Central and South America

Central America

Central America is home to three species of otter listed below.

The first two, can only be found in Mexico and in the northern parts of the country, close to the border with the USA. They are found in very isolated populations with this country:

North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) Conservation Status - Least Concern

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris) Conservation status – Endangered

The third can be found across all countries in central America.

Neotropical Otter (Lontra longicaudis) Conservation status - Near-threatened.

Although widespread throughout the region, some countries, such as Mexico and Costa Rica have some base knowledge and publications have been produced. However, in other countries, such as Honduras, Nicaragua and Belize, there is very little information, studies or literature on otters. It is important to gain a better understanding of otters in the region.

©Vincent Lo

Species: Neotropical Otter
The Neotropical Otter is thought to occur but little information is available.
Legal protection: No information.
Threats: Not known
Species: Neotropical Otter
Found in suitable habitat throughout the country. It is a common species in the province of Alajuela, and the San Carlos River.
Legal protection: Protected.
Threats: Deforestation, habitat loss and pollution
Species: Neotropical otter
Found across the country but no information on the status of their populations and distribution. However, documented in 14 new locations and new records in Funes & Pocasangre-Orellana 2020
Legal Protection: Unknown
Threats: Unknown
Species: Neotropical Otter
Found across the country.
Legal Protection: Unknown
Threats: Unknown
Species: Neotropical Otter
Neotropical Otter occurs in all major rivers along the east of the country and patchy areas along the northern coast. Documented records are highly limited.
Legal protection: No formal protection
Threats: Destruction of habitat
Species: Neotropical, North American River Otter and Sea Otter
The Neotropical Otter is regarded as a threatened species and is found on the high Sierras and low mountain slopes. In the northern and southern states populations are declining due to habitat destruction.
The North American River Otter is rare and found close to the border with the USA.
The Sea Otter became extinct in 1912, although one was seen off the Baja Californian peninsula in 1989 but there have been few sightings since and these have increased over the last 30 years.
Legal protection: Full protection
Threats: Habitat destruction, oil extraction, pollution, illegal persecution.
Species: Neotropical Otter
This species occurs in small numbers in rivers flowing into the Atlantic, Rivers in the Centre and South of the Country. Believed to be extirpated on the Pacific coast. Much of the information of otters in the country is old.
Legal protection: Full protection
Threats: Deforestation
Species: Neotropical Otter
Very little is known about otters in Panama.
Legal Protection: Unknown
Threats: Unknown
Species: Neotropical otter
Only Caribbean nation that has native otter populations. The Neotropical Otter is restricted to a few rivers
Legal protection: Full protection
Threats: Declining population due to habitat loss and illegal hunting

South America

South America is rich in biodiversity and has four species of otter listed below.

Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) Conservation status - Endangered

Neotropical Otter (Lontra longicaudis) Conservation status - Near-threatened

Southern River Otter (Lontra provocax) Conservation status - Endangered

Marine Otter (Lontra felina) Conservation status – Endangered

The two most widespread species are the Neotropical Otter, which ranges through Central to South America, and the Giant Otter which inhabits the Amazon rainforest from the north of Uruguay to Colombia. The Southern River Otter and Marine Otter are much more restricted in their range.

