imported>BhagyaMani: Reverted good faith edits by Ekuftle (talk): Is much too inaccurate : this otter does NOT occur in ocean

2021-08-10T12:18:43Z

Reverted good faith edits by Ekuftle (talk): Is much too inaccurate : this otter does NOT occur in ocean

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{{Short description|Species of carnivore}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Smooth-coated otter
| image = Smooth-coated Otter (14157590954).jpg
| image_caption = Smooth-coated otter in [[Borneo]]
| status=VU
| status_system =IUCN3.1
| status_ref =<ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |title=''Lutrogale perspicillata'' |last1=de Silva |first1=P. |last2=Khan |first2=W.A. |last3=Kanchanasaka |first3=B. |last4=Reza Lubis |first4=I. |last5=Feeroz |first5=M. M. |last6=Al-Sheikhly |first6=O.F. |date=2015 |page=e.T12427A21934884 |access-date=30 October 2018}}</ref>
| genus = Lutrogale
| species = perspicillata
| authority = ([[Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire|Geoffroy Saint Hilaire]], 1826)
| synonyms = ''Lutra perspicillata''
| range_map = Smooth-coated Otter area.png
| range_map_caption = Smooth-coated otter range
}}
[[File:Planete Sauvage 20180608 06.webm| thumb |Lutrogale perspicillata]]
The '''smooth-coated otter''' (''Lutrogale perspicillata'') is an [[otter]] species occurring in most of the [[Indian subcontinent]] and [[Southeast Asia]], with a disjunct population in [[Iraq]]. It is listed as [[Vulnerable species|Vulnerable]] on the [[IUCN Red List]] since 1996 and is threatened by [[habitat loss]], [[pollution]] of [[wetland]]s and [[poaching]] for the [[illegal wildlife trade]].<ref name=iucn/>
As its name indicates, its [[fur]] is smooth and shorter than that of other otter species.

==Characteristics==
The smooth-coated otter has a short and sleek fur that is dark to reddish brown along the back, but light brown to almost grey on the underside. It is distinguished from other otter species by its more rounded head and a hairless nose in the shape of a distorted diamond. Its tail is flattened, in contrast to the more rounded tails of other otters. Its legs are short and strong, with large webbed feet bearing strong claws. It is a relatively large otter, from {{convert|7|to|11|kg|abbr=on}} in weight and {{convert|59|to|64|cm|abbr=on}} in head-body length, with a tail {{convert|37|to|43|cm|abbr=on}} long. Females have two pairs of teats.<ref name=Hwang2005>{{cite journal |last1=Hwang |first1=Y. T. |last2=Larivière |first2=S. |year=2005 |title=''Lutrogale perspicillata'' |journal=Mammalian Species |pages=1–4 |volume=786 |doi=10.1644/786.1 |url=http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/i1545-1410-786-1-1.pdf |access-date=2013-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003821/http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/i1545-1410-786-1-1.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead|doi-access=free }}</ref>

== Taxonomy ==
''Lutra perspicillata'' was the [[scientific name]] proposed by [[Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire]] in 1826 for a brown otter collected in Sumatra.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire |first1=É. |year=1826 |title=Dictionnaire classique d'Histoire Naturelle |volume=9 |editor1=Audouin, I. B. |editor2=Bory de Saint-Vincent, M. |location=Paris |publisher=Société D'Histoire Naturelle |page=519 |chapter=Le Simung |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/dictionnaireclas09bory/page/519}}</ref>
''[[Lutrogale]]'' was proposed as generic name by [[John Edward Gray]] in 1865 for otters with a convex forehead and nose, using ''perspicillata'' as [[type species]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Gray, J. E. |year=1865 |title=Revision of the Genera and Species of Mustelidae contained in the British Museum |journal=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London |volume=January 1865 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/proceedingsofgen65zool/page/100 100]–154 |url=https://archive.org/details/proceedingsofgen65zool}}</ref>
In the 19th and 20th centuries, several [[zoological specimen]]s were described, including:
*''Lutrogale perspicillata sindica'' proposed by [[Reginald Innes Pocock]] in 1940 were seven pale skins of smooth-coated otters collected in the [[Sukkur District|Sukkur]] and [[Khairpur District]]s in Pakistan's [[Sindh]] Province.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Pocock, R. I. |year=1940 |title=Notes on some British Indian otters, with descriptions of two new subspecies |journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society |volume=41 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/journalofbomb41341940bomb/page/514 514]–517 |url=https://archive.org/details/journalofbomb41341940bomb}}</ref>
*''Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli'' proposed by [[Robert William Hayman]] in 1957 was a dark brown adult male smooth-coated otter collected on the bank of the [[Tigris River]] in Iraq.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Hayman, R. W. |year=1957 |title=A new race of the Indian smooth-coated otter from Iraq |journal=Annals and Magazine of Natural History |series=12 |volume=9 |issue=106 |pages=710–712 |doi=10.1080/00222935608655883}}</ref>

