Aspects of the Ecology of Smooth coated Otter Lutrogale Perspicillata Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1826: a Review

2009·3.9 MB·

by  Asghar Nawab

Journal ofthe Bombay Natural History Society, 106(1), Jan-Apr 2009 5-10
ASPECTS OFTHE ECOLOGY OF SMOOTH-COATED OTTER
LUTROGALEPERSPICILLATA GEOFFROY ST.-HILAIRE, 1826: A REVIEW
AsgharNawab1
‘Freshwater&WetlandsProgramme,WorldWideFundforNature-India, 172 BLodiEstate,NewDelhi 110003, India.
Email: [email protected]
Ofthe thirteen species ofOtters reported worldwide four are found inAsia, and India is home to three species. The
Smooth-coated OtterLutrogaleperspicillata isthe mostcommonofAsian Otters, beingdistributed throughout India
from the Himalayas southward. It prefers habitats such as large rivers, lakes and swamps and tends to compete for
resourceswiththeSmall-clawedOtterAonyxcinereusandEurasianOtterLutraUltrawhenall thethreespeciesoccur
sympatrically. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and is onAppendix II ofthe CITES and Schedule II
(Part II) ofthe Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. While some measure ofresearch has been established, Otter
conservationeffortsinIndiaarelaggingfarbehindthoseinEuropeandtherestoftheworld.Thisreview summarizes
the currentconservation status andaspectsofecology ofthe Smooth-coatedOtter, suggesting areas/aspectsoffuture
researchparticularlywithrespecttoIndia.Theneedforsuchareviewarisesfromanecessitytodirectfurtherresearch
effortstowardswetlandsandfreshwaterbiomesingeneral,andthoseofOttersinparticular,andalsotomeetdemands
forconservation management.
Key words: Smooth-coated Otter, Lutrogaleperspicillata ecology, review, conservation management, India
,
INTRODUCTION inconclusive and consequently no concrete database exists
for monitoring Otter population trends. This review
Otters are semi-aquatic members of the Mustelidae summarizes the current conservation status and aspects of
family, and as high-ordercarnivores atthe topoftheirsmall ecology ofthe Smooth-coated OtterLutrogaleperspicillata
niche eco-systems their presence serves as an important suggesting areas/aspects of future research on the species
biological indicator of wetland quality (Sivasothi and particularly withrespect to India.
Burhanuddin 1994). Phylogenetically, the Otter family tree
dates to the Miocene era, with Otter-like forms represented Species profile
bygenusMionictis inhabitingtheEarth20millionyearsago LutrogaleisfromtheLatinlutrmeaningOtter,andgale
,
(Hwang and Larivie’re 2005). Of the 13 species of Otters meaningweaselorcat.ThespecificnameperspicillataisLatin
worldwide. SeaOtterEnhydralutrisand MarineOtterLutra for conspicuous (Borror 1960). Lutrogale is known from the
felinaarerestrictedtomarineenvironmentsandtheresteleven earlyPleistoceneofJava(McKennaandBell 1997).Thegenetic
inhabit mostly freshwater habitats (Estes et al. 1982). Four structure of Lutrogale perspicillata is 2n=38, with a
speciesofOttersarereportedfromAsia(Kruuk2006): Hairy- fundamental numberof62(vanZylldeJong 1987).TheOtter
nosedOtterLutrasumatrana EurasianOtterL. lutra, Smooth- may weigh up to 11.4 kg, the total length ranging between
,
mm
coatedOtterLutrogaleperspicillata andSmall-clawedOtter 1,067-1,300 (Harrison and Bates 1991; Foster-Turley
,
Aonyx cinereus: of these the last three are found in India 1992). In its external characters the Smooth-coated Otter is
(Pocock 1941; Mason and Macdonald 1986; Kruuk 2006). characterized by a very smooth, sleek pelage (Francis 2001).
