Lutrogale Perspicillata Research Articles

Regulation of lipoprotein secretion by the human liver: Importance of intracellular APOB degradation

Climate change impact on species is commonly assessed by predicting species' range change, a measure of a species' extrinsic exposure. However, this is only one dimension of species' vulnerability to climate change. Spatial arrangement of suitable habitats (e.g., fragmentation), their degree of protection or human disturbance, as well as species' intrinsic sensitivity, such as climatic tolerances, are often neglected. Here, we consider components of species' intrinsic sensitivity to climate change (climatic niche specialization and marginality) together with components of extrinsic exposure (changes in range extent, fragmentation, coverage of protected areas, and human footprint) to develop an integrated vulnerability index to climate change for world's freshwater otters. As top freshwater predators, otters are among the most vulnerable mammals, with most species being threatened by habitat loss and degradation. All dimensions of climate change exposure were based on present and future predictions of species distributions. Annual mean temperature, mean diurnal temperature range, mean temperature of the wettest quarter, precipitation during the wettest quarter, and precipitation seasonality prove the most important variables for otters. All species are vulnerable to climate change, with global vulnerability index ranging from −0.19 for Lontra longicaudis to −36,9 for Aonyx congicus. However, we found that, for a given species, climate change can have both positive and negative effects on different components of extrinsic exposure, and that measures of species' sensitivity are not necessarily congruent with measures of exposure. For instance, the range of all African species would be negatively affected by climate change, but their different sensitivity offers a more (Hydrictis maculicollis, Aonyx capensis) or less (Aonyx congicus) pessimistic perspective on their ability to cope with climate change. Also, highly sensitive species like the South-American Pteronura brasiliensis, Lontra provocax, and Lutra perspicillata might face no exposure to climate change. For the Asian Lutra sumatrana, climate change would instead lead to an increased, less fragmented, and more protected range extent, but the range extent would also be shifted into areas with higher human disturbances. Our study represents a balanced example of how to develop an index aimed at comparatively evaluating vulnerability to climate change of different species by combining different aspects of sensitivity and exposure, providing additional information on which to base more efficient conservation strategies.

Distribution and status of the smooth-coated otter Lutra perspicillata in National Chambal Sanctuary, India

The distribution and relative density of smooth-coated otters Lutra perspicillata Geoffroy were studied along a 425 km stretch of Chambal river within the National Chambal Sanctuary, Central India, between 1988 and 1992. Sample sites of 1 km were surveyed every 5 km. The study revealed that the distribution of otters along the river is patchy and largely restricted to the upper reaches. During the 1988 survey, 36% of sites were found with otter signs but only 24% in 1992. Recent increases in disturbance along the river due to construction of road bridges and mining activities might have put pressure on the population. Most of the positive sites (66%) were found on rocky banks, followed by clay banks (19%), banks with shoreline vegetation and marsh (11%) and sandy banks (3%). During intensive monitoring of four radio-implanted otters, c. 78% locations were made on rocky banks, 19% on banks with shoreline vegetation and marsh, with < 3% on sandy banks and <1% on clay banks, indicating greater preference for rocky banks owing to the greater availability of den sites. As a conservation measure, monitoring of the otter population should be done regularly and restrictions on cultivation, grazing and mining along the banks should be imposed within the Sanctuary limits, especially in the identified stretches.

Group size, group structure and breeding in smooth-coated otter Lutra perspicillata Geoffroy (Carnivora, Mustelidae) in National Chambal Sanctuary, India

Les variations de la taille et la structure des groupes ainsi que le calendrier de la reproduction de la loutre indienne Lutra perspicillata Geoffroy, en relation avec les mois et les saisons, ont ete etudies par suivi de quatre loutres equipees d'emetteurs radio dans le National Chambal Sanctuary (Inde Centrale) entre avril 1990 et mars 1992. La taille des groupes a varie de 1 a 9 (x = 4,62 ± 0,11, N = 422 observations). La taille des groupes etait similaire entre les deux annees d'etude, mais variait considerablement entre mois et saisons. La taille de groupe maximale a ete enregistree pendant la mousson, et la taille minimale en hiver. Le groupe familial de base consistait en une femelle adulte avec ses petits. La loutre indienne dans cette region est apparue plus sociable que les autres especes de loutres. Dans la vallee du Chambal, les accouplements ont eu lieu en aout-septembre et les naissances en octobre-novembre. La taille moyenne des portees etait de trois.

Food habits of the Smooth Indian Otter (Lutra perspicillata) in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan (India)

Article Food habits of the Smooth Indian Otter (Lutra perspicillata) in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan (India) was published on January 1, 1995 in the journal Mammalia (volume 59, issue 3).

A review of otters (Carnivora: Mustelidae: Lutrinae) in Malaysia and Singapore

Four species of otters have been recorded from Malaysia and Singapore in the past: Lutra lutra (Common or Eurasian Otter), Lutra sumatrana (Hairy-nosed Otter), Lutrogale perspicillata (Smooth Otter) and Amblonyx cinereus (Oriental Small-clawed Otter). All four are listed in the Threatened Species Categories of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals: L. lutra is designated ‘Vulnerable’ and the status of the other three Asian species are ‘Insufficiently Known’ due to lack of information. From a review of the available literature and collation of museum records from Malaysia and Singapore, the past status of the four species are examined. Presently, only L. perspicillata and A. cinereus are common in Peninsular Malaysia where they are widely distributed, but both are rare in Singapore. L. sumatrana is rare but apparently still found in East Malaysia. It is possible that L. lutra did not range in Malaysia this century. Information about the habitat types, group size, range, diet and behaviour for all the species is poorly known. The available information allows a discussion of the Smooth and Small-clawed Otters only. This dearth of knowledge has hampered maintenance and breeding efforts of zoos and conservation activity.

A phylogenetic study of the Lutrinae (Carnivora; Mustelidae) using morphological data

The phylogenetic relationship of the 13 extant species of otters were analyzed by canonical variate analysis using mensural data and by Wagner analysis using qualitative characters. The results of the two analyses showed a high degree of concordance. The information of the generalized distance (D) and Wagner trees was combined in an Adams-2 consensus tree. The phylogenetic hypothesis generated deviates from currently accepted classifications chiefly in separating the species of river otters of the genus Lutra, as it is generally conceived, into two groups of genera. One, the New World river otters (Lontra), is a monophyletic group phylogenetically linked to the African and Asian clawless otters (Aonyx and Amblonyx). The other group, their Old World ecological counterparts (Lutra), constitutes a different clade. Enhydra and Pteronura are the most divergent of living otters, the former being closer to the clawless otters and the latter to the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale), which in turn is phylogenetically close to the Old World river otters (Lutra). Available independent evidence, although incomplete, does not contradict the hypothesis.

Breeding the Smooth‐coated Indian otter Lutra perspicillata at Jaipur Zoo

International Zoo YearbookVolume 7, Issue 1 p. 130-131 Breeding the Smooth-coated Indian otter Lutra perspicillata at Jaipur Zoo R. N. YADAV, R. N. YADAV Curator, Jaipur Zoo, IndiaSearch for more papers by this author R. N. YADAV, R. N. YADAV Curator, Jaipur Zoo, IndiaSearch for more papers by this author First published: January 1967 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1090.1967.tb00350.xCitations: 5AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume7, Issue1January 1967Pages 130-131 RelatedInformation

XCI.—A new race of the Indian smooth-coated otter from Iraq

(1956). XCI.—A new race of the Indian smooth-coated otter from Iraq. Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Vol. 9, No. 106, pp. 710-712.