The smooth-coated otter is the only living species in the genus ''Lutrogale''. Three [[subspecies]] are recognised:<ref name=Hwang2005/>
* ''L. p. perspicillata'' occurs in most of [[India]], [[Nepal]], southwestern [[Yunnan]], most of [[Southeast Asia]], [[Sumatra]] and [[Java]]
* ''L. p. sindica'' occurs in Pakistan's [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]] and Sindh Provinces.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Khan |first1=W. A. |last2=Bhagat |first2=H. B. |year=2010 |title=Otter Conservation in Pakistan |journal=IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=89–92}}</ref>
* ''L. p. maxwelli'' occurs in [[Iraq]].<ref name=Sheikhly2013>{{cite journal |author1=Al-Sheikhly, O. F. |author2=Nader, I. A. |year=2013 |title=The Status of the Iraq Smooth-coated Otter ''Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli'' Hayman 1956 and Eurasian Otter ''Lutra lutra'' Linnaeus 1758 in Iraq |journal=IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin |volume=30 |issue=1 |pages=18–30 |url=http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Bulletin/Volume30/AlSheikhly_Nadar_2013.pdf}}</ref>

The smooth-coated otter groups with the [[Asian small-clawed otter]] and the [[African clawless otter]] into a [[sister clade]] to the genus ''[[Lutra]]''. The smooth-coated otter and the Asian small-clawed otter [[Genetic divergence|genetically diverged]] about 1.33 ± 0.78 million years ago. [[Hybridisation (biology)|Hybridisation]] of smooth-coated otter males with Asian small-clawed otter females occurred in Singapore. The resulting offspring and their descendants bred back into the smooth-coated otter population, but maintained the genes of their small-clawed otter ancestors. Today, a population of at least 60 hybrid otters exists in Singapore.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Moretti, B. |author2=Al-Sheikhly, O. F. |author3=Guerrini, M. |author4=Theng, M. |author5=Gupta, B. K. |author6=Haba, M. K. |author7=Khan, W. A. |author8=Khan, A. A. |author9=Barbanera, F. |title=Phylogeography of the smooth-coated otter (''Lutrogale perspicillata''): distinct evolutionary lineages and hybridization with the Asian small-clawed otter (''Aonyx cinereus'') |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=7 |page=41611 |year=2017 |doi=10.1038/srep41611 |doi-access=free |pmid=28128366 |pmc=5269716}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
[[File:Smooth-coated otter1.jpg|alt= Smooth-coated otter, Tungabhadra River Bank, Humpi, Karnataka, India|thumb|Smooth-coated otter at Tungabhadra River bank, Humpi, Karnataka, India]]
The smooth-coated otter is distributed in [[Pakistan]], [[India]], [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[southern China]], [[Myanmar]], [[Thailand]], [[Vietnam]], [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], and on [[Borneo]], [[Sumatra]] and [[Java]]. An isolated population lives in the marshes of [[Iraq]].<ref name=iucn />
It occurs in areas where fresh water is plentiful such as [[wetland]]s, seasonal [[swamp]]s, rivers, lakes and [[rice paddies]]. Where it is the only occurring otter species, it lives in almost any suitable habitat. But where it is [[sympatry|sympatric]] with other otter species, it avoids smaller streams and canals in favour of larger water bodies.<ref name=Hwang2005/>
It has often been recorded in saltwater near the coast, especially on smaller islands, but requires a nearby source of [[freshwater]].<ref name=Kruuk1994>{{cite journal |last1=Kruuk |first1=H. |last2=Kanchanasaka |first2=B. |last3=O'Sullivan |first3=S. |last4=Wanghongsa |first4=S. |name-list-style=amp |year=1994 |title=Niche separation in three sympatric otters ''Lutra perspicillata'', ''L. lutra'' and ''Aonyx cinerea'' in Huai Kha Khaeng, Thailand |journal=Biological Conservation |doi=10.1016/0006-3207(94)90334-4 |volume=69 |issue=1 |pages=115–120}}</ref>

