Lutra Lutra
It is the otter with the widest geographical range. The dorsal part of the body is brown and the ventral part is white. The bones show osteosclerosis to reduce the buoyancy of the animal. It measures 57-95 cm in body length, 35-45 cm in tail length and 7-12 kg in body mass. The females are shorter than the males.
It is a nonseasonal breeder and mating happens in water. Gestation period lasts 60-64 days and they reach sexual maturity in about 2.5 years. The lifespan in captivity is 22 years.
Its diet includes mainly fish, but in winter it includes also amphibians, crustaceans, insects, birds and mammals (rodents).
According to the IUCN the eurasian otter is considered as Least Concern (2015).
Lutra lutra is the only species of otter that exists in Greece.
Distribution (Greece)
The eurasian otter occurs in Greece in many fragmented populations throughout the mainland, in Corfu, in Crete and in Chios.
Distribution (worldwide)
The eurasian otter can be found all across Europe (excluding one part of Central Europe, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Cyprus, some Greek islands and Balearids), northwestern Africa, Asia Minor, Siberia, China, Caucasus, India, Southeastern Asia and a small part of the Arabic peninsula.