TheSmooth-coatedOtterisdistributedthroughoutthecountry Upper lip to the edge of the rhinarium, cheeks, sides of the
from the Himalayas southward, but the Eurasian Otter and neckandthroatare whitishorgrey (Pocock 1941 Tate 1947).
;
mm mm
theSmall-clawedOtterarerestrictedtotheHimalayas,tothe The underfur and guard hairs are 8 and 12 in length
north oftheGanges andto southern India. Occurrence ofall respectively. Muzzle is not spotted and therhinarium is bare,
threespecieshasbeenreportedfromnorth-eastIndiaandthe duskywithpeakeduppermargin(invertedV-shaped).Vibrissae
mm
Western Ghats (Hussain 1999). are white, <90 in length and well-developed. Eyes and
Ottersingeneralarebecomingincreasinglyrareoutside earsaresmall.Tailisflattened, limbsareshort,strong,andthe
ofnational parks and wildlife sanctuaries, being threatened foreandhindpawsarelargeandwell-webbed(Harrison 1968).
inmanyareasandthathabitatdestructionandpoachingpose
as a majorthreat as compared to otherdisturbances (Nawab Distribution and Conservation Status
2007).ThestatusofOttersinIndiaisfeeblydocumentedand The distribution of Smooth-coated Otter is disjunct
most of the distributional records are largely subjective or (Fig. being distributed throughout southern Asia (Hwang
1 )
are based on chance observations, the results remaining and Larivie’re 2005). Of the three subspecies, Lutrogale
ECOLOGY OF SMOOTH-COATED OTTER: A REVIEW
Fig. 1: Distribution of Smooth-coated Otter LutrogaleperspicillatainAsia
1. L.p. maxwell/, 2. L.p. perspicillataand 3. L.p. sindica.
Source'. Flwang & Larivie’re (2005)
perspicillataperspicillata hasawiderdistributionandoccurs eitherside ofthe interface between waterand land by being
in most ofIndia, Nepal, east to south-western Yunnan, Indo- to some extent one-dimensional, i.e., linear (Kruuk 2006).
China,andsouthtoMalaysia, Sumatra, andJava. L.p. sindica StumpfandMohr(1962)assertedthattheexpressionofhome
occurs in Pakistan (Hwang and Larivie‘re 2005) and is also range in terms of linear units isjustifiable for a number of
reported from India (Pocock 1941). L.p. maxwelli, whose species, including Otters, and home ranges ofOtters living
current status is uncertain, is reported from the marshes of inriverinehabitatareestimatedinlinearunits(Erlinge 1967;
southern Iraq (Mason and Macdonald 1986). In India, the MelquistandHomocker 1979).Similarly,thelengthofcoastal
Smooth-coatedOtterinmostofitsrangeissympatricwiththe shoreline has often been used toquantify the homerange of
Small-clawedOtterAonyxcinereus, and sometimes alsowith Otters living in marine (Kruuk and Hewson 1978; Arden-
the Common Otter Lutra lutra (Foster-Turley 1992). The Clarke 1986) and Lacustrine habitats (Erlinge 1967). The
Smooth-coatedOtterisunderScheduleII(PartII)oftheIndian linearity of the habitat makes confrontation inevitable,
Wildlife(Protection)Act, 1972,andislistedasVulnerable(VU) affecting competition for resources. In such case, Kruuk
by the IUCN and isonAppendix IIofthe CITES. (2006) has suggested random dispersion, with tolerance
between individuals by some kind of group territorial
Habitat use systemamongOtters.Moreover,thereappeal'tobedifferences
Otterhabitatappearstobeextremelyvariable,however, in the spatial organisation in different areas, and there is
more accurately it can be characterised as a narrow strip on variation in group size and range size, which can be
6 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106 (1), Jan-Apr 2009
ECOLOGYOF SMOOTH-COATED OTTER: A REVIEW
