Lontra canadensis

• Main Authors: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2009
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Carnivora; Mustelidae; Lontra; Lontra canadensis; Kodiak; Alaska; Fischotter; Loutre
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5714105; http://treatment.plazi.org/id/038F87D4CA46FFA8CFE13F3EFAECF921

28. North American River Otter Lontra canadensis French: Loutre du Canada / German: Nordamerikanischer Fischotter / Spanish: Nutria neértica Other common names: River Otter Taxonomy. Lutra canadensis Schreber, 1776, Eastern Canada. Seven subspecies are recognized. Subspecies and Distribution. L. c. canadensis Schreber, 1776 — E Canada (Maritime Provinces, Ontario & Quebec), NE USA (Maine through New York) and Great Lakes of USA (Michigan and Wisconsin). L. c. kodiacensis Goldman, 1935 — Alaska (Kodiak and Shuyak Is). L. c. lataxina Cuvier, 1823 — E & SE USA. L. c. mira Goldman, 1935 — S Alaska (Prince of Wales I), SW Canada (Vancouver I). L. c. pacifica Rhoads, 1898 — W USA and W Canada. L. c. periclyzomae Elliot, 1905 — W Canada (Queen Charlotte Is). L. c. sonora Rhoads, 1898 — SW USA (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico & Utah). Descriptive notes. Head-body 70-73 cm (males), 58: 3-71.3 cm (females), tail 42-47 cm (males), 31.7-40 cm (females); weight 7.7-9.4 kg (males), 7.3-8.4 kg (females), adult males are approximately 5% larger than females. The North American River Otter has an elongated body, short limbs, and a tail that is flattened dorso-ventrally. The pelage is short and very dense, varying in color from brown to black, with a grayish upper chest, throat, and chin. The rhinarium is bare and there are long vibrissae on each side of the face. All four feet are fully webbed and equipped with small claws. The skull is flat, with a broad rostrum and large braincase. Dental formula: I 3/3, C 1/1, P4/3.M 1/2 =36. Habitat. North American River Otters are found along streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and in saltwater marshes. Generally, they prefer waterways with well-vegetated shorelines, and avoid areas with no shoreline vegetation. They inhabit the murky waters of southern alluvial valleys as well as the crystal-clear waters of rocky mountain streams. In many areas, they occur in close association with American Beavers; Beaver ponds provide prey and dens/rest sites. Food ...