leucanopsis taperana is a moth of the family erebidae .

it was described by schaus in 1933 .

it is found in brazil and paraguay .

leucanopsis taperana

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the smooth-coated otter ( lutrogale perspicillata ) is a species of otter , the only extant representative of the genus lutrogale .

the species is found in most of the indian subcontinent and eastwards to southeast asia , with 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 otter

the smooth - coated otter is widely distributed but no other information is available .
figure 1 . smooth - coated otter occurrence records . ( click for larger version )
species : smooth - coated , eurasian , hairy - nosed and asian small - clawed otter otter . iucn 2007 abstract
species : eurasian , smooth - coated , hairy - nosed and asian small - clawed otter .
species : eurasian , asian small - clawed , smooth - coated and hairy - nosed otter .
species : eurasian , asian small - clawed , smooth - coated and the hairy - nosed otter .
the smooth - coated otter occurs in western and southern areas and is common in the mekong delta .
the smooth - coated otter that was sighted in mangrove forest in krishna district . — photo : by arrangement .
, the pelage of smooth - coated otters is used for garments , adornments , and other items . trained smooth - coated otters are used by fisherman to herd fish into nets .
species : eurasian , asian small - clawed , smooth - coated and hairy - nosed otter . ( de silva 2006 )
species : asian small - clawed and smooth - coated otter . ( thought to be extinct ( de silva 2006 ) )
species : eurasian , asian small - clawed , smooth - coated and hairy - nosed otter . ( de silva 2006 )
the smooth - coated otter lutrogale perspicillata ( mammalia : mustelidae ) in singapore : establishment and expansion in natural and semi - urban environments . iucn otter spec
. in malaysia smooth - coated otters are more abundant in mangrove forests than in river systems .
arkive photographs and videos of eurasian otter . on the same site are photos and videos of marine otter ( lontra felina ) , sea otter ( enhydra lutris ) , marine otter ( lontra felina ) , sea otter ( enhydra lutris ) , smooth - coated otter ( lutrogale perspicillata ) and the giant otter ( pteronura brasiliensis ) .
the wide distribution range of the smooth - coated otter encompasses socio - politically unstable and remote areas in asia . three subspecies are known :
the asian small - clawed otter is common , while the smooth - coated and hairy - nosed otters are rare ( de silva 2006 ) .
badham m ( 1973 ) breeding the indian smooth otter . int zoo yb 13 : 145–146
smooth - coated otter ( lutrogale perspicillata ) was sighted for the first time in the mangrove forest adjacent to the krishna wildlife sanctuary in krishna district .
you otter know ! smooth - coated otters can hold their breath underwater for up to eight minutes , allowing them to hunt for underwater prey proficiently .
hussain , s . , b . choudhury . 1997 . distribution and status of the smooth - coated otter lutra perspicillata in national chambal sanctuary , india .
smooth - coated otters form strong monogamous pairs . although males are larger , it is females that dominate the pair .
the report also shows that hairy - nosed otters and smooth - coated otters live in similar habitats in parts of their ranges . however , the former prefer areas sheltered by trees and vegetation whereas smooth - coated otters are more in open areas . smooth - coated otters are also known from the mekong river and its tributaries , including the sre pok river .
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the smooth - coated otter is found in southern and southeast asia , india , and china , as well as a small population in iraq ( 2 ) .
smooth - coated otters are omnivorous and eat insects , crustaceans , birds , frogs , water rats , eggs and fish .
otternet . 2002 .
species profile : india smooth - coated otter
( on - line ) . otternet . accessed 11 / 27 / 02 at urltoken .
smooth - coated otters also use visual cues , such as body postures , touch , and auditory cues in communicating with conspecifics .
like other otters , smooth - coated otters are trapped for fur . although not as luxurious as its north american cousin , the
you otter know ! different species of otter come in all shapes and sizes . the largest otter is the giant otter , which can grow up to 6 feet long and the heaviest otter is the sea otter , which can weigh up to 45kg .
males are polygamous mating with up to the four females , according to the iucn . the smooth - coated otter predominantly preys on the fish but often eats shrimp and crab .
both eurasian and smooth - coated otters are present in iraq and became very rare after the iraqi marshlands inundation in 2003 . the subspecies maxwell’s otter ( l . p . maxwelli ) , “iraq smooth - coated otter” is endemic to the iraqi marshes and was named after gavin maxwell , the author of ring of bright water , who discovered the species . maxwell’s otter is a flagship species for the country .
there are no estimates of population numbers for smooth - coated otter . currently this species is classified as vulnerable ( vu ) on the iucn red list and its numbers today are decreasing .
the oldest known smooth - coated otter in captivity died at 20 years and five months . the typical lifespan in the wild is between 4 and 10 years , although no conclusive studies have been made . it is suggested that the mortality rate of smooth - coated otters is correlated with the abundance of fish . smooth - coated otter populations follow fish populations in the tarai areas of the upper gangetic plains in india and nepal . following the monsoon season , smooth - coated otters move into flooded swamp areas to take advantage of fish population booms . the otters breed there and when the swamps shrink and the fish return to the permanent rivers so do the otters .
khan , m . s . ( 2015 ) . occurrence of the smooth - coated otter lutrogale perspicillata ( geoffroy , 1826 ) in punjab , india . iucn otter spec . group bull . 32 ( 1 ) : 3 - 76
the eurasian otter can be found in rivers and lakes in the zagros , elburz and koppe - dagh mountain range and in the iranian azarbaiejan . otters are also found south of the caspian sea in the golestan province . smooth - coated otters are also present in the border region with iraq . ( addy de jongh 2015 personal communication ) . the smooth - coated otter may be present as it is common in pakistan and iraq . in 1997 furs harvested on the iran and iraq border were from smooth - coated otters .
