Trophic ecology and the use of shelters and latrines by the Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in the Taquari Valley, Southern Brazil

Iheringia. Série Zoologia

Carlos Benhur Kasper²  Vinicius Augusto G. Bastazini¹  Juliana Salvi¹  Hamilton Cézar Z. Grillo¹ 

[1] ,Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Departamento de Genética Laboratório de Citogenética e EvoluçãoPorto Alegre RS ,Brasil

关键词: Neotropical otter;    Feeding habit;    Scent marking;    Resting sites;    Brazil;    Neotropical;    Hábito alimentar;    Marcação Odorífera;    Locais de descanso;    Brasil;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0073-47212008000400009

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

This manuscript presents information about the ecology of Lontra longicaudis (Olfers, 1818) in the Taquari Valley, State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. The study was carried out in two areas located in the Forquetinha Creek and in the Forqueta River from January to December 2003. The otters are specialist feeders (Bsta = 0.24), with a diet based mostly on fish, especially those of the families Loricariidae and Cichlidae. Most shelters used by the species were excavated burrows underneath tree roots, while shelters within rocks were used less frequently. The burrows showed great variation in size, being found on average 3.5 m (sd = 3.6 m) away from the margin and 2.5 m (sd = 1.2 m) above the water level. Scent marks were made preferentially on rocks and fallen tree trunks at the edge of the water. There was a tendency to increase the reutilization of latrines in detriment of using new sites throughout the sample period.

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