Otters are inquisitive, playful and intelligent, often appearing to take childlike enjoyment in sliding around on muddy banks or in snow. They are semi-aquatic mammals and live in holts around water edges. They are fast, agile swimmers. Bubbles of air trapped in their fur give them a silvery appearance underwater.
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Inside an otter holt
The first ever pictures of otter life filmed inside a holt, using infra-red.
The European Otter (Lutra lutra), also known as the Eurasian otter, Eurasian river otter, common otter and Old World otter, is a European and Asian member of the Lutrinae or otter subfamily, and is typical of freshwater otters.
It differs from the North American river otter by its shorter neck, broader visage, the greater space between the ears and its longer tail.
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Adaptation data provided by Animal Diversity Web
They can be found in the following habitats:
The Otter is Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2008