Otters of India ???????????? | Mammals | Indian Animals

There are 3 species of Otter species found in India, and the state-wise details are as follows,
Arunachal Pradesh – Asian Small Clawed Otter
Assam – Asian Small Clawed Otter
Karnataka - Asian Small Clawed Otter
Odisha - Asian Small Clawed Otter
Tamil Nadu - Asian Small Clawed Otter
West Bengal - Asian Small Clawed Otter
Himalayan Foothills – Eurasian Otter
Central Plains – Eurasian Otter
South West India – Eurasian Otter
Indian Subcontinent – Smooth Coated Otter

00:00 Intro

Otters are carnivorous mammals having long, slim bodies and relatively short limbs. They can be aquatic, semiaquatic or marine depending on the species. Their most striking anatomical features are the powerful webbed feet used to swim, muscular tails, and their seal-like abilities to hold breath underwater. In India there are 3 species of otters.

00:35 Asian Small Clawed Otter
Also known as the oriental small-clawed otter are the smallest otter species in Asia. They are a vulnerable species found in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Their body length is 18 to 24 Inches, tail measures 10 to 14 Inches, and weigh 2.7 to 3.5 Kilo Grams. They can be identified by their whitish cheek, throat and upperlips. They live in riverine habitats, freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps. They prefer to live in pairs. Females have four mammary glands. They have short claws that do not extend beyond the pads of their webbed digits. Also they stay together in family groups consisting up to 12 individuals. They are mostly active after dark and feed on mollusks, crabs and other small aquatic animals. Group members communicate using 12 or more distinct calls.

01:45 Eurasian Otter
Also known as the European otter, or common otter. They are a Near Threatened species found along the Himalayan Foothills, Central Plains and South Western parts of India. Their body length is 22 to 37 Inches, tail measures 14 to 17.5 Inches, and weigh 7 to 17 Kilo Grams. They are predominantly brown above and cream below. They are comparatively the most widely distributed otter species. Their range includes parts of Asia, Africa, as well as Europe. Females are comparatively shorter than males. Fish is their most preferred diet choice, however, they also feed on other small aquatic animals, amphibians, birds and mammals. They are strongly territorial in nature, prefers living alone depending on the food availability. Usually, their mating takes place in the water. Mothers care for their pups for about 13 months, supported within the male’s territory.

02:54 Smooth Coated Otter
Is a vulnerable species widely distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. Their fur is shorter and smoother compared to the other otter species. Their body length is 23 to 25 Inches, tail measures 15 to 17 Inches, and weigh 7 to 11 Kilo Grams. They are predominantly reddish-brown above and grey below. They are distinguished from other otter species by their rounded head and a hairless nose in the shape of a distorted diamond. They rest on sandy riverbanks and establish their dens under tree roots or among boulders. Their tail is flattened, in contrast to the more rounded tails of other otter species. Mothers gives birth to 4-7 pups, and raise their young in a burrow near water. At birth, the pups are blind and helpless, but their eyes open after 10 days. In southern Bangladesh, smooth-coated otters are used for commercial fishing. They are bred in captivity and trained to chase fish into their fishing nets as part of their local livelihood practices.

#Otters #Mammals #IndianAnimals #Otter #Mammal #NativeAnimals #NativeAnimal Native Animals Animal Bird Indian Bird Indian Birds Desi Otter Native Otter YouTube Education

04:21 Outro

Fauna of India: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6ZbZoiZh_0&list=PLMgDaYCknmqSMGkeKd9u3vXXswF07KLF8

Information Sources: Internet
Documentation: Amrita L Kutuva and Hansen Thambi Prem
Technical Support: Rohan Prem Hansen
Video Editing Software: https://www.lwks.com/
Intro and Outro: https://www.velosofy.com; https://placeit.net/
Number Background Sound: https://mixkit.co/free-sound-effects/bell/
Background Music: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary