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Spotted-necked Otter

Mammals

The spotted-necked otter is a slender, medium-sized otter found in freshwater lakes and rivers across much of sub-Saharan Africa, including the African Great Lakes. Its throat and chest carry irregular cream or white blotches on brown fur, a pattern unique to each individual, and it feeds mainly on fish caught by sight in clear water during the day. It depends on clean, well-oxygenated water more than Africa other otter species, and its populations have declined with water pollution and competition from fishing operations.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Piscivore 1
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 2
System (Realm)
Freshwater 2
Relationship to People
Hunted or Fished 3
Scientific Name
Hydrictis maculicollis 5
Conservation Status
Near Threatened 5
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Appendix II 4
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Hydrictis, Taxa
Source Spotted-necked otter

In Biome

Lake, Biomes
Source Spotted-necked otter
River, Biomes
Source Spotted-necked otter

In Ecosystem

Lake Victoria, Ecosystems
Source Spotted-necked otter
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Africa

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Botswana

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Lesotho

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Mozambique

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Namibia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

South Africa

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Zimbabwe

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
2. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
3. Spotted-necked otter
  • Conservation
    It is hunted as bushmeat.
  • Infobox: status2
    CITES_A2
  • Child Taxon Of: Hydrictis, Introduction
    The spotted-necked otter (Hydrictis maculicollis), or speckle-throated otter, is an otter native to sub-Saharan Africa.
  • In Ecosystem: Lake Victoria, Distribution and habitat
    It is common in Lake Victoria and across Zambia, but is absent in the Zambezi below Victoria Falls, Zambia.
  • In Biome: Lake, Distribution and habitat
    The spotted-necked otter inhabits lakes and larger rivers throughout much of Africa south of 10°N.
  • In Biome: River, Distribution and habitat
    The spotted-necked otter inhabits lakes and larger rivers throughout much of Africa south of 10°N.
View the Source
4. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Hydrictis maculicollis (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITES
Quote, Conservation Status: CITES
CITES Appendix II
View the Source
5. Wikipedia: Spotted-necked Otter
Wikipedia
  • Wikidata Q577677 (P225 taxon name)
  • Infobox: status
    NT
View the Source
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