Marine otters

Lontra felina (Molina, 1782)

Common name in Peru: Nutria marina, gato marino, chungungo, chingungo, huallaque, chinchimén.

Distribution:

Along the Pacific coast, from Chimbote, Peru (9°S), to Cabo de Hornos (56°S), Chile. And in the rivers Majes and Ocoña in the Department of Arequipa, up to 1,500 meters of altitude.

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Page author: Stefan Austermühle

Reviewed by: Sean Minns

Last updated: 2010.06.18.

Description:

The marine otter’s fur is of a dark brown color. Maximum size is 90 cms long and 3-5 kg in weight, being one of the smallest otter species.

Natural history of the marine otter:

The marine otter loves rocky coastline exposed to strong wave action, where many caves are formed either by the wave action or by rocks falling off of cliffs above. These caves are used as dens. Five dens located in the Department of Lima were located in inaccessible caves carved out of the rock by wave action. In a study completed in Chile, 96.7% of the dens were surrounded by the algae, “Lessonia nigrescens“, and 65% of these also showed growth of the algae, “Durvillaea antartica“. Both algae species grow in areas exposed to strong wave action.

In the rivers Majes and Ocoña, the marine otters prefer areas with vegetation of Salix sp and with accumulations of tree trunks and dead branches. In these rivers, the otters can be found up to an altitude of 1,500 meters, being at the same time, the distribution limit of the river shrimp, “Criphiops caementarius” – the main prey of the marine otters in these two rivers. The fishermen along these rivers call the otter “Huallaque”.

The wide range of distribution causes the marine otters to feed on a wide variety of species. There are no detailed studies on the prey of marine otters in Peru. There are however, anecdotal observations of otters feeding on Chalapo clinid (Labrisomus philipii), Peruvian grunt (Anisotremus scapularis), Common clingfish (Sicycaces sanguineus), and Pacific skate (Psammobatis caudispina).

In Chile, the feeding habits of marine otters have been investigated by direct observation and analysis of feces, as well as food remains near the dens. In the north of Chile, otters feed mostly on fish, while in the region of Chiloé (X Region), their diet is mainly based on crustaceans like Taliepus dentatus, Cancer setosus and Homolaspis plana.

Marine otters are most active at sunrise and sunset. Marine otters are usually solitary, but they can also be observed in small groups being composed of a mother with one or two offspring. Marine otters spend half of their time resting and use only 18-40 % of their time for fishing.

Marine otters can dive up to 30 meters deep, but usually they feed in much shallower areas. An average dive lasts 28 seconds. Small fish are eaten while swimming on their back. Bigger fish are taken ashore.

Observations in Paracas, Ancon and Cerro Salazar show that otters do have favorite feeding grounds, usually including small outcrops or semi-submerged rocks nearby used for feeding on bigger prey. A feeding ground may be shared by several otters.

The reproduction period is between October and November. After two months, up to two offspring are born. They stay with the mother for another ten months, a period in which they learn from their mother how to fish. At first, a parent needs to grab them by the neck in order to submerge them, but soon they learn to dive.

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Page author: Stefan Austermühle

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Marine otters

Lontra felina (Molina, 1782)