Eurasian Otter

In News

  • Recently, scientists from Jammu obtained a photographic record of the semi-aquatic carnivorous mammal in a tributary of the Chenab river.

About

  • Otters are mammals of the family Mustelidae consisting of 13 species. They are found in every continent except Australia and Antarctica. 
  • The Eurasian otter covers the largest range of any Palearctic mammal.
  • The species is persecuted as a pest in countries such as India, China and Nepal, and its populations have declined due to hunting for food and pelt, habitat loss, pollution and climate change,
  • Eurasian otter is classified as ‘near threatened’ on the IUCN Red List.It  is regarded as a flagship species and indicator of high-quality aquatic habitats.

 

Palearctic

  • It is a zoogeographical region comprising Eurasia north of the Himalayas, together with North Africa and the temperate part of the Arabian peninsula.

Source:TH