we found that , among the smooth - coated otters , those individuals that spent most time together were also most likely to start solving the puzzles together . in other words , the puzzle solutions spread along the smooth - coated otters’ social network , indicating that they were copying each other .
hussain sa ( 1993 ) aspect of the ecology of smooth - coated otter in national chambal sanctuary . ph . d . thesis . centre for wildlife and ornithology , aligarh muslim university , india
al - sheikhly , o . f . , nader , i . a . ( 2013 ) . the status of the iraq smooth - coated otter lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli hayman 1956 and eurasian otter lutra lutra linnaeus 1758 in iraq . iucn otter specialist group bulletin . 30 ( 1 ) .
the eurasian otter is not common and occurs in the northwest frontier province . the smooth - coated otter is more common and can be found again in the northwest frontier province . good areas for the smooth coated otter are haleji , hadero , kennjhar lake bufferzone , zangi nawar lake , ucchali , khabbika , jalar lake bufferzone , the sind and mekran coast , indus delta and river system and rawal lake . ( de silva 2006 ) .
citation : khan , m . s . ( 2015 ) . occurrence of the smooth - coated otter lutrogale perspicillata ( geoffroy , 1826 ) in punjab , india . iucn otter spec . group bull . 32 ( 1 ) : 3 - 7
the first year of my smooth - coated otter research found the species widespread distribution across the johor straits . this year , my research will delve further into understanding the ecology of this charismatic mammal .
only small - clawed and smooth - coated are found in peninsula malaysia , while in eastern malaysia all four species exist . the hairy - nosed otter population occurs in peat swamp forest near nenasi .
like other carnivores , smooth - coated otters use scent for inter and intra specific communication . they have a pair of scent glands at the base of the tail , which they use to mark vegetation , flat rocks , or shorelines near feeding areas . this marking behavior in otters is called sprainting . in areas where the smooth - coated otter ,
legal protection : eurasian and hairy - nosed otters protected by forestry law ( 2002 ) . asian small - clawed and smooth - coated not protected .
al - sheikhly , o . f . and nader , i . a . ( 2013 ) . the status of iraq smooth - coated otter lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli hayman 1956 and eurasian otter lutra lutra linnaeus 1758 in iraq iucn otter spec . group bull . 30 ( 1 ) : 18 - 30
smooth - coated otters are found throughout much of southern asia , from india eastwards . there is also an isolated population that inhabit the marshes of iraq .
smooth - coated otters are a palearctic and oriental species . they are found throughout much of southern asia , from india eastward . there is also an isolated population found in the marshes of iraq . evidence shows that the range and population of smooth - coated otters is shrinking due to loss of habitat and intensive trapping .
hussain , s . a . ( 1996 ) group size , group structure and breeding in smooth - coated otter lutra perspicillata geoffroy in national chambal sanctuary . mammalia , 60 ( 2 ) : 289 - 297 .
hussain , s . a . & choudhury , b . c . ( 1997 ) status and distribution of smooth - coated otter lutra perspicillata in national chambal sanctuary . biological conservation , 80 : 199 - 206 .
hayman , r . w . ( 1957 ) . a new race of the indian smooth - coated otter from iraq . ann . mag . nat . hist . , 9 ( 12 ) : 156 - 159
theng , m and sivasothi , n ( 2016 ) . the smooth - coated otter lutrogale perspicillata ( mammalia : mustelidae ) in singapore : establishment and expansion in natural and semi - urban environments . iucn otter spec . group bull . 33 ( 1 ) : 37 - 49
our investigation involved two otter species that , unlike the sea otter , are available to study in zoos and wildlife centres across the uk : smooth - coated otters and asian short - clawed otters . both species live in family groups in the wild , but limited field observations suggest that they have different feeding habits . while smooth - coated otters hunt cooperatively for fish , asian short - clawed otters seem to forage mostly individually for crabs and shellfish .
al - sheikhly , o . f . and nader , i . a . ( 2013 ) . the status of iraq smooth - coated otter lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli hayman 1956 and eurasian otter lutra lutra linnaeus 1758 in iraq iucn otter spec . group bull . 30 ( 1 ) : 18 - 30 read more here . . . .
citation : theng , m and sivasothi , n ( 2016 ) . the smooth - coated otter lutrogale perspicillata ( mammalia : mustelidae ) in singapore : establishment and expansion in natural and semi - urban environments . iucn otter spec . group bull . 33 ( 1 ) : 37 - 49
smooth - coated otters frequently hunt in groups , driving schools of fish together for easy capture . a group of otters has a feeding territory of 7 - 12 square km .
his videos capture the behaviour of our smooth - coated otters very vividly . you can observe them grooming , interacting with their family members and even defecating in the video below ,
smooth - coated otters are found in the southwest area of yunnan province and the coastal area of guandong . the eurasian otter is widespread with five sub - species . asian small - clawed otters occur along the southern boundary of china .
species : eurasian otter ? the japanese otter is believed to have been a subspecies of the eurasian otter , but it is also possible that it was a separate species altogether .
otters are protected in three reserves : sinyang otter reserve , daehung otter reserve and popdong otter reserve . otters also inhabit the upper reaches of all the major north korean rivers .
hussain , s . a . ( 1996 ) . group size , group structure and breeding in smooth - coated otter lutra perspicillata ( geoffroy ) ( carnivora , mustelidae ) in national chambal sanctuary , india . mammalia , 60 : 289 - 297
using visual and auditory communication , smooth - coated otters will also cooperate to lookout for predators such as crocodiles , medium - sized cat species , and large birds of prey ( 5 ) .
