Species · GBIF taxon 2433736
Southern River Otter
Lontra provocaxAlso known as South American River Otter, Huillín, Patagonian River Otter
Southern river otters navigate the cold, fast-flowing rivers, fjords, and marine channels of Patagonia with remarkable agility, using their webbed feet and muscular tails to hunt. These elusive mustelids live in small family groups or as solitary hunters, seeking shelter in dense riparian vegetation and rocky crevices along the shoreline. Their presence serves as a vital indicator of healthy, undisturbed aquatic ecosystems in southern Chile and Argentina.
Semi-aquaticElusive
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Freshwater crabs
- Chancito fish
- Crayfish
Predators
- Pumas
- Domestic dogs
- Killer whales
ThreatsHabitat destruction, water pollution, poaching, and competition from invasive American mink
HabitatsFreshwater rivers, lakes, estuaries, and marine coastal fjords
Life span10 to 15 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyMustelidae
- SpeciesLontra provocax
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of delivering a painful bite if cornered; observe quietly from a safe distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a medium-sized, dark brown otter with a lighter throat, swimming low in Patagonian waters.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a distance of at least 50 meters and avoid disturbing shoreline vegetation where they den.
Responsible observation
- Scan the shorelines: Look for active otters during early morning or late afternoon in quiet, vegetated river bends.
- Listen for vocalizations: Listen for high-pitched chirps, whistles, or warning snorts near the water's edge.
- Check for spraints: Identify their presence by looking for latrine sites containing fish scales and crab shells on flat rocks.
Invasive Competitor "American Mink, Centre Island, Toronto, ON" by tsaiproject is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Sakura1994, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Sidnei Dantas, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Sidnei Dantas · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Adam Jackson · cc0
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