Species · GBIF taxon 2433737
Marine Otter
Lontra felinaAlso known as Chungungo, Gato Marino, Sea Cat, Huallaque
Marine otters are the smallest marine mammals in South America, spending their lives navigating the wave-swept rocky shorelines of the Pacific coast. They are highly agile swimmers but rest, breed, and rear their young in dry caves and crevices just above the high-tide line. Unlike their freshwater relatives, they rarely venture inland, relying entirely on the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt Current for sustenance.
MarineCarnivore
Licensed reference(c) Sakura1994, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Crabs
- Sea urchins
- Rockfish
Predators
- Killer whales
- Sharks
- Large birds of prey
ThreatsHabitat loss, water pollution, poaching, and entanglement in fishing gear
HabitatsRocky marine coastlines, littoral zones, and sea caves
Life span10 to 12 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyMustelidae
- SpeciesLontra felina
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of a defensive bite if cornered; observe quietly from a safe distance.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by its small size, dark coarse fur, and active foraging behavior among rocky intertidal zones.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a distance of at least 50 meters and never block their access to the water or nesting caves.
Responsible observation
- Scan rocky shorelines: Look for them basking on sun-warmed rocks or swimming in the surf zone near kelp forests.
- Keep your distance: Avoid approaching sea caves or rocky crevices where they may be nesting or resting.
- Listen for high-pitched whistles: They use sharp, bird-like chirps to communicate over the sound of crashing waves.
Ecological Analog Marshal Hedin from San Diego / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative "Southern River Otter" by Henrik Kibak is licensed under CC BY 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Adam Jackson · cc0
Close Relative (c) Sidnei Dantas, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Sidnei Dantas · cc-by-sa
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