species are the most likely predators of smooth - coated otters . other potential predators are medium - sized cat species and large birds of prey ( primarily on young otters ) . smooth - coated otters are agile in the water and on land and use their sensitive whiskers to detect water disturbances . they are also social animals , with each animal in a group contributing to vigilance efforts .
legal protection : eurasian and smooth - coated otters protected by aquatic life protection act 1961 , national parks & wildlife conservation act 1973 . asian small - clawed otters only protected in national parks .
in such a dismal setting , it comes as some good news that two species of otters – the smooth - coated otter and the small - clawed otter – seem to be doing quite well for themselves in goa . three years ago , no one knew anything about the otter populations here , much less about the presence of small - clawed otters . how things have changed .
otters have declined in nepal with the status of the asian small - clawed unknown ( de silva 2006 ) the eurasian otter has been found in begnas and the rupa lakes and the west seti basin ( de silva 2006 ) the smooth - coated otter occurs in the rivers karnali , mahakali , koshi and narayani rivers .
legal protection : eurasian , asian small - clawed and smooth - coated otters protected by protection of wildlife & wild plants & conservation of natural areas law ( 1994 ) but not the hairy - nosed otter as it is not recognised as existing in the country .
how to cite this article : moretti , b . et al . phylogeography of the smooth - coated otter ( lutrogale perspicillata ) : distinct evolutionary lineages and hybridization with the asian small - clawed otter ( aonyx cinereus ) . sci . rep . 7 , 41611 ; doi : 10 . 1038 / srep41611 ( 2017 ) .
the smooth - coated otter attains sexual maturity at 22 months . breeding takes place from august to december and the smooth - coated otter gives birth 60 – 62 days later to between one and five young . at four weeks the eyes open , and at six weeks they begin to learn to swim . after five months , the young are weaned and at one year , they will often disperse to find home ranges of their own . the longest recorded life span in captivity is around 20 years and five months ( 6 ) .
this finding makes sense if we consider the animals’ natural history . if they tend to forage on their own in the wild , asian short - clawed otters may be less inclined to turn to each other for foraging information than the group - hunting smooth - coated otter .
the photos will aid greatly in the diet studies of the smooth - coated otter . from the pictures , the identification of prey species may be possible . such information will supplement the diet studies and are very valuable as evidence for the kind of fish / organisms they eat .
species : asian small - clawed , smooth - coated and eurasian otter . ( de silva 2006 ) hairy - nosed otters used to be present in northern myanmar ( formerly burma ) and there are reports that they may still be there but this has not yet been confirmed .
to show me how they gather data for the various legs of their research , borker and krupa let me accompany them to a field station . soon , we find ourselves walking along a mangrove in amona , a known smooth - coated otter habitat . to the right is a
the asian small - clawed otter is very rare . the smooth - coated otter is the most common species although numbers are shrinking the eurasian otter has a sporadic small population found in chittagong and chittagong hill tracts and in the wetlands of mymensingh and syhet ( de silva 2006 ) . rapid degredation in the forest regions has occurred as a result of widespread transformation , degredation and destruction of habitat . ( iucn 2007 abstract )
the distribution of smooth - coated otter is reported widespread in punjab and are locally called ludhar ( singh , 1991 ) . presently , the population is severely fragmented throughout its distribution range and isolated populations are restricted mostly to protected areas ( hussain 1999 ; nawab 2007 ; nawab 2009 ) .
the webbing in the paws is also different in both species , with the smooth - coated otters having more of it to catch fish easily . their tails are flatter too , so they move faster in water . ”
smooth - coated otters are listed as vulnerable on the iucn red list . the population is threatened by loss of wetland habitats to large - scale hydroelectric projects , settlements and agriculture , poaching , and contamination of waterways by pesticides . smooth - coated otters are protected in india under the wildlife ( protection ) act , 1972 , and are listed as endangered . they are also listed under schedule ii , and listed in appendix ii of cites .
bennetto , c . ( 2009 ) international training workshop on asian otter research and conservation . iucn otter specialist group bulletin , 26 , 65–131 .
whilst the smooth - coated otter occurs in many national parks , particularly in indonesia where there is no other form of protection , enforcement of the security these areas should offer is usually poor . several surveying projects have been put into practice to establish the range and ecology of this species ( 4 ) .
the smooth - coated otter lives in southern and southeast asia , china , and india , and in iraq there is a small population . these otters are primarily found in lowlands , peat swamp forests , coastal mangrove forests , large forested rivers , freshwater wetlands , lakes , and rice paddies . smooth - coated otters are adapted to water but are equally comfortable being on land and are able to travel long distances overland when seeking a suitable habitat . these animals in malaysia are more abundant in the mangrove forests than in the river systems .
all species are becoming rare outside the protected national parks . the asian small - clawed is the rarest and is found on the foothills of the himalayas . the smooth - coated otter is found throughout india and the eurasian otter occurs in the foothills of the western himalayas and in the states of kerala , tamil nadu , karnataka and goa in the south . ( de silva 2006 )
smooth - coated otter is distributed throughout the country from the himalayas and to the south in india . it is sympatric with other otter species in the western ghats and the northeast india . smooth - coated otters are found in areas where freshwater is plentiful , preferring shallow and placid waters— wetlands and seasonal swamps , rivers , lakes , and rice paddies . where they are the only species of otter , they may be found in almost any suitable habitat , but where they are sympatric with other species , they avoid smaller streams and canals in favour of larger bodies of water . although they are often found in saltwater near the coast , especially on smaller islands , they require a nearby source of freshwater .