The population in the [[Mesopotamian Marshes]] was feared to have perished, but otter tracks were found in 2009, suggesting the population may have survived.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Salim |first1=M. A. |last2=Abd |first2=I. M. |last3=Abdulhassan |first3=N. A. |last4=Minjal |first4=M. Sh. |name-list-style=amp |editor1=Burnham, D. |editor2=Hudson, V. |editor3=Bachmann, A. |year=2009 |title=Key Biodiversity Survey of Southern Iraq: 2009 Site Review |publisher=Nature Iraq |url=http://www.natureiraq.org/uploads/9/2/7/0/9270858/kba_south_site_review_2009_-_ni-1209-01.pdf |access-date=15 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217222543/http://www.natureiraq.org/uploads/9/2/7/0/9270858/kba_south_site_review_2009_-_ni-1209-01.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-17}}</ref> Skins of smooth-coated otters were found during surveys between 2005 and 2012 in the vicinity of [[Hammar Marshes|Hammar]] and [[Hawizeh Marshes]]. Tracks and scat found in [[Erbil Province]] were also thought to have been left by smooth-coated otters.<ref name=Sheikhly2013/>

In [[Gujarat]], smooth-coated otters were documented near lakes, canals and [[mangrove]]s in the outskirts of [[Surat]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Trivedi, K. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Joshi, P. |year=2018 |title=Photographic documentation and distribution of Smooth-coated Otter (''Lutrogale perspicillata'') (Geoffroy 1826) in Surat, Gujarat |journal=IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=31–36 |url=}}</ref>

In Singapore, smooth-coated otters have adapted well to urban environments, and have been observed to use urban structures like gaps under buildings as alternatives for holts. They also use staircases and ladders to get in and out of concrete canals with vertical or near‐vertical banks.<ref name=Khoo2020>{{cite journal |last1=Khoo |first1=M.D.Y. |last2=Lee |first2=B.P.Y.‐H. |name-list-style=amp |year=2020 |title=The urban Smooth‐coated otters ''Lutrogale perspicillata'' of Singapore: a review of the reasons for success |journal=International Zoo Yearbook |doi=10.1111/izy.12262 |volume=54 |pages=1–12 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
This population is well-protected and steadily increasing.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Turrell|first=C. |date=2020 |title=Cheeky otters are thriving in Singapore—and adapting quickly to big city life |url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-09 |website=[[National Geographic]] |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/urban-otters-singapore-wildlife}}</ref>

==Behaviour and ecology==
{{multiple image |direction=vertical |image1=2006-kabini-otter.jpg |caption1=Smooth-coated otter in Kabini River, India |image2=Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata).jpg |caption2=Smooth-coated otter in [[Nagarhole National Park]] |image3= |caption3=}}
The smooth-coated otter lives in groups of up to 11 individuals. They rest on sandy riverbanks and establish their dens under tree roots or among boulders. Observations in [[Peninsular Malaysia]] indicate that they are active foremost [[diurnality|during the day]], with a short rest during midday. They mark their playground by urinating and [[sprainting]] on rocks or vegetation.<ref name=Shariff1984>{{cite journal |author=Shariff, S. M. |year=1984 |title=Some observations on otters at Kuala Gula, Perak and National Park, Pahang |journal=Journal of Wildlife and Parks |volume=4 |pages=75–88 |url=https://www.wildlife.gov.my/images/document/penerbitan/jurnal/Jil31984.pdf#77}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Foster-Turley, P. |year=1992 |title=Conservation aspects of the ecology of Asian small-clawed and smooth otters on the Malay Peninsula |journal=IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin |volume=7 |pages=26–29 |citeseerx=10.1.1.507.9967 }}</ref>

They communicate through vocalisations such as whistles, chirps, and wails.<ref name=Hwang2005/>

