Mesoamerican otter (Lontra annectens)

©Pablo Hernandez

QUICK GUIDE

SIZE - 1.2 metres

WEIGHT - 12kg

DIET - Fish (80%) - crabs, snakes, lizards, frogs, birds and mammals make up the rest

GESTATION - 2 months

HABITAT - Mostly swamp forests and smaller water bodies/rivers

THREAT TO SPECIES - Habitat destruction and water pollution

CONSERVATION STATUS - Not yet determined

CITES

The Mesoamerican Otter (Lontra annectens) can reach up to 1.2m in length and can weigh up to 12 kg as an adult. Its long and almost cylindrical tail, and small feet, are two of its more distinguishing features. This ‘new’ species is found mainly in central America, with populations in northern Venezuela and Colombia, with the Andes providing the barrier between them and the Neotropical otter.

Map courtesy of Dr Pablo Hernández Romero

©Anthony Batista

In 2024, a group of researchers found that the Neotropical otter that was formerly believed to range from Mexico down to Argentina was in fact two species, interjected by the Andes mountain range.

The new species, the Mesoamerican otter was found to live in the northern parts of the former Neotropical otter range, with the Neotropical otter’s range below that.

Although the species is fairly similar there are differences, both genetic and physiological. The study was based on genetics, which proved that there are in fact two separate species, but physical differences was also noticed.

For example, the rhinarium(nose) of the Mesoamerican otter s round and quite pronounced, whereas Neotropical otter has a much smaller band style rhinarium, or almost no rhinarium at all. See picture for more informations.

There are also difference in the skull composition which helps us determine the Mesoamerican otter to the Neotropical otter.

© Giff Beaton

Given that this is a new finding, a lot more information is needed to be determined on the species. For this reason, the species is conservation status and CITES listing is still to be determined.

If you would like to read more about the findings in the study, please click the link below.