preferred habitats vary with region , but smooth - coated otters can inhabit large lowland rivers and lakes , peat swamp forests , mangrove forests by coasts and estuaries , or the rice fields of southeast asia . these otters seek habitat with rocky areas for dens and resting , as well as bank side vegetation to provide some cover whilst foraging . in areas with monsoons , the seasonally flooded swamps are made use of in order to follow fish populations ( 1 ) . the smooth - coated otter will travel long distances over land to find suitable habitat ( 5 ) .
the small - clawed species , which is the smaller of the two ( and the smallest otter of them all ) , is often found close to shallow forest streams ( about 1 - 1 . 5 metres in depth ) , while the smooth - coated otters have adapted to survive in the brackish waters of the mangroves .
at the wildotters field office in sanquelim in north goa , hannah krupa shows me the paw print of a smooth coated otter . she has been working with wildotters for a year , taking up research before she embarks on her masters programme . it will revolve around otters , she assures me . in between looking at otter photographs and videos , borker and krupa talk about the next phase of their work .
the family structure of the smooth - coated otters is similar to humans . they have a monogamous mating system , living in family groups of a male ( boar / dog ) , a female ( sow / bitch ) and a set of pups .
as for smooth - coated otters , an interesting thing the wildotters team is looking at is what kind of fish they are eating . is it commercially important fish or not ? they are also looking at the interactions between smooth - coated otters and fishermen . since this species is found by the mangroves , it often comes in contact with humans . “we are looking at fishermen - otter interactions and how serious a threat this is to otter presence , but the data is not enough to comment at this point . it looks like they are doing fine , though and we have not had any serious complaints , ” borker elaborates . he laughs and attributes this to the
their diets are different , too , which underlies the preference of habitat . while small - clawed otters will feed mainly on crabs and other crustaceans , the main fare for smooth - coated otters is fish . only if fish aren’t available will they supplement their diet with crabs . borker enthusiastically launches into the reason behind this divergence in food habits : “there are evolutionary reasons for this , to do with how their brain senses have developed . imagine a cat – that is how the smooth - coated otter’s brain works . if you feed a cat , the animal’s brain tells it to use its mouth to eat . you will never see a cat holding food up to its mouth and eating with its paw . similarly , smooth - coated otters will swim and catch their prey with their mouths . that is just how they are oriented .
a student symposium will be conducted sometime in july . i will be giving a short presentation about my research findings about the smooth - coated otter’s status , distribution and diet in singapore . other research subjects include the common palm civet , common water monitor , mangrove crabs , red jungle fowl and domestic cats . so watch this space !
smooth - coated otters are mostly found in lowlands , coastal mangrove forests , peat swamp forests , freshwater wetlands , large forested rivers , lakes , and rice paddies . although adapted for water , smooth - coated otters are equally comfortable on land and can travel long distances overland in search of suitable habitat . they shelter in shallow burrows and piles of rocks or driftwood . some build permanent burrows near water with an underwater entrance and a tunnel that leads to a chamber above the high - water line , much like
to communicate , smooth - coated otters use scent glands at the base of their tail to mark different locations ( also known as sprainting ) . they also use a wide range of visual and auditory cues , such as body postures and squeals to communicate .
smooth - coated otters have a body length between 65 and 79 cms ( 25 - 31 inches ) , a tail length between 40 and 50 cms ( 15 - 20 inches ) and they weigh between 7 and 11 kgs ( 15 - 24 lbs ) .
amblonyx otter site . 2002 .
characterisics ( lutrogale perspicillata )
( on - line ) . amblonyx otter site . accessed 11 / 27 / 02 at urltoken .
at pichavaram , east coast of india . iucn otter spec group bull 11 : 31–33
legal protection : eurasian and hairy - nosed otters protected by government regulation no 5 / 1990 on conservation of natural resources & the ecosystem , government regulation no 7 / 1999 on preservation of flora & fauna . asian small - clawed and smooth - coated otters not protected .
in march 2013 a workshop was held in java to train people to do more otter research and education / public awareness . the government requested recommendations for further action and these were presented at the end of the workshop . these included legal protection for asian small - clawed and smooth coated otters . an indonesian otter network has been formed with their own facebook page and pet owners are starting to think about giving up their otters for care at a proper sanctuary .
smooth - coated otters are omnivorous and will eat insects , earthworms , crustaceans , frogs , water rats , turtles , large birds , and fish . fish make up 75 to 100 % of the diet . smooth - coated otters frequently hunt in groups , driving schools of fish together for easy capture . fishermen in india and bangladesh use this group hunting behavior to train them to herd fish into nets . a group of otters has a feeding territory of 7 to 12 square kilometers . a single adult consumes about 1 kg of food per day in captivity .
figure 1 . map of bangladesh showing otter fishing sites . ( click for larger version )
threats : habitat destruction and illegal hunting have resulted in serious damage to the otter population .
for the fourth consecutive year there were no otter signs in the jezreel and zevulun valleys .
) . barring the hairy - nosed otter , the rest can be found in india .
no conclusive studies have been made on reproductive timing in smooth - coated otters . where otters are dependent on monsoons for precipitation , they are most likely to breed between august and december . in the delhi zoo , all matings occurred in the month of august . the gestation period is 61 - 65 days . smooth - coated otters give birth to and raise their young in a burrow or shelter near water , which they excavate , or they assume an abandoned one . the cubs disperse at about 1 year of age . sexual maturity is reached at two years .
an otter ' s den is called a holt or couch . a male otter is a dog ( otter ) , a female a bitch ( otter ) , and a baby a whelp or pup . the collective nouns for otters are bevy , family , lodge or romp , being descriptive of their often playful nature , or when in water raft . [ citation needed ]
for the third consecutive year there were no otter signs in the harod and beit she’an valleys .
an update on the situation in pakistan was published in the iucn otter specialists group bulletin in 2010 - otter conservation in pakistan pages 89 - 92 by waseem ahmad khan and hussain bux bhagat .
the pakistan wildlife foundation was founded by waseem khan after attending the cambodian otter workshop in 2007 .
this article is about the carnivorous mammals . for other uses , see otter ( disambiguation ) .
