Smooth-coated Otter
Overview
The Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) is a species of otter
, the only extant representative of the genus Lutrogale
. The species is found from southern Pakistan
(Sindh province) and parts of the India
east to Southeast Asia
, and there is a disjunct population in Iraq
. As its name indicates, the fur
of this species is smoother and shorter than that of other otters.
Smooth-coated otters occur throughout much of southern Asia, in the Indomalaya
ecozone, from India eastward.
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
, the only extant representative of the genus Lutrogale
Lutrogale
Lutrogale is a genus of otter, with only one extant species - the smooth-coated otter.*† Lutrogale cretensis - Cretan Otter*† Lutrogale palaeoleptonyx*Lutrogale perspicillata - Smooth-coated Otter...
. The species is found from southern Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
(Sindh province) and parts of the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
east to Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, and there is a disjunct population in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. As its name indicates, the fur
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
of this species is smoother and shorter than that of other otters.
Smooth-coated otters occur throughout much of southern Asia, in the Indomalaya
Indomalaya
The Indomalaya ecozone is one of the eight ecozones that cover the planet's land surface. It extends across most of South and Southeast Asia and into the southern parts of East Asia....
ecozone, from India eastward.