=== Diet ===
Smooth-coated otters were observed to forage on river banks among tree trunks.<ref name=Shariff1984/>
They feed mainly on fish including ''[[Trichogaster]]'', [[climbing gourami]] and [[catfish]]. During the rice planting season, they also hunt [[rat]]s in rice fields. Snakes, amphibians and insects constitute a small portion of their diet.<ref name=Foster-Turley1992>{{cite thesis |last1=Foster-Turley, P. |year=1992 |title=Conservation ecology of sympatric Asian otters ''Aonyx cinerea'' and ''Lutra perspicillata'' |type=Ph.D. Dissertation |publisher=University of Florida |location=Gainesville, Florida |url=https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00003268/00001/127j}}</ref> Especially in areas where they share habitat with other otter species, they prefer larger fish, typically between {{convert|5|and|30|cm|abbr=on}} in length.<ref name=Kruuk1994/><ref name=Anoop2005>{{cite journal |last1=Anoop |first1=K. R. |last2=Hussain |first2=S. A. |year=2005 |title=Food and feeding habits of smooth-coated otters (''Lutra perspicillata'') and their significance to the fish population of Kerala, India |journal=Journal of Zoology |doi=10.1017/S0952836905006540 |volume=266 |issue=1 |pages=15–23}}</ref>

In [[Kuala Selangor Nature Park]], an otter group was observed hunting. They formed an undulating, slightly V-shaped line, pointing in the direction of movement and nearly as wide as the creek. The largest individuals occupied the middle section. In this formation, they undulated wildly through the creek, causing panic‑stricken fish to jump out of the water a few metres ahead. They suddenly dived and grasped the fish with their snouts. Then they moved ashore, tossed the fish up a little on the muddy part of the bank, and swallowed it head‑first in one piece.<ref name=Helvoort1996>{{cite journal |last1=van Helvoort |first1=B. E. |last2=Melisch |first2=R. |last3=Lubis |first3=I. R. |last4=O'Callaghan |first4=B. |year=1996 |title=Aspects of Preying Behaviour of Smooth Coated Otters ''Lutrogale perspicillata'' from Southeast Asia |journal=IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=3–7 |url=http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Bulletin/Volume13/Helvoort_et_al_1996.html}}</ref>

===Reproduction===
[[File:Smooth Coated Otter Babies at WWP.jpg|thumb|Smooth-coated otter young at [[Wingham Wildlife Park]], England]]
Smooth-coated otters form small family groups of a mated pair with up to four offspring from previous seasons.<ref name=Hussain1996>{{cite journal |author=Hussain, S. A. |year=1996 |title=Group size, group structure and breeding in smooth-coated otter ''Lutra perspicillata'' Geoffroy in National Chambal Sanctuary |journal=Mammalia |volume=60 |pages=289–297 |doi= 10.1515/mamm.1996.60.2.289}}</ref>
[[Copulation (zoology)|Copulation]] occurs in water and lasts less than one minute.<ref name=Badham1973>{{cite journal |last=Badham |first=M. |year=1973 |title=Breeding the Indian smooth otter ''Lutrogale perspicillata sindica'' X ''L.p. perspicillata'' at Twycross Zoo |journal=International Zoo Yearbook |doi=10.1111/j.1748-1090.1973.tb02132.x |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=145–146}}</ref>

As long as the food supply is sufficient, they breed throughout the year, but where they depend on [[monsoon]] precipitation, they breed between October and February. The largest recorded wild-born litter of seven pups was observed in Singapore in November 2017.<ref name=Sivasothi2018>{{cite journal |last1=Sivasothi |first1=N. |last2=Khoo |first2=M.D.Y. |name-list-style=amp |year=2018 |title=Observations of the variation in group structure of two urban Smooth-Coated Otter ''Lutrogale perspicillata'' groups in the central watershed of Singapore |journal=IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages= 148–154 |url=https://www.iucnosgbull.org/Volume35/Khoo_Sivasothi_2018a.html}}</ref>
Pups are born after a [[gestation]] period of 60 to 63 days, with a usual litter size of up to five pups. The mothers give birth to and raise their young in a burrow near water. They either construct such a burrow themselves, or they take over an abandoned one. At birth, the pups are blind and helpless, but their eyes open after 10 days. They are weaned at about three to five months and reach adult size at about one year of age, and sexual maturity at two or three years.<ref name=Hwang2005/>

==Threats ==
The smooth-coated otter is threatened by [[poaching]], [[Habitat loss|loss]] and destruction of wetlands, as these are converted for settlements, [[agriculture]] and [[hydroelectric]] projects; water courses are being [[Pollution|polluted]] by [[pesticides]] such as [[chlorinated hydrocarbons]] and [[organophosphates]]. These factors lead to a reduced prey base. Otters are indiscriminately killed especially at [[aquaculture]] sites. Trapping of otters is prevalent in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.<ref name=iucn/>

