Eurasian Otter

The Eurasian otter is a semi-aquatic mammal found across much of Europe and Asia, adapted to life in and around rivers, lakes and coastal waters with a streamlined body, dense waterproof fur, webbed feet and a thick tapering tail used for propulsion while swimming. It feeds mainly on fish, supplemented by amphibians, crustaceans and birds, and is generally solitary and largely nocturnal, marking its territory along waterways with scent deposits called spraints. Once widespread, the Eurasian otter suffered sharp population declines across much of its range in the twentieth century due to water pollution, habitat loss and hunting, though numbers have recovered in many countries following pollution controls and legal protection, and the species is now classified as near threatened.