explained in terms of adaptation to environmental (Haque andVijayan 1995;AnoopandHussain 2005; Nawab
characteristicsinwhichresourcedispersionhypothesisplays 2007). Duringastudyonthefeedingecologyofthisspecies
an important role (Macdonald 1983; Carr and Macdonald inCorbettTigerReserve,northernIndia,fourpreycategories
1986). were identified from499 spraints analysed; fish (84%) was
Lutrogale perspicillata is essentially a plains’ Otter themostfrequentlyoccurringitemandalsoformedthebulk
preferring low elevations. In the Indian subcontinent they (97.27%) ofthe diet (Nawab 2007). Prater (1998), Foster-
areadaptedtoliveinnorth-westerndesert,dryzoneofcentral Turly (1992) and Hussain (1993) have established that the
IndiaandtheDeccanplateau (Prater 1998). In general, they exploitation ofsecondary prey,especially in winter, suchas
occur along the large rivers and lakes. Peat swamp forests, shrimp/crayfish,crabandinsects,andothervertebratessuch
mangrove forests along the coast and estuaries, and even as frog, mudskippers, birds and rats may be a strategy for
usericefieldsforforaging(Shariff1984;Foster-Turley 1992; meetingadditionalenergyrequirementsforthermoregulation
Melischetal. 1994;SivasothiandBurhanuddin 1994).When and for rearing pups. Smooth-coated Otter are strong
occupying saltwater areas, they require freshwater nearby swimmersandhuntingroups(Kruuketal. 1994),preferring
(Wayre 1978; Kruuk et al. 1994). When it occurs shallowandplacidwaters(Nawab2007).Whenfishingthey
sympatrically with otherOtterspecies it tends to use larger travelinaV-formationgoingupstream(Helvoortetal. 1996).
water bodies, and does not occur on small streams and Most foraging activity occurs in water and small fish are
irrigationcanals(Wayre 1978).AsreportedforEurasianOtter swallowed whole (Helvoort et al. 1996), but large fish are
Lutra lutra,reservoirsareused; theyformartificial habitats takentoshore(Ansell 1947). SpraintsitesofSmooth-coated
(Ruiz-Olmo et al. 2005) and usually serve as travel lanes Otter occur on small rocks, sand banks and large boulders
m
(SheldonandToll 1964).InIndia,AnoopandHussain(2004) 1-3 above waterlevelandthese sitesoften smellofrotten
recorded presence of Lutrogale perspicillata along the fish (Kruuk et al. 1993; Nawab 2007). Shariff (1984)
shallowerand narrowerregions ofthe lake in PeriyarTiger recorded these animals to roll and rub on grassy areas,
Reserve, while conversely, Nawab (2007) recorded that the especially after defecation and to sometimes rest on bare
Ramganga reservoir in Corbett Tiger Reserve; with steep sand. When groups of Smooth-coated Otter forage, the
shorelines,deepwater,absenceofescapecoverandpresence commotionmayattractbirdswhichbenefitfromthesmaller
ofmugger (major predator ofOtters) was found unsuitable fish thatflee intoshallow water(Kruuketal. 1993; Helvoort
for Smooth-coated Otters.Along the largerperennial water etal. 1996). However, these interactions may be detrimental
bodies in India, Smooth-coated Otter show preference for to Otters because birds attempt to steal fish (Helvoort etal.
rocky and sandy stretches in all the seasons, since these 1996). Studies on the dietary habits of mugger in Andhra
stretches provide sites for denning and grooming. River Pradesh have revealed the presence ofOtterfurs in the scats
stretches with bank side vegetation are favoured as they ofIndianmarshcrocodile(Kumaretal. 1995);andalternately
provide escape cover while travelling or foraging (Nawab crocodile hatchlings can also be potential prey for Otters
2007). HussainandChoudhury(1995)recordedinChambai (Kumar 1993).