Species: Giant, Neotropical and Southern River Otter
Extremely small populations have been seen, perhaps come across from neighbouring Paraguay due to its proximity to nation. Concerted reintroduction efforts are now underway in north of country.
Neotropical otter is found mainly in northern and north-central parts of the country. The Southern River Otter is a species with one of the world’s smallest ranges, only found in small parts of Argentina and Chile. Found dispersed across its small range in places such as Nahuel Huapi National Park.
Legal protection: All species protected.
Threats: habitat destruction, water pollution, illegal hunting.
Species: Giant and Neotropical Otter
The Neotropical Otter occurs throughout the country, bar the south-west region. The Giant Otter is more restricted to isolated populations - in 2002 it was estimated that the country had a population of about 350 individuals occurring mostly in the National Parks (Damme, P.V et al 2002).
Legal protection: Protected.
Threats: Illegal poaching, habitat loss and pollution.
Species: Giant and Neotropical Otter
The Neotropical Otter is found throughout the country, but is rare and declining. It is now included in the Brazilian Red Data Book of Mammals as "threatened with extinction" as populations are decreasing due to habitat loss and water pollution. The Giant Otter is rare, and found mainly in the Amazon region and surrounding areas. It has disappeared throughout most of the country but since its protection the situation is improving.
Legal protection: Both species protected. The Neotropical otter is considered near threatened on the Brazilian list of threatened species. (Alarcon 2004)
Threats: habitat destruction, water pollution, hunting for furs, killing by fishermen at fish farms.
Species: Marine and Southern River Otter
The Southern River Otter is endangered in Chile and has disappeared from its northern range through hunting and loss of suitable habitat (Medina-Vogel et al 2003). It is known population in freshwater habitats are confined to isolated areas. The Marine Otter is declining with important populations on Isla Catchagua in central Chile and Chiloe island to the south. The Valdivian Coastal Range has a healthy population on the Marine otter, as does the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park (Wildlife Conservation Society).
Legal protection: Both species protected.
Threats: Poaching of both species, freshwater pollution, deforestation, otters drowning in fishing nets and habitat destruction caused by draining of waterways and planned construction/oil fields on the Pacific coast.
Species: Giant and Neotropical Otter
The Neotropical Otter is found across the country, with the Giant otter mostly in the south and the Amazon basin.
Legal protection: Both species protected.
Threats: Increased farming and colonisation leading to habitat loss.
Species: Neotropical and Giant Otter
The Neotropical Otter is rare but found across the nation. The Giant Otter is found in the lowland tropical forests in eastern Ecuador.
Legal protection: Both species protected.
Threats: Habitat destruction and water pollution.
Species: Neotropical and Giant Otter
Neotropical Otter is found throughout the country but little information is available on the Giant Otter.
Legal protection: No information.
Threats: Not known
Species: Neotropical and Giant Otter
Both species are found throughout the country and the Giant Otter population is of major importance. The Neotropical Otter lives in a variety of habitats but little is known of its ecology, distribution or population status in Guyana.
Legal protection: Protected.
Threats: Habitat destruction, pollution, human persecution, taken for pets.
Species: Neotropical and Giant Otter
The Neotropical Otter occurs in small streams to the east of the country and the marshy areas on the Pilcomayo and Paraguay rivers. Giant Otters are found on the Pilcomayo and Paraguay rivers.
Legal protection: Full protection
Threats: Illegal trade in otter skins.
Species: Neotropical, Marine and Giant Otter
The Neotropical Otter has a wide distribution including up to 3,000m in the Andean area. Its densest population occurs in the Amazon area. The Marine Otter lives at its northern limit and has sporadic populations along the coast. The marine otter is protected in Peru only within the Reserva Nacional de Paracas, on the central coast. In addition, some coastal land owned of the Company Proabonos S.A. serves as haven for marine otters in Peru. In the remaining areas, marine otters are threatened by accidental capture by local fishery activity. In southern Peru marine otters are caught in demersal gillnets. Marine otters are also killed intentionally because of conflicts with fish and prawn fishermen (Neyra, J.P 2009). The Giant Otter can be found east of the Andes, confined mainly to the lowland rain forests, a good place to see them is the Los Amigos Research Centre of Excellence
Legal protection: Full protection for all three species
Threats: Habitat destruction, pollution of water, illegal killing for fur, conflicts with fishermen.
Species: Neotropical and Giant Otter
The Neotropical Otter is found throughout the country. The Giant Otter is restricted to Corantijn, Nickerie, Wayombo, Commewijne and Coppename rivers.
Legal protection: Full protection for both species
Threats: Not known
Species: Neotropical Otter
The Neotropical Otter is found throughout the country with the main populations at Banados del Este, Estero de Farrapos and Tacuarembo areas.
Legal protection: Full protection
Threats: Drainage of wetlands, illegal hunting for furs - many skins are sold in Montevideo.
Species: Neotropical and Giant Otter
The Neotropical Otter inhabits streams in the tropical and tropical humid forests as well as the forests of Amazonas, Delta Orinoco and Bolivar state, Ilanos of Monagas and Tachira state. The Giant Otter is rare with small populations in the southern forest region and in the Apure and Portuguesta states.
Legal protection: Full protection for both species
Threats: Deforestation, water pollution from industry such as gold mining.

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