Caucasian otter is a predatory animal that looks like a marten or mink. The animal has an elongated body, is an active hunter, belongs to the Kunih family. This subspecies is found in the Western Caucasus; it is found in the Kuban and in the regions of Kuma, off the sea coasts. Today, the Caucasian otter is listed in the Red Book of Russia.
In this article we will talk about this endangered species, about the habits of the animal and its environment, about interesting facts related to these amazing animals.
Caucasian otter: description
This is a fairly large predator. With a tail, the length of his body is one hundred and twenty centimeters. Adults weigh between five and nine and a half kilograms. An elongated and relatively thin body, a short neck, ears almost not protruding from the fur with closed auditory canals, fingers connected by membranes, short paws, a small head and a rather long tail, which noticeably tapers towards the end - everything in the body of this animal is adapted to life in water and on land.
The body covers a dense, even and low hairline. The back of the animal is painted in a light brown color, on the abdomen it is lighter with a beautiful silver tint. Downy hair is whitish at the base and brown at the ends. You have learned what the Caucasian otter looks like. It's time to get acquainted with the features of her behavior and environment.
Spread
The Caucasian otter is widespread in the aquatic ecosystems of Transcaucasia, the North Caucasus, and in some regions of Asia Minor. Today, the animal is found in mountain rivers, at an altitude of up to 2500 meters above sea level, in artificial canals, steppe rivers, rice systems and ditches. Previously, the Caucasian otter populated almost all the rivers flowing into the Black Sea.
The otter lives in the lower reaches of the rivers Sulak, Terek, in the floodplains of the Kuban and Rioni. It is seen in Abkhazia and Ciscaucasia, in the rivers that carry their waters to the Caspian Sea. There is a Caucasian otter in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Food
In the diet of the Caucasian otter, fish makes up almost 80%. The animal feeds on frogs and crayfish; in rice systems it eats amphibians. Often attacks rodents and birds. Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy some types of plants. The Caucasian otter is a very fast predator. An interesting way to hunt this otter is that it often catches fish almost by the tail, and does it somehow lazily and gracefully, without any haste.
In the Kuban, the otter preys on leisurely crucian carp, does not give up pike, and easily catches up with quick trout. But it is interesting that this water hunter, under no circumstances, catches the next fish until he eats the caught.
Activity
The Caucasian otter is a rather secretive animal, leading a nocturnal lifestyle, or rather, twilight. Due to the fact that she lives on the shores of fresh water bodies, it is easy to guess that animals build their burrows in places hidden by water: in the roots of trees, under snags. Can settle in the old burrows of the muskrat on rice systems, hollows on the banks.
Lifestyle
Caucasian otters are secretive animals, it is not easy to notice them. The animals show activity at night. They are endowed with high sensitivity: hearing, smell and vision are reliable assistants in the most difficult situations. The otter has many temporary shelters, but there is always a permanent hole in which the offspring is hatched.
Pregnancy lasts almost nine weeks. Babies are born completely helpless, blind, but they are growing rapidly and after two months they go hunting together with their mother. Otters are very caring mothers. A case has been recorded when a disturbed female rushed to the fishermen, protecting the offspring. And only after people left the place where the hole was located, the female returned to the cubs.
Caucasian otter animals leading a solitary lifestyle. Couples build only during rutting. In this period, there are pairs of animals even in the daytime. A brood averages four puppies. Young individuals stay together for about a year, after which they return to a solitary lifestyle.
Protective status
In Russia, the Caucasian otter is under state protection. These animals are included in the Red Books of the Kuban, Krasnodar Territory and the Russian Federation as a rare species, the number of which is declining. What caused the decline in the population of these strong, agile, resourceful and hardy animals? The answer is quite obvious - changes in nature associated with human activities.
The massive deforestation, which led to a change in the balance of mountain rivers, had a strong effect on the number of these animals. Pollution from industrial enterprises caused the death of a huge number of fish, and aquatic predators were left almost without feed. And, of course, the huge demand for animal fur played a negative role.
There are no exact indicators of the number of Caucasian otters, since animals can migrate. In the Krasnodar Territory, there are now about 260 individuals, most of which live in the Caucasus Nature Reserve. But there are optimistic forecasts. The reserves of the North Caucasus in the Tuapse region, Greater Sochi, where clean and transparent mountain rivers flow, are gradually inhabited by an otter, where it is under human protection.
Interesting Facts
- An otter is an animal that is easily tamed. This friendly animal in many countries is kept as a pet or used as a prey for fish.
- Otters have a great memory. These animals remember their name, follow the owner like a cat or dog and remember him all their lives.
- There is an opinion that otters benefit fisheries because they feed on non-commercial, weedy fish. This is probably due to the fact that it is easier to catch inferior or sick fish.
- It is believed that the Caucasian otter is a loner, and does not live in families, as, for example, the North American. However, fishermen meet entire families of otters near the Kuma River (Dagestan).