( thailand , cambodia , vietnam , malaysia ) morphological subspecies . divergence times ( as above ) were 63 ± 60 kyr between south and southeast asia , 326 ± 152 kyr between south asia and middle east , and 370 ± 174 kyr between southeast asia and middle east smooth - coated otters .
moretti , b . , al - sheikhly , o . f . , guerrini , m . , theng , m . , gupta , b . k . , haba , m . k . , khan , w . a . , khan , a . a . , barbanera , f . ( 2017 ) . phylogeography of the smooth - coated otter ( lutrogale perspicillata ) : distinct evolutionary lineages and hybridization with the asian small - clawed otter ( aonyx cinereus ) . scientific reports , 7 , 41611 .
individuals never housed with other otter species and whose origin in the wild was known to collection curators .
the smooth - coated otter is classified as vulnerable ( vu a2acd ) on the iucn red list 2004 ( 1 ) and is listed on appendix ii of cites ( 3 ) . it is also listed as endangered on schedule ii part ii of the indian wildlife protection act 1972 , and is protected by the protection of wildlife , wild plants and conservation of natural areas act 15 ( a ) ( 4 ) .
smooth - coated otters are the largest of asia’s otters and have a very smooth , sleek pelage . their fur is velvety and thick and has two layers : their guard fur keeps their underfur dry under water to keep their body heat . this animal’s front legs are shorter than its rear legs , which helps with swimming , and its thick , conical tail is more flattened than in other otters , especially at the end . the males are larger than the females .
brooks , r . p . , serfass , t . l . , triska , m . and rebelo , l - m . ( 2011 ) . ramsar protected wetlands of international importance as habitats for otter . proceedings of xith international otter colloquium , iucn otter specialist group bulletin . 28b : 47 - 63
haque , m . d . n . & vijayan , v . s . ( 1995 ) . food habits of the smooth indian otter ( lutra perspicillata ) in keoladeo national park , bharatpur , rajasthan ( india ) . mammalia , 59 : 345 - 348
there are a number of initiatives to survey otter numbers over the smooth otter ' s range . in nepal , the iosf funded a project in 2002 to survey the status , distribution , ecology and behaviour of smooth otters in bardia national park to help develop a management programme . in some areas , such as sungai buloh national park in singapore , the otters are seen as stars of the park and the public are encouraged to find them attractive , in the hope that they will then understand why habitat should be preserved .
figure 2 . a schematic representation of fishing with otter by the fisherman . ( click for larger version )
b . if you find any otter signs ( faeces or paw prints ) , contact me as well .
sivasothi , n . , ( 1995 ) . a review of otters ( carnivora : mustelidae : lutrinae ) in singapore and malaysia , and the diet of the smooth otter ( lutrogale perspicillata ) in penang , west malaysia . unpublished msc thesis , national university of singapore .
the sexual maturity of smooth - coated otters is reached at 2 years . they give birth to 2 to 5 pups at once , with the gestation period being 61 to 65 days . newborn pups are blind until after 30 days , where their eyes finally open . also , they are able to swim only by the 60th day .
occur together , sprainting occurrs in different areas by each species . sprainting sites in small - clawed otters are usually high on the bank on flat rocks . sites for smooth - coated otters are more prominent than those of small - clawed otters . sprainting sites of european otters are lower on the bank and less frequent than that of other otters .
what a ride ! interested yet ? keep checking this space for the next otter cycling trail v3 . 0 !
figure 3 . sequential pictures of otter fishing in bangladesh . ( photo : mmfeeroz ) ( click for larger version )
i can look for potential otter habitats by scanning the area for poop and other signs like grooming sites and pawprints .
volume 28 of the iucn otter specialists group bulletin gives an update on the distribution and threats to otters in nepal .
smooth - coated otters are carnivores which primarily feed on fish , comprising at least 70 % of their diet . otters are natural fishermen , as they often hunt in groups to herd schools of fish together , allowing them to catch the fish easily . besides fish , they eat insects , earthworms , crustaceans , reptiles , frogs , water rats , turtles and birds .
recent data on the eurasian otter in indonesia is non - existent . during investigations into otters being traded as pets in north sumatra it was reported that these were eurasian otter cubs but the animals “disappeared” and so this could not be confirmed .
in china , the liver of the smooth otter is believed to have medicinal use . in burma , the sexual organs of male otters are valued , and in nepal , the uterus of female otters is believed to cure illnesses . otters are killed and their parts exported to all these countries for traditional medicine . in some parts of india and nepal , otter meat is eaten . in malaysia , cubs are captured for pets .
gudger , e . w . ( 1927 ) . fishing with the otter . american naturalist , 61 : 193 - 225
smooth - coated otter is characterized by a very smooth , sleek pelage . their eyes and ears are small , the tail is flattened , limbs are short , strong , and the fore and hind paws are large and well - webbed . these otters have generally been described as fish specialist . they are strong swimmers and hunt in groups . when fishing they travel in a v - formation going upstream . most foraging activity occurs in water and small fish are swallowed whole , but large fish are taken to shore . males are polygamous , mating with up to four females . the females often dig their own breeding dens and maintain small family groups of a mated pair with up to four offspring .
both species used to be widespread in south and south - east asia but their global populations have declined by more than 30 % in the past 30 years due to major habitat loss and poaching . as a result , both smooth - coated otters and asian short - clawed otters now have “vulnerable” status on the international union for conservation of nature ( iucn ) red list of threatened species .
