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| vertebrates text index | photo index |
| Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > Class Mammalia |
| Smooth
otter Lutrogale perspicillata Family Mustelidae updated Oct 09 Where seen? This delightful creature is more common that we might imagine. Smooth otters are often sighted in our mangroves, mudflats and coastal areas. Such as at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Pasir Ris, Pulau Ubin as well as Changi. |
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According
to Baker, in Singapore, they are also reported from the Western Catchment
Area. It was previously known as Lutra perspicillata.
Acccording to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, The first
record of the Smooth otter was of a male, collected in 1938 from Lazarus
Island. The second otter sighting was recorded at Sungei Buloh in
1990. According to Davison, the local population may not be strictly
resident as they travel easily between Johor and Singapore across
the Johor Straits. Features: Head and body to 75cm, tail to 45cm. Long body and a long tail, covered in short sleek fur. It has short limbs with webbed 'fingers' and prominent claws. The upperparts are greyish brown and the underside is buffy. Smooth otters are generally social and live in pairs or family groups of parents and their young. They are active both during the day and at night. Sometimes mistaken for other marine animals. Here's more on how to distinguish an otter on Meryl Theng's Otters in Singapore blog. What does it eat? It eats mainly fish, but also turtles, crustaceans and clams and snails. Otter babies: Babies are born in a litter of 1-2, in a den dun in the river bank. The young stay with the parents in a family group for some time. Status and threats: The Smooth otter is listed as 'Critically Endangered' in the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore. |
 Woodlands Park, Dec 10 |
 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mar 10 |
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Smooth otters on Singapore shores
 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, May 03 |
 Changi, May 09 |
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 Otter prints on mud. Chek Jawa, Jul 11 |
 Pulau Semakau, Aug 11 |
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 Pulau Semakau, Aug 11 |
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video clips of smooth otters on Singapore shores
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Links
References
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Vertebrate Study Group, Nature Society (Singapore). 180 pp.
New Holland Publishers. 128 pp.|
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