riverthat an adult female with cubs defended ahome range
of 5.5 km while for an adult male it was estimated as Reproduction
approximately 17km.Also,thehomerangeoftheadultmale Incaptivity. Smooth-coatedOttersareknowntoattain
overlapped extensively with that of several female home sexual maturity at twenty-two months and mate during
ranges. Studies in northern India recorded smaller home August to November. Males are polygamous mating with
ranges of Smooth-coated Otters. This suggests that uptofourfemales(Desai 1974); copulationoccursin water
Otters tend to adapt to their available environment in lasting <1 min (Yadav 1967; Badham 1973) followed by
patchy and disturbed sites, restricting their movement prolonged playful bouts between partners. The gestation
(Nawab 2007). period varies from60to62days (Yadav 1967; Desai 1974;
Naidu and Malhotra 1989) and a litter of2-5 pups is born.
Food and feedinghabits Smooth-coated Otters often dig their own breeding dens
DietandfeedinghabitsofOtters isoneaspectoftheir (Badham 1973; Wayre 1978; Nawab 2007) and maintain
ecologythathasbeenstudiedwidelyindifferentpartsofthe smallfamilygroupsofamatedpairwithuptofouroffsprings
world (summaries in Mason and Macdonald 1986). Tooth from previous seasons (Wayre 1978). Captive studies
morphology of the fossils suggests that older forms of suggestthatthelongestlifespanofSmooth-coatedOtters is
Lutrogalefedmainlyonshellfish(Willemsen 1986).Smooth- around 20 years and 5 months (Medway 1969; Acharjyo
coatedOttershavegenerallybeendescribedasfishspecialist and Mishra 1983; Chakrabarti 1993).
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106 (1), Jan-Apr 2009 7
ECOLOGY OF SMOOTH-COATED OTTER: A REVIEW
Threats Nawab2008).TribalsandtraditionalpractitionersofAyurveda
Developmental activitiessuchasconstructionofdams inAndhraPradeshareknowntouseOtterbloodasacurefor
adversely affect Otter populations due to the reduction of epilepsy (Nagulu etal. 1999).
waterflowdownstreamdenyingaccesstoprey andden sites
(Ruiz-Olmo et al. 1991). Randell and Leatherwood (1994) Research and ConservationAdvocacy
have commented on the changes in prey dynamics, which In Asia, research on Otters dqite backs to 1988 when
are the consequences ofwaterway obstruction, such as less the first International Symposium onAsian Otters was held
diversityandsmallbiomassofpreyinimpoundmentupstream inIndia(Foster-Turleyetal. 1990;Hussain 1999). Sincethen
ofdamsduetolowerednutrientavailability andreduction in major doctoral works carried out on Smooth-coated Otter
prey due to blocked migratory routes. In Europe, studies on include: northernIndia(Nawab2007),centralIndia(Hussain
Otters (Jimenez and Lacomba 1991) have revealed that 1993)andsouthernIndia(Satyanarayana 1997).Afewshort-
infrastructural activities can cause extinction of Otter term studies have also been conducted (Nagulu etal. 1997;
populationsfromthelowerandupperreachesofariversystem Anoop 2001; Shenoy 2003; Perinchery 2008). Surveys to
and that the species gets confined to the less productive determinewhereOtterpopulationsstillexistandwheregreater
stretches. Ottersalsorequireundisturbedbanksidecoverfor habitat protection measures are necessary are the first step.
their survival. The depletion of sand from banks decreases Parallel efforts involve research into such areas as the
thenumberofsiteswhereOtterscangroomandbask(Anoop ecological requirementsofOtters,theirreproductivebiology,
and Hussain 2004; Nawab 2007). and the effects of deleterious pollutants in the food chain.
