Giant River Otters of the Pantanal
The giant otters of the Pantanal are fascinating to watch as they ply the waters of the Pantanal rivers. Known scientifically as Pteronura brasiliensis, giant otters are the largest otter species, and like other otters, are intelligent, social, and playful. Jaguars give them wide berth due to their size, numbers, and aggressive nature.
Giant otters are often seen in family groups and use a variety of sounds to convey feelings of danger to group cohesion. Their diet consists mainly of fish, and they are known to hunt cooperatively, making them effective predators in the aquatic ecosystems of the Pantanal.
Gian river otters are endangered due to habitat destruction, pollution, and hunting in the past. Conservation efforts in the Pantanal, along with ecotourism, have been crucial in helping to protect their habitat. You can learn more about them from this organization:
The following photos show them eating a fish and then an eel. They are gregarious and are almost always in a group. In spite of this, they do not share their food.
On Land
On the occasional time you see them on land, their webbed feet and flattened tail are obvious
In the Water
From a distance the only clue to their presence might be a wave
It is common to see them swimming in pairs
They are curious and might swim directly at your boat…..
….only to turn away and swim past
They might change their minds and come back to investigate you further
Hunting for Fish
They are experts at catching the plentiful fish in these rivers
They bring the fish to an area where they can stand on terra firma and eat
Their chest markings are unique and allow identification of individuals. The otter book shows examples.
Hunting for Eels
Fish are not the only aquatic animal on the menu
They have beady and eerie looking eyes