The word Pteronura means “winged tail,” coming from the Ancient Greek pteron (πτερον), meaning “feather” or “wing,” and ura (ουρά), meaning “tail.” It describes this characteristic of giant otters.
Order: Carnivira | Family: Mustelidae
Science name: Pteronura brasiliensis
Common name: Giant otter, nutria gigante, perro de agua
Conservation status: Endangered (EN)
Best season for orinoco goose: December to march
Description
The giant otter measures between 1.5 and 2 meters, with 45 to 65 centimeters corresponding to the tail, which flattens toward the tip. It can weigh between 25 and 32 kilograms. Its fur is dark brown, and it has light yellowish markings on its neck (gular patch), with a unique pattern for each individual, which helps identify them. These markings are larger in males than in females. The fingers and toes are connected by a membrane called interdigital. Its eyes are large and dark brown; the whiskers are long; and the snout is rounded.
Distribution
Previously, this species was found from the Guianas to northern Argentina, including Bolivia, Brazil (except for the northeastern region), Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, and Uruguay (currently extinct in this country). Due to intense hunting in the 1960s, the species was locally extinct in some areas, and its current distribution is fragmented.
In Colombia, there is evidence of its presence in most departments of the Amazon and Orinoco regions: in the Tomo and Tuparro rivers of El Tuparro National Natural Park, in the Bita and Orinoco rivers, the middle Meta River, the Arauca River, and many rivers that flow into.
Habitat
In the Orinoquia, it has been observed in white-water rivers: rivers that have a milky color and contain many nutrients. These rivers have extensive floodplains, significant fishing potential, and generally many human populations settle along their banks, such as the Orinoco and Meta rivers.