Otters are often in direct conflict with fishermen who Practical habitat management activities ranging from basic
view them as vermin or competitors for fish and kill them field research programmes, to planning and advising
(Foster-Turley 1992). Unimpeded fishing practices using Governmentin undertakinglarge-scaledevelopmentprojects
destructivemethods,suchasdynamiting,ghanorhammering onspeciesspecifichabitatmanagement(Hussain 1999).Even
and use ofIchthyotoxic plants to poison fish forms a major moreperplexingthanthelackofecologicalinformationabout
form of disturbance to Otters. This leads to indiscriminate OttersisanapparentlackofinterestinOttersin India(Nawab
killingoflargenumberoffish(juvenileaswellasbroodfish) 2006); hence awareness generation towards the plight faced
that adversely affects the population of fish as well as the by Otters and their ecological and aesthetic importance to
waterquality (Nawab 2007). aquatic environments should form an integral part of such
WildlifeconservationeffortsinIndiaandconcernabout studies to reinforce sympathetic attitude from the general
illegal wildlife trade has largely been concentrated on large public.
fauna such as tigers, leopards, elephants and rhino amidst
much public outcry to protect these species. In spite of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
general awarenessofthe trade in wildlife and itsderivatives
inIndia,thereislittleinformationontheextentandprevalence I express my gratitude to Dr. Asad R. Rahmani
ofillegal trade inOtterskins,andconsequentlythethreatsto (Director, BNHS) for his constant encouragement and
the species (NawabandGautam2008). Ottersarehuntedfor providingtheopportunitytopublishthismanuscript. Ithank
their pelts, meat, fat and other body parts (Meena 2002). Mr. RaviSingh(SecretaryGeneral&CEO,WWF-India)and
Seizurefiguresofwildlifeoffencesinthecountryrevealthat Dr. Parikshit Gautam (Director, Freshwater & Wetlands
20-30% ofthe fur trade is in Otter skins. The main markets Programme, WWF-India) for providing infrastructural
are Kanpur, Lucknow, Kota, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Delhi. supportandencouragementsforthisreviewstudy.Mr.Anoop
The Otter fur trade, which is practiced in many parts ofthe K.R., IFS, is thanked for his contribution of the ‘Otter’
world, routes out via Nepal and Bangladesh to importing photographs for this study. The help rendered by my
countries(HanfeeandAhmad 1999). Nomadichuntingtribes colleagues and the staff at the Freshwater & Wetlands
in India, such as Gilliam, Badiya and Jogis are known to Programme is highly appreciated. I thank the anonymous
regularly kill Otters for their skin and flesh (Walia 2001; referee(s) forreviewing the manuscript.
REFE NCES
Acharjyo, L.N. & G. Mishra(1983):Anote on the longevity oftwo Reserve, Kerala. M.Sc. Dissertation, Saurashtra University,
speciesofIndian Ottersincaptivity. J. BombayNat. Hist. Soc. Rajkot. India. 56pp.
80(3): 636. Anoop,K.R.&S.A.Hussain(2004):Factorsaffectinghabitatselection
Anoop, K.R. (2001): Factors affecting habitat selection and feeding by Smooth-coated Otter (Lutraperspicillata) in Kerala. India.
habitsofSmooth-coatedOtterLutraperspicillatainPeriyarTiger J. Zool. 263: 417-423.
8 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106 (1), Jan-Apr 2009
.
ECOLOGY OF SMOOTH-COATED OTTER: A REVIEW
Anoop,K.R.&S.A.Hussain(2005):FoodandfeedinghabitsofSmooth- Society ofMammalogists.
coated Otter(Lutraperspicillata) and their significance to the Jimenez, J. & I. Lacomba (1991): The influence of water demands
fish populationofKerala, India.J. Zool. 266: 15-23. on Otter Lutra lutra distribution in Mediterranean Spain.
Ansell,W.F.H.(1947): NotesonsomeBurmesemammals.J. Bombay Pp. 249-259. In: Reuther. C. & R. Rochert (Eds): Proceedings
Nat. Hist. Soc. 47: 379-383. of the V International Otter Colloquium. Habitat 6,
Arden-Clarke, C.H.G. (1986): Population density, home range and Hankensbuttel, Germany.
spatialorganisationoftheCapeclawlessOtter(Aonyxcapensis) Kruuk,H.(2006):Otters-Ecology,behaviourandconservation.Oxford
inamarinehabitat.J. Zool. 209: 201-211. UniversityPress. 265 pp.