this video was made by nature guide ng wen qing highlighting two of our lucky sightings during otter cycling trail v2 . 0 .
information about habitats and habitat preferences of the two species is easier to come by . there is a fairly good distribution of otters across the state of goa . while the smooth - coated ones are around the mangroves that dot large parts of the state , the small - clawed ones are present in and around the four sanctuaries in the centre of goa : mhadei , mahavir , mollem and netravali .
smooth - coated otters are the largest otters in southeast asia . they weigh from 7 - 11 kg as adults and can be up to 1 . 3 m long . their fur is shorter and smoother than other otters , and appears velvety and shining . they have short tightly packed under fur and longer water repellant guard hairs . the under fur measures 6 - 8mm , the guard hairs are 12 - 14 mm long . the fur is light to dark brown dorsally , and light brown to almost gray ventrally . smooth - coated otters are distinguished from other otters by their rounder heads , prominent naked noses , and flattened tails . their noses resemble an upside down v , or a distorted diamond . like other otters , they have webbed feet and strong dexterous paws that are armed with sharp claws .
the protection of otters is an environmental responsibility that needs to be achieved at a national level by iraq . in 2013 the government made an important first step for the achievement of this goal by signing the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild flora and fauna ( cites ) . hence , restrictions against the illegal commerce of live otters as well as of their parts ( e . g . , skins ) are in force , as the european and smooth - coated otter are listed in appendix i and ii , respectively .
ruiz - olmo j , jimenez j , lacomba i ( 1991 ) length of hydrographic basins and population viability of the otter in rivers in eastern spain . in : reuther c , rochert r ( eds ) proceedings of the 5th international otter colloquium—habitat 6 , hankensbuttel
single asian small - clawed family lives on pulau tekong besar , an island north east of the main island . the sungei buloh wetland reserve , at the northern edge of the country , is also part of the east asian migratory flyway in which countless birds migrate each year from siberia and china to australia and new zealand , and back again , it is the home for a family of smooth coated otters .
otter joy is wholly owned and maintained by l . c . wright and has no affiliation to any zoo or other organisation or body
this photo of otter footprints was taken at nyanpo yutse of qinghai province by he bing , of the nyanpo yutse environment protection society .
in some areas this is a protected species , and some places have otter sanctuaries , which help sick and injured otters to recover .
feeroz , m . m . , begum , s . and hasan , m . k . ( 2011 ) fishing with otters : a traditional conservation practice in bangladesh . proceedings of xith international otter colloquium , iucn otter spec . group bull . 28a : 14 - 21
smooth - coated otters are unusually social and family groups including the breeding pair and up to four young from previous seasons might nest and hunt together in a territory of 7 – 12 km² . this territory is marked by a strong musky odour that is spread on vegetation from anal scent glands in both males and females . whilst the male is larger , it is the female who holds dominance in the group ( 5 ) .
prakash , n . ( 2013 ) . monitoring otter populations and combating poaching through stakeholder participation – a status report . the rufford foundation .
tibet is an autonomous region of china . both the eurasian otter ( lutra lutra ) and asian small - clawed otter ( aonyx cinereus ) have been listed for tibet in several authorities but all recorded otters in the plateau region are eurasian , rather than asian small - clawed .
in today’s human - modified landscape , where otter habitats are shrinking because human population is growing , there is an observable overlap in the territories of otter families , making counting that much more difficult . many times , several families will gather at a neutral location and forage together .
citation : feeroz , m . m . , begum , s . and hasan , m . k . ( 2011 ) fishing with otters : a traditional conservation practice in bangladesh . proceedings of xith international otter colloquium , iucn otter spec . group bull . 28a : 14 - 21
) . this result represents the first record of introgressive hybridization in a wild otter population worldwide . nevertheless , the occurrence of tight evolutionary relationships between
here is an infographic that showcases the characteristics of both otter species of singapore as well as the general locations that they can be found in .
the international otter survival fund ( iosf ) is one of the world ' s leading otter charities . in the uk iosf is the only charity solely dedicated to the conservation , protection and care of otters based on over 20 years of scientific research in the uk and around the world .
so before you go on to record your otter sighting ( or if you’re just here out of interest ) , here’s a short tutorial to confirm the sighting of the animal . they’re often mistaken for other animals such as the moniter lizard which may appear to be an otter to an untrained eye .
dna analysis of two faecal samples revealed that one of them is from a eurasian otter and it is similar to the korean population . however , it has not yet been confirmed , whether this is a remnant individual of the
japanese otter
or an individual from korea ( august 2017 ) .
a monitor lizard swims laterally , meaning , side - to - side . notice that it keeps its head above the water the entire time . an otter will usually bob its head up and down , surfacing for breaths . if you are now confident of your otter sighting , record your sighting here !
this is the largest otter in asia , and like all otters it has a long , thick body , short legs , and webbed feet with sharp claws . the neck is as wide as the body and head . the ears are set low on the domed head , but the small , round eyes are set high up and wide apart . the muzzle is short and covered in thick whiskers . the fur is thick and velvety with two layers ; the guard fur keeps the underfur dry underwater to retain body heat . to help with swimming , the smooth - coated otter’s front legs are shorter than the back legs and it has a thick , conical tail that is more flattened than other otters , particularly at the end . males are larger than females ( 2 ) .
smooth - coated otters are now regularly seen in singapore and in 2016 there were reported to be 50 otters in the country . there are families in bishan , tanah merah , serangoon and pulau ubin and the bishan 10 family were chosen to represent the country’s 51st year . however there are some problems in sentosa where they are taking fish out of ponds in residential homes or luxury hotels . an otter working group has been set up to look into these issues and includes representatives from the agri - food and veterinary authority , national parks board , animal concerns research and education society , national university of singapore , wildlife reserves singapore and otterwatch .
