Regresar

Activity patterns of the Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in the River Orinoco (Colombia)

Abstract:

The Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis), classified as Near Threatened, has the widest distribution of all South American species of the genus Lontra. Historically, this otter has always been considered to be a diurnal species despite the fact that only one study has ever investigated its activity cycles. Therefore, knowledge of the activity patterns of the Neotropical otter is still at best anecdotal. In this study, we describe the activity patterns of this otter in an area on the river Orinoco frequented by humans using records obtained by remote camera trapping. Our results seem to indicate that the Neotropical otter in our study area is mostly active at night and at dawn, which indicates that this species’ activity cycles are more flexible than once thought.