Badham, M. (1973): Breeding the Indian Smooth Otter. International Kruuk,H.&R.Hewson(1978):SpacingandforagingofOtters(Lutra
Zoo Yearbook13: 145-146. lutra) inamarinehabitat.J. Zool.. London. 185: 205-212.
Borror, D.J. (1960): Dictionary ofwordroots andcombining forms. Kruuk,H.,B.Kanchanasaka,S.Wanghongsa&S.O’Sullivan(1993):
National Press Books, PaloAlto,California. 134pp. IdentificationoftracksandothersignsofthreespeciesofOtter
Carr, G.M. & D.W. MacDonald (1986): The sociability of solitary- Lutralutra,L.perspicillataandAonyxcinereainThailand.Nat.
foragers: a model based on resource dispersion. Anim. Behav. Hist. Bull. SiamSoc.41: 23-30.
34: 1540-1549. Kruuk,H.,B.Kanchanasaka,S.O’Sullivan&S.Wanghongsa(1994):
Chakrabarti,K.(1993):AnecologicalreviewofOtterinthemangrove Niche separation in three sympatric Otters Lutraperspicillta.
ecosystem of Sundarbans (India). Tigerpaper (Bangkok) 20: L. lutraandAonyxcinerea. Biol. Conserv. 69: 115-120.
19-21. Kumar, V.V. (1993): Studies on the Indian mugger crocodiles
Desai, J.H. (1974): Observations on the breeding habits ofthe Indian (Crocodyluspalustris. Lesson)inAndhraPradesh,India. Ph.D.
SmoothOtter. InternationalZoo Yearbook14: 123-124. Dissertation, SaurashtraUniversity. Rajkot, India. 162pp.
Erlinge, S. (1967): Home range ofthe Otter(Lutra lutra) in southern Kumar. V.V., B.C. Choudhury & V.C. Soni (1995): Dietary habits of
Sweden. Oikos 18: 186-209. the mugger (Crocodyluspalustris) in Andhra Pradesh, South
Estes, J.A., R.J. Jameson & E.B. Rhode (1982): Activity and prey India.Hamadryad20: 8-12.
selection in the Sea Otter: Influence of population status on MacDonald, D.W. (1983):Theecologyofcarnivoresocialbehaviour.
community structure.AmericanNaturalist 120: 242-258. Nature301: 379-384.
Foster-Turley, P. (1992): Conservation ecology of sympatric Asian Mason, C.F. & S.M. MacDonald (1986): Otters-Ecology and
Otters Aonyx cinerea and Lutra perspicillata. Ph.D. Thesis. Conservation.CambridgeUniversityPress,Cambridge,London.
UniversityofFlorida. 172 pp. 236pp.
Foster-Turley, P, S. MacDonald & C. Mason (eds) (1990): Otters. McKenna,M.C.&S.K.Bell(1997):Classificationofmammalsabove
An Action Plan for their Conservation. 1UCN/SSC Otter the species level. Columbia University Press, New York.
SpecialistGroup. 126pp. 631 pp.
Francis,C.M. (2001):Aphotographicguidetomammalsofsouth-east Medway,L.(1969):TheWildMammalsofMalayaandOffshoreIslands
AsiaincludingThailand,Malaysia.Singapore,Myanmar,Laos, includingSingapore.OxfordUniversityPress,London,England.
Vietnam, Cambodia, Java, Sumatra, Bali and Borneo. Ralph 127 pp.
