Diet

They feed mainly in water. It consumes about 1-1.5 kg of food per day, dominated by a variety of fish. Frogs, crayfish, molluscs, waterfowl chicks, molluscs, worms and various insects are also consumed. Plant food is negligible in the diet.

Habitat

Inhabits inland waters and their coastal habitats. Also stays on uninhabited sea beaches near river mouths. Quite often (especially in spring and autumn) wanders on land. Equally at home in water or on land. It likes to set up home alongside beavers and to use the food stores concentrated at the top of dams, which would not be easy to find in shallow and flowing water.

In Latvia, otters usually inhabit a 5-15 km stretch of river and its banks, not moving far from the water body in summer or winter.

Important and interesting facts

Their most striking anatomical features are the powerful webbed feet used to swim, and their seal-like abilities holding breath underwater.

Otters are very playful and attractive animals. In summer, they tend to set up special mud or sand baths to wallow in.

The tail of the animal has both a propeller function for fast swimming and a steering function. When diving, the otter is able to pinch its nostrils and ear openings tightly.

The otter’s fur is 110-125 thousand hairs per 1 cm2. The presence of an otter in a body of water is a sign of clean water and abundant fish.

An otter's den is called a holt or couch. Male otters are called dogs or boars, females are called bitches or sows, and their offspring are called pups.

Information sources: latvijasdaba.lv, Wikipedia

Photo: pixabay.com