Marine otter

Lontra felina · The marine otter is a rare, small South American member of the weasel family that lives along rocky saltwater coasts from northern Peru through Chile to southern Argentina.

Also called Chungungo, Sea cat.

Marine otter
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0
Marine otter
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0
Marine otter
Photo: Camila Fernanda Reyes Vera, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassMammalia
OrderCarnivora
FamilyMustelidae
GenusLontra
SpeciesLontra felina

Where it lives

Rocky Pacific shores of South America, from northern Peru along all of Chile to the far south of Argentina.

Fun facts

  • In Spanish, the marine otter is often called gato marino, which means "marine cat".
  • The marine otter is the smallest marine mammal in the world.
  • Unlike many otters that prefer calm waters, marine otters seem to choose rocky shores with strong swells and winds.
  • Some marine otter dens are in caves or crevices that can't be reached from land at high tide.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).