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Smooth-coated Otter Spotted in Adyar River at Chennai’s Tholkappia Poonga
A rare sighting of an otter is recently recorded in the Adyar River at Chennai’s Tholkappia Poonga eco-park. The species identified is the smooth-coated otter, bringing attention to its habitat, distribution, and conservation status.
Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata):
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Common name | Smooth-coated otter |
| Scientific name | Lutrogale perspicillata |
| Physical features | Provides for a sleek, medium-sized body with short limbs, webbed paws, and a flattened tail |
| Habitat | Freshwater-rich areas such as rivers, wetlands, lakes, swamps, and rice paddies; prefers shallow and placid waters; though found near coastal saltwater, requires nearby freshwater sources |
| Distribution | Found across India from the Himalayas to southern India; also found in the Western Ghats and northeast India |
| Otter diversity | India is home to 3 types of otters out of 13 species of otters found worldwide |
| Otter types found in India | Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra), Smooth-coated Otter (Lutra perspicillata), and Small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) |
| Characteristics | Strong swimming and fish specialisation; hunts in groups and often moves in a V-formation while fishing |
| Diet | Mainly feeds on fish |
| Behaviour and group size | Regulates for shy and sensitive behaviour; lives in family groups; usually seen in groups of 3 to 15 individuals |
| Legal protection | Governed by Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; provides for Schedule I status |
| IUCN status | Vulnerable |
| Threats | Loss of wetland habitats due to large infrastructure projects, conversion of wetlands for agriculture and settlements, reduction in fish stocks, water pollution, poaching, and contamination by pesticides |
| Ecological importance | Apex predator role in riverine ecosystems; helps regulate populations of other aquatic species; presence indicates clean rivers free from heavy pollution |