Eurasian Otterユーラシアカワウソ

Lutra lutraNT— Near Threatened

The Eurasian otter is the most widely distributed otter species in the world, found across Europe, North Africa, and much of Asia in freshwater rivers, lakes, and coastal habitats. A skilled, mostly nocturnal hunter, it feeds primarily on fish, supplemented by amphibians, crustaceans, and small mammals. Once devastated by pollution and habitat loss across much of its European range, the species has rebounded strongly in places like the United Kingdom thanks to conservation efforts, and the IUCN classifies it as Near Threatened.

Eurasian Otter (reference photo)
Photo: User:MatthiasKabel / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Carnivora / Mustelidae Source
Distribution
The Eurasian otter is found across Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, making it the most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily. Source

Did You Know?

  • The upper edge of its nose pad forms a distinctive 'W' shape, a helpful field feature for identification. Source
  • Japan's native subspecies is believed extinct, with the last confirmed sighting in Kochi Prefecture in 1979, but in 2017 Eurasian otters were confirmed on Tsushima Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, with DNA analysis tracing them to a Korean population. Source
  • In the United Kingdom, conservation efforts led to a 55% increase in the number of sites showing otter presence between 1994 and 2002. Source

Where to See This Species

6 facilities · 0 individuals

How to tell Sea Otters vs. River Otters apart →

アクアマリンいなわしろカワセミ水族館 (Akuamarininawashirokawasemi Suizokukan)Fukushima磐越自動車道 猪苗代磐梯高原ICから約10分。

アクアマリンいなわしろカワセミ水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

ふくしま海洋科学館 (Fukushimakaiyoukagakukan)FukushimaOpened in 2000

ふくしま海洋科学館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

横浜市立よこはま動物園 (Yokohama Shiritsu Yokohama Doubutsuen)KanagawaOpened in 1999

横浜市立よこはま動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

高知県立のいち動物公園 (Kouchi Kenritsu Noichi Doubutsu Kouen)Kochi土佐くろしお鉄道ごめん・なはり線「のいち駅」から徒歩20分またはレンタサイクル13分。

高知県立のいち動物公園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

東京都恩賜上野動物園 (Toukyoutoonshiueno Doubutsuen)TokyoOpened in 1882

東京都恩賜上野動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

富山市ファミリーパーク (Toyamashifamiri Park)ToyamaOpened in 1984

富山市ファミリーパークのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Latest news

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNではNT。良好な水辺環境の維持が重要です。

Habitat

河川、湖沼、湿地、沿岸域。

Threats

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

How can you identify a Eurasian otter?
One distinguishing feature is its nose pad, whose upper edge forms a distinctive 'W' shape, useful for field identification alongside its dense brown fur and long, muscular tail. Source
What happened to otters in Japan?
Japan's native otter subspecies was declared extinct after the last confirmed sighting in Kochi Prefecture in 1979. However, in 2017 Eurasian otters were confirmed living on Tsushima Island, with DNA showing they had crossed over from a Korean population. Source
Are Eurasian otter populations recovering?
In some regions, yes. In the United Kingdom, for example, the number of sites showing otter presence rose by 55% between 1994 and 2002 following pollution controls and habitat restoration. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org