Curtis Books, Sanibel Island, Florida. 128pp. Meena, V. (2002): Otter poaching in Palni Hills. Zoos'PrintJournal
Hanfee, F. & A. Ahmad (1999): Some observations on India’s illegal 17(2): 696-698.
tradeinMustelids,ViverridsandHerpestids.In:ENVISBulletin- Melisch, R., PB.Asmoro &L. Kusumawardhani(1994): Majorsteps
Wildlife and Protected Areas, Mustelids, Viverrids and taken towards Otter conservation in Indonesia. IUCN Otter
Herpestids of India. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. SpecialistGroupBulletin 10: 21-24.
Vol. 2,No. 2, 113-115. Melquist, W.E. & M.G Hornocker (1979): Methods and techniques
Haque, N. & V.S. Vhayan (1995): Food habits of the Smooth Indian for studying and censusing River Otter populations. Forest,
OtterLutraperspicillata in KeoladeoNational Park,Bharatpur, Wildlife and Range Experiment Station, University of Idaho,
Rajasthan (India).Mammalia59(3): 345-348. Moscow,ContributionNo. 154. Pp. 11-15.
Harrison,D.L.(1968):TheMammalsofArabia.ErnestBennLimited, Nagulu, V., V. Vasudeva Rao & C. Srinivasulu (1999): Curative
London,United Kingdom. 381pp. propertyofOtterblood-abelief.IUCNOtterSpecialistGroup
Harrison.D.L.&P.J. Bates(1991):TheMammalsofArabia.Harrison Bulletin 16(1): 44.
Zoological Museum. Sevenoaks. Kent, United Kingdom. Nagulu, V., V. Vasudeva Rao. C. Srinivasulu & J.V. Ramana Rao
354pp. (1997):ApreliminarysurveyofOttersintheMalabarCoastand
VanHelvoort,B.E..R.Melisch,I.R.Lubis&B.O’Callaghan(1996): theadjoininghillreservoirsandstreams.IUCNOtterSpecialist
AspectsofpreyingbehaviourofSmooth-coatedOttersLutrogale GroupBulletin 14(1): 30-34.
perspicillatafromsouth-eastAsia.IUCNOtterspecialistGroup Naidu,M.K.&A.K.Malhotra(1989):Breedingbiologyandstatusof
Bulletin 13: 3-7. theSmoothIndianOtter(Lutraperspicillata)incaptivity.IUCN/
Hussain,S.A. (1993):AspectoftheecologyofSmooth-coatedOtterin Asian OtterSpecialistGroupNewsletter1(2): 6.
National Chambal Sanctuary. Ph.D.Thesis. CentreforWildlife Nawab,A. (2006): Otterconservationin India: canmassmediaplay a
andOrnithology,Aligarh Muslim University, India. 206pp. role? Abstract Volume. 6th National Science Communication
Hussain, S.A. (1999): Otter conservation in India. Envis Bulletin - Congress 2006 - Public Understanding ofScientific Research
WildlifeandProtectedAreas2(2): 92-97 (PUSR). Science City, Gujarat and DepartmentofScience and
Hussain, S.A. & B.C. Choudhury (1995): Seasonal movement, home Technology,NewDelhi,India. December 11-15,2006.
range and habitat use by Smooth-coated Otters Lutra Nawab, A. (2007): Ecology of Otters in Corbett Tiger Reserve,
perspicillatain National Chambal Sanctuary. India. Pp. 45-55. Uttarakhand; India. Ph.D. Thesis. Forest Research Institute
In: Reuther, C. & D Rowe-Rowe (Eds): Proceedings of VI. (University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand; India. 174pp.
International Otter Colloquium, Pietermaritzburg. Aktion Nawab, A. (2008): Otters: Ambassadors for Wetland Conservation.
Fischotterschutz Hankensbuettel. PANDA. Pp. 9-10,WWF-India.