two to five cubs are born in a litter , blind and helpless . at thirty days , the cub ' s eyes open , and by sixty days , they can swim . the young are weaned at about 130 days . unlike other otters , smooth - coated otters form small family groups consisting of a mated pair with up to 4 offspring from previous seasons . the male is allowed to join the group after the cubs are weaned , and he helps provide the cubs with food .
hussain , s . no date .
status of otter consevation in india
( on - line ) . accessed 12 / 3 / 02 at urltoken .
smooth - coated otters like large rivers , lakes , peat swamp forests , coastal mangroves , estuaries and rice fields , provided there is ample bankside vegetation for cover and escape , and rocky areas or deep soil for digging natal holts . they are widespread in lowland habitats , but have been recorded historically from 1830m ( yunnan ) . they have been seen swimming out to sea , and in sumatra are even called sea otters : they need adequate fresh water to wash the salt from their fur .
the smooth - coated otter is distributed throughout south asia and southeast asia . its distribution is continuous from indonesia , through southeast asia , and westwards from southern china to india and pakistan , with an isolated subpopulation in iraq ( pocock 1941 , medway 1969 , hussain 1993 ) . though its current status in the middle east is not known , its presence has been confirmed from pakistan , india , nepal , bhutan , bangladesh , southwest china , myanmar , thailand , viet nam , malaysia ( penisular malaysia , sabah and sarawak ) , and indonesia ( kalimantan , sumatra , java ) and brunei ( mason and macdonald 1986 , corbet and hill 1992 , wozencraft 1993 ) .
major threats to asian otter population are loss of wetland habitats due to construction of largescale hydroelectric projects , conversion of wetlands for settlements and agriculture , reduction in prey biomass , poaching and contamination of waterways by pesticides . poaching for pelt and other body parts that are believed to possess therapeutic properties . few nomadic hunting tribes eat otter flesh . reductions in prey biomass ( fish stocks ) and infrastructural developments have led to disappearance of otters from the many streams and rivers which were once major otter habitats .
red list category vu ( vulnerable ) , population trend decreasing year assessed 2014 assessor khan , w evaluators hussain , s . a . ( otter red list authority )
it’s always wonderful to share the joy of watching animals like the otter in the wild , especially one that is not easily seen and is so charismatic to boot .
there is a very active nepal otter network carrying out research and education / public awareness . please contact enquiries @ urltoken if you wish to know more about this .
many areas of asia are very poor , and people depend more and more on the produce of waterways . smooth otters eat large fish ( > 15cm ) and thus compete directly with fishermen ( or are perceived to do so ) , especially in india , bangladesh , laos and pakistan . there has also been a great growth in aquaculture , and smooth otters will naturally take advantage of a food source so conveniently dense and trapped . over fishing also impacts the otters by reducing prey biomass . they also drown in fish traps .
estes ja , jameson rj , rhode eb ( 1982 ) activity and prey selection in the sea otter : influence of population status on community structure . am nat 120 : 242–258
e . w . gudger , “fishing with the otter , ” the american naturalist 61 , no . 674 ( may – jun . , 1927 ) : 193 - 225 .
2015 have been a rather eventful year for the otters in singapore . the appearance of three smooth - coated otter pups born and raised in bishan - ang mo kio park ( apr 2015 ) got many singaporeans excited as people were astounded by the fact that they were able to enjoy the sight of wild otters in an urban park right smack in the heartlands of singapore . the otters’ presence in bishan - ang mo kio park was also a testament to the efforts of various government agencies in cleaning up the kallang river in the late 20 th century and maintaining a beautiful and clean river these days ( the kallang river flows from peirce reservoir to marina reservoir and into the sea through bishan - ang mo kio park ) .
sign surveys were conducted on foot between july 2011 and april 2012 at all locations where otters had been reported in 2011 , to detect otter signs ( spraint and footprints ) , spraint sites and den sites . sites with a high incidence of sightings and signs of otters were selected as study sites - sungei buloh wetland reserve , woodlands waterfront , coney island , sungei tampines , serangoon reservoir , punggol reservoir and pulau ubin ( fig . 1 ) . these were regularly surveyed for new otter signs to evaluate the status of otter presence there .
foster - turley p , macdonald s , mason c ( eds ) ( 1990 ) otters : an action plan for their conservation . iucn / ssc otter specialist group , pp 126
otters have long , slim bodies and relatively short limbs , with webbed paws . most have sharp claws on their feet , and all except the sea otter have long muscular tails .
verified otter sighting records were compiled and then plotted on a map to reveal the distribution of l . perspicillata in singapore . the records were supplemented with data from sign foot surveys and camera trap surveys , which are among the methods suggested by the iucn otter specialist group standard to monitor otter distribution ( reuther et al . , 2000 ) . nine sites with a high incidence of sighting reports between 2010 and 2011 were selected for these surveys and included estuarine mangroves , estuarine reservoirs , mangrove , beaches , coastal park and ponds ( table 2 ) .
but not all sea otters use tools . a study of what factors predict their tool use found that – besides sex , age , feeding habitats and availability of prey – learning from their mother may also contribute to a sea otter’s tool use . but whether sea otters or any of the other 12 otter species are actually capable of learning from others was still unknown .
the otter cycling trail is a biannual event where we take participants to beat - up natural areas along the northeastern park connector network ( pcn ) to promote both cycling and nature guiding .
threats : pollution , habitat destruction , road mortality and taking from the wild as pets . at the beginning of 2013 at least 800 otter pet owners were known in the jakarta alone .


