86
Size Shoulder height 30 cm.
Weight 6–10 kg.
Habitat and Behaviour Eurasian Otters occupy a wide range of inland
waters, such as rivers, lakes, dams and marshes, as well as estuaries
and sheltered areas of coastal waters. On occasion they temporarily
wander away from water. Although they are mainly fish eaters, they
also hunt frogs, crabs, insects, birds and small mammals. Adult males
patrol, mark and defend a territory within which one or more females
and their dependent young are resident. They communicate with
whistling calls. Otters construct burrows, called holts, at the edges
of water bodies; the entrances may be above or below the surface
level. Otters also shelter among rocks and in dense vegetation.Usually
2–3 cubs weighing about 130 g each are dropped after a 59–63 day
gestation. In Israel and Palestine otters are noted to breed at any time
of year; in Armenia births have been recorded in May.
Distribution and Status This species is heavily hunted for its pelt over
much of its range, and many populations have been greatly reduced.
Pollution and modification of water systems are also responsible for
its decline. In North Africa these otters are strongly tied to rivers in
and to the north of the Atlas ranges in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.
They are present in Israel and Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and
possibly Syria, Turkey and Iran. In Iran they are known from the
Caspian region and other areas, but absent along the south coast and
the central desert region.
Conservation Areas En Nimfit NR (Israel). It is probably found in
other areas, but information about these is not available.