native to South American rivers and wetlands.
They live in family groups and hunt fish cooperatively, communicating with loud vocalizations that earn them the nickname "river wolves." Adults can reach six feet in length.
The species is endangered due to habitat loss and poaching: We spotted a family of giant otters in the Amazon.
Large flowing watercourse
- swimmingLocomotion through water
- divingEntering water deliberately
- fish-eatingConsuming aquatic vertebrates
- webbed feetSkin-connected toes for swimming
streamlined · freshwater · underwater · hydrodynamic · currents · catfish · buoyant · waterways
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- vocalizationsSounds produced by voice
- packGroup or compress
- groomingSelf-care for appearance
territorial · communication · bonding · hierarchy · kinship · denning · pups · communal
Preventing waste or loss
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
vulnerable · CITES · wildlife trade · sanctuary · reintroduction · protected · recovery · population decline
Wet tropical woodland ecosystem
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- jaguarLarge American spotted cat
- caimanNeotropical crocodilian species
piranha · anaconda · capybara · macaw · canopy · indigenous · deforestation · Orinoco
Creature eating only animals
- furAnimal body hair
- whiskersFacial sensory hairs
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- clawsAnimal gripping nails
tail · scent glands · webbed · elongated body · velvet coat · identification · apex predator · teeth
river
Large flowing watercourse
- swimmingLocomotion through water
- divingEntering water deliberately
- fish-eatingConsuming aquatic vertebrates
webbed feet · streamlined · freshwater · underwater · hydrodynamic · currents · catfish · buoyant · waterways · submerged
family group
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- vocalizationsSounds produced by voice
- packGroup or compress
grooming · territorial · communication · bonding · hierarchy · kinship · denning · pups · communal · screaming
conservation
Preventing waste or loss
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
extinction · vulnerable · CITES · wildlife trade · sanctuary · reintroduction · protected · recovery · population decline · illegal hunting
rainforest
Wet tropical woodland ecosystem
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- jaguarLarge American spotted cat
caiman · piranha · anaconda · capybara · macaw · canopy · indigenous · deforestation · Orinoco · blackwater
carnivore
Creature eating only animals
claws · tail · scent glands · webbed · elongated body · velvet coat · identification · apex predator · teeth · skull
- NeotropicsAmazon basin, tropical rainforests, rainforests, Andes Mountains, Galapagos
- Amazon RainforestAmazon, tropical rainforest, Amazon rainforest, Amazon basin, jungle
- Mato Grossostate capital, municipalities, regions