Eurasian otter

Eurasian otter
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Lutrinae
Genus: Lutra
Species:
L. lutra
Binomial name
Lutra lutra
Range map
Synonyms

Mustela lutra Linnaeus, 1758
Lutra vulgaris Erxleben, 1777

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, European river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia and the Maghreb. The most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae), it is found in the waterways and coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa. The Eurasian otter has a diet mainly of fish, and is strongly territorial. It is endangered in some parts of its range, but is recovering in others.

  1. ^ a b Loy, A.; Kranz, A.; Oleynikov, A.; Roos, A.; Savage, M.; Duplaix, N. (2022). "Lutra lutra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T12419A218069689. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T12419A218069689.en. Retrieved 14 December 2023.