Hwang, T.Y. & S. Larivie’re (2005): Lutrogale perspicillata. Nawab,A.&P.Gautam(2008):Livingontheedge:Ottersindeveloping
MammalianSpeciesNo.786,Pp. 1-4.PublishedbytheAmerican India. Pp. 9. In: Wetlands-The HeartofAsia. Proceedings of
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106 (1), Jan-Apr 2009 9
ECOLOGY OF SMOOTH-COATED OTTER: A REVIEW
theAsianWetlandSymposium(AWS)2008. June22-25,2008. Sheldon,W.G. &W.Toll(1964): FeedinghabitsoftheRiverOtterin
Hanoi, Vietnam. a reservoir in central Massachusetts. J. Mammal. 45(3):
Perinchery,A. (2008):ConservationgeneticsofIndianottersandtheir 449-455.
habitat use in Eravikulam National Park. M.Sc. Dissertation, Shenoy, K. (2003): Against the current: Otters in the River Cauvery,
Manipal University, Manipal, India. 171 pp. Karnataka,WildlifeTrustofIndia, NewDelhi. 31 pp.
Pocock, R.I. (1941): TheFaunaofBritishIndiaincludingCeylonand SrvASOTHi, N.L. & H.M.N. Burhanuddin (1994): A review of Otters
Burma. Vol. II.TaylorandFrancis,London. 503pp. (Carnivora: Mustelidae: Lutrinae) in Malaysia and Singapore.
Prater,S.H.(1998):TheBookofIndianAnimals.EleventhImpression. Hydrobiologia285: 151-170.
Bombay Natural History Society. Oxford University Press, Stumpf, W.A. & C.O. Mohr (1962): Linearity of home ranges of
Mumbai. 324pp. California mice and other animals. Journal of Wildlife
Randell, R. Reeves & S. Leatherwood (1994): Dams and River Management26: 149-154.
Dolphins: Cantheyco-exist?Ambio.23(3): 172-175. Tate,G.H.H. (1947): MammalsofEasternAsia.MacmillanCompany,
Ruiz-Olmo,J.,J.Jimenez&I.Lacomba(1991):Lengthofhydrographic NewYork.
basinsandpopulationviabilityoftheOtterinRiversineastern vanZylldeJong. C.G. (1987): Aphylogenetic study ofthe Lutrinae
Spain. Pp. 255-258. In: Reuther, C. & R. Rochert (Eds): (Carnivora; Mustelidae) using morphological data. Canad.
ProceedingsoftheV. InternationalOtterColloquium-Habitat J. Zool. 65: 2536-2544.
6,Hankensbuttel, Germany. Walia, J.S. (2001): Badiya - Hunter gatherers of Doon Valley.
Ruiz-Olmo, J., A. Margalida & A. Batet (2005): Use ofsmall rich TRAFFIC-IndiaAVWF-India. 158pp.
patchesbyEurasianOtterLutraUltraL.femalesandcubsduring Wayre, P. (1978): The statusofottersin Malaysia, SriLankaandItaly.
thepre-dispersal period.J. Zool. 256: 339-346. Pp. 152-155. In: Duplaix, N. (Ed.): Otters, Proc. 1st Working
Satyanarayana, D. (1997): Studies on Smooth-coated Otter (Lutra MeetingOtterSpec.Group1977,IUCNPublicationNewService.
perspicillata I. Geoffroy) in twoecologically different habitats Willemsen, G.F. (1986): Lutrogalepalaeoleptonyx (Dubois, 1908), a
insouth Indiawithspecialemphasisonitsconservation. Ph.D. fossil OtterfromJavain the Dubois collection. Proceedings of
Thesis, OsmaniaUniversity. the Koninklijke NederlandseAkademie vanWetenschappen. B
Shariff,S.M.(1984):SomeobservationsonottersatKualaGula,Perak 89: 195-200.
andNationalPark,Pahang.TheJ.ofWildl.andParks(Malaysia) Yadav, R.N. (1967): Breeding ofthe Smooth-coated Indian Otter at
4: 20-24. JaipurZoo.InternationalZoo Yearbook 7: 130-131.
10 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106 (1), Jan-Apr 2009