Otter - Lutrinae

From Asian rivers to the European coast, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, this cute member of the weasel family lives in just about every place on Earth. This nearly world-wide distribution has created a complex classification for the many species of Otter living on Earth. There are 13 species generally placed into two main categories: sea otters or river otters. Here are all the species of otters along with their status on the conservation scale.

1. Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)
Status: Endangered

2. Marine Otter (Lontra felina)
Status: Endangered

3. Northern River Otter or North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)
Status: Least Concern - not in any danger of extinction.

4. Southern River Otter (Lontra provocax)
Status: Endangered

5. Neotropical River Otter or Long-tailed Otter (Lontra longicaudis)
Status: Endangered

6. Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
Status: Endangered

7. Spotted-necked Otter (Lutra maculicollis)
Status: Least concern

8. European otter, aka Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)
Status: Near Threatened

9. Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana)
Status: Endangered

10. African Clawless or Cape Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis)
Status: Least Concern

11. Asian Small-clawed Otter, aka Oriental Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinereus)
Status: Vulnerable

12. Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)
Status: Vulnerable

13. Congo Clawless Otter (Aonyx congica)
Status: Endangered

The next 2 posts will be a focus on certain species of Otter.