Cryptic Marine Creature Found Off California Coast: Rare Otter Species Discovered Near San Francisco Bay - Enthusiasts boasting thick, abundant fur - the otters, who have a passion for fish.
Eurasian Otters Roam Germany's Rivers and Wetlands
The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), Germany's largest native weasel species, is an elusive creature most active during twilight and nighttime. Their territories allow them to travel as far as 20 kilometers a night.
Otter territories often accommodate multiple female otters, with no fixed mating season. Young otters are born year-round, usually numbering one to three per litter who leave their parents' territory at approximately 14 months.
Otters are voracious consumers, devouring up to one kilogram of food daily, including fish, frogs, crabs, waterbirds, and certain mice. Their lifespan in the wild can reach up to nine or ten years.
Physically, Eurasian otters weigh up to 12 kilograms, sporting flat, broad heads, and can reach lengths of up to 1.20 meters with their tails accounting for about a third of their body length.
Equipped with webbed feet, Eurasian otters can dive for up to eight minutes. They boast the densest fur of any native wild animal, with up to 80,000 hairs per square centimeter of skin compared to the average of 200 hairs on a human head on the same area.
In Mainz, Germany, Eurasian otters are likely found dwell in freshwater environments, such as the Rhine River and its tributaries, as well as associated freshwater wetlands and riparian zones [1]. These habitats provide ample food, good water quality, and shelter.
[1] - Research involving Eurasian otters in freshwater habitats has been conducted in Mainz, focusing on their feeding ecology using stable isotopes, indicating their habitats in Mainz involve freshwater environments.
In Mainz, Germany's community policy may encourage homeowners to maintain gardens that foster a suitable home-and-garden environment for Eurasian otters, as they thrive in freshwater wetlands and riparian zones. This lifestyle choice can provide ample gardening opportunities for homeowners and serve as a beneficial vocational training ground for future ecologists, observing and studying these elusive creatures.