Along the [[Chambal River]] in India, smooth-coated otters are most vulnerable during winter when they rear young. During this season, they are disturbed by humans harvesting crops and removing wood along rocky stretches of the river.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hussain |first1=S. A. |last2=Choudhury |first2=B. C. |name-list-style=amp |year=1997 |title=Distribution and status of the Smooth-coated Otter ''Lutra perspicillata'' in National Chambal Sanctuary, India |journal=Biological Conservation |doi=10.1016/S0006-3207(96)00033-X |volume=80 |issue=2 |pages=199–206}}</ref>

Six juvenile smooth-coated otters were discovered in a bag left at Bangkok airport in January 2013. This was the first case of smooth-coated otters thought to have been destined for the illegal [[pet trade]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Shepherd, C. R. |author2=Tansom, P. |name-list-style=amp |year=2013 |title=Seizure Of Live Otters In Bangkok Airport, Thailand |journal=IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin |volume=30 |issue=1 |pages=37–38 |url=https://www.iucnosgbull.org/Volume30/Shepherd_Tansom_2013.html}}</ref>
At least seven smooth-coated otters were offered for sale through websites by traders in Thailand and Malaysia between 2016 and 2017.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Gomez, L. |author2=Bouhuys, J. |name-list-style=amp |year=2018 |title=Illegal Otter Trade in Southeast Asia |location=Kelana Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia |publisher=Traffic Southeast Asia Regional Office |url=https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/otter_report_060618_1.pdf}}</ref>

==Conservation ==
The smooth-coated otter is a protected species in most range countries and listed globally as a [[vulnerable species]]. It had been listed on [[CITES Appendix II]] since 1977.<ref name=iucn/> Since August 2019, it is included in [[CITES Appendix I]], thus strengthening its protection in regards to international trade.<ref>{{cite news |author=DTE Staff |date=2019 |title=CITES CoP 2019: Otters given highest protection from trade |newspaper=DownToEarth |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/cites-cop-2019-otters-given-highest-protection-from-trade-66360}}</ref>

== Cultural significance ==
In southern Bangladesh, smooth-coated otters are used for commercial fishing. They are bred in captivity and trained to chase fish into fishing nets. By 2011, this fishing technique was used by about 300 fishermen, with an additional 2,000 people indirectly dependent on the technique for their livelihood.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Feeroz |first1=M. M. |last2=Begum |first2=S. |last3=Hasan |first3=M. K. |name-list-style=amp |year=2011 |title=Fishing with Otters: a Traditional Conservation Practice in Bangladesh |journal=IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin |issue=28A, Proceedings of XIth International Otter Colloquium |pages=14–21 |url=http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Bulletin/Volume28A/Feeroz_et_al_2011.html}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Bishan otter family]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lutrogale perspicillata}}
{{Wikispecies|Lutrogale perspicillata}}
*{{cite web |website=IUCN Otter Specialist Group |url=http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Species/Lutrogale_perspicillata.html |title=''Lutrogale perspicillata'' (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1826), the Smooth-Coated Otter}}
*{{cite web |website=Animal Diversity Web |title=Smooth-coated otter |url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lutrogale_perspicillata.html}}
*{{cite web |website=ARKive |url=http://www.arkive.org/smooth-coated-otter/lutrogale-perspicillata/ |title=Smooth-coated otter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223170127/http://www.arkive.org/smooth-coated-otter/lutrogale-perspicillata/ |archive-date=2010-12-23}}

{{Carnivora|M.}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q754737}}

[[Category:Otters]]
[[Category:Carnivorans of Asia|Otter, smooth-coated]]
[[Category:Mammals of South Asia|Otter, smooth-coated]]
[[Category:Mammals of Southeast Asia|Otter, smooth-coated]]
[[Category:Mammals of the Middle East|Otter, smooth-coated]]
[[Category:Carnivorans of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Mammals of Borneo]]
[[Category:Mammals of Myanmar]]
[[Category:Mammals of Thailand]]
[[Category:Mammals of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Fauna of Sumatra]]
[[Category:Vulnerable fauna of Asia|Otter, smooth-coated]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1826]]
[[Category:Semiaquatic mammals]]

Smooth-coated otter - Revision history

imported>BhagyaMani: Reverted good faith edits by Ekuftle (talk): Is much too inaccurate : this otter does NOT occur in ocean