EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Otter Burrows

Burrows of Smooth-coated Otters (Lutra [Lutrogale] perspicillata), Family Mustelidae
Periyar National Park, Kerela, India

Explanation:  At first I was not sure what had caused these burrows and tunnels, here on the banks of Periyar Lake in Kerela, south India.  We are in Periyar National Park that includes a tiger reserve and this wonderful, wide natural lake that we had previously explored for their resident Asian elephants.

But soon we discovered the source of these hollows:  smooth-coated otters are enjoying this environment, as well.

  
Found throughout south Asia, the smooth-coated otter is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, being threatened most by human conversion of its lowland and floodplain habitats to hydroelectric projects, human settlements, and agriculture.  Other threats include illegal trafficking for their hides, for the pet trade, or for traditional medicine.  

In northern India, smooth-coated otters feed largely on fish, but also amphibians, crabs, and even occasionally birds (Nawab and Hussain 2012).  They switch among fish species depending on the season and availability of the prey.  Indeed, like many mustelids, otters are often opportunistic feeders.  

Here in Periyar Lake, the otters forage in shallower and less rocky parts of the lake (Anoop and Hussain 2004), where they also seem to create their bank burrows.

Information:
     Anoop, K.R., and S.A. Hussain.  2004.  Factors affecting habitat selection by smooth-coated otters (Lutra perspicillata) in Kerala, India.  Journal of Zoology 263(4):417-423.
     Nawab, A., and S.A. Hussain.  2012.  Prey selection by smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in response to the variation in fish abundance in Upper Gangetic Plains, India.  Mammalia 76(1): https://doi.org/10.1515/mamm.2011.105.