the northern clingfish ( gobiesox maeandricus ) is a species of saltwater fish .

it is a member of the gobiesocidae family of order gobiesociformes .

it is native to the pacific coast of north america .

it is commonly found in the intertidal zone clinging to the underside of rocks by small hairs akin to those on a gecko 's feet on the basal portions of the pelvic and pectoral fins .

northern clingfish

posted in creature feature . tags : adaptation , creature feature , fins , gobiesox maeandricus , northern clingfish , pectoral , pelvic , rocky shore , tidepools . leave a comment »
the northern clingfish can fall prey to a variety of animals that hunt among the rocks at high tide . however it is also at risk during low tide when upland predators such as snakes and raccoons hunt among the boulders .
living along rocky shores from alaska to baja california , northern clingfish often lie low in tide pools , hiding under rocks . there , they use their pelvic fins like suction cups to cling tightly to rocks or blades of kelp even in strong currents or crashing waves .
clingy isn ' t usually a positive adjective . but for the northern clingfish , it ' s not just a description , it ' s a way of life . the small fish can use their bellies like a suction cup , literally clinging to rough and slimy rocks , even in swiftly moving water .
a clingfish ' s suction cup does double duty . when the tide goes out , a clingfish ' s pool might be left high and dry . but the cup holds in moisture , so the fish can still breathe . tucked safely beneath its rock , the clingfish waits until the tide rolls back in again .
could you imagine living in this nerve - wracking environment ? the animals that do have to have some pretty sweet adaptations . the northern clingfish , gobiesox maeandricus , has many amazing abilities to help it cope with the craziness of the tidepools . simply put , an adaptation is something one physically has or behaviorally does to help them survive in its environment .
nature is usually too complicated to be replicated 1 : 1 . however , once we have gained the understanding how a biological system works , we can transfer the main acting principles in a simplified technically doable way . in the case of northern clingfish , this meant for example applying a material with increased friction properties of the disc margin , which avoids or delays failure of
urltoken the aptly named northern clingfish uses its fins to suck onto the roughest and slimiest of marine surfaces . where manmade suction cups consistently fail , the clingfish achieves suctorial glory . dr . adam summers of the university of washington ' s friday harbor labs , details how this bottom dweller takes the art of suction to new heights . produced by luke groskin . filmed by ryan hawk . music by audio network . additional stills and footage by university of washington , friday harbor labs , central michigan department of microscopy , shutterstock .
a clingfish can cling so tightly that the rock it ' s stuck on may be pulled away by strong currents with the fish still attached .
we tested seven unfouled substrates of increasing surface roughness . the threshold roughness at which northern clingfish failed increased with specimen size . we hypothesize that because of the elastic properties of the disc margin , a larger disc can adapt to larger surface irregularities . the largest specimens ( length 10–12 cm ) were able to cling to surfaces with 2–4 mm grain size . the fish can attach to surfaces with roughness between 2 and 9 % of the suction disc width .
along the shores of the san juan islands in puget sound , clingfish face danger from land : gopher snakes sometimes enter tide pools to hunt these fish .
they then stuck suction cups and clingfish onto the different surfaces . the team used dead clingfish to make sure the fish ' s recorded clinging ability was purely due to the structure of their discs and not something the fish were doing themselves ( dead clingfish retain 96 percent of the suction tenacity of live fish ) . the researchers attached harnesses to the fish and suction cups , and then used a machine to pull them off while measuring the amount of force required .
the northern clingfish ( gobiesox maeandricus ) is a species of salt - water fish native to the pacific coast of north america . the fish live in rocky intertidal environments , where strong waves and currents threaten to toss them about . to survive in this turbulent setting , the fish has evolved an adhesion disc on its belly , which takes up about 25 percent of its underside . using the disc , the fish can achieve a death - grip on a variety of surfaces .
though many fish species live in the challenging environment of the marine intertidal few attempt to hold their station . crushing waves and continuously changing water levels are just some of the challenges that intertidal animals have to face . the northern clingfish , whose home is the northwest pacific , makes its living in this hostile environment . this little fish uses a ventral suction disc to stick to rough substrates in the intertidal zone so well that it can prey on the archetypal attached mollusk - the limpet .
applications . we were working on developing clingfish inspired suction cups since about two years , but the big breakthrough finally came this last summer . transferring the principles of the clingfish ' s attachment mechanism to technical suction cups , we developed a prototype suction cup , which can do the same as its biological model : attaching to rough and slimy surfaces .
the researchers are now trying to fashion adhesive devices with tiny structures similar to the clingfish microvilli , which could be useful in medicine , industry and the home , summers said .
just how strong are we talking ? in a video produced by science friday last year , you can watch the researchers use a dead clingfish to hoist up a six pound rock .
in aquatic environments solid substrates are fouled by bacteria , algae and invertebrates . a biofilm starts to form just a few hours after a surface is immersed , and the surface becomes more complex and diverse with time . this growth changes the elasticity and surface roughness of the primary substrate , and therefore the attachment conditions for benthic organisms . to investigate the influence of fouling on the adhesive strength of northern clingfish we incubated surfaces of various roughness for six weeks in the salish sea , leading to growth of a substantial biofilm and periphyton . we compared the adhesive force of the fish on unfouled and fouled substrates with four selected roughness ' s .
they found that clingfish generate adhesive forces 80 to 230 times their body weight . moreover , compared with the suction cups , the fish were better able to hold on to all surfaces except for those that were completely smooth .
researchers at the university of washington have studied the clingfish for years . back in 2013 , they announced the discovery of small , hair - like structures on the fish , which created a tight seal on almost any surface that the fish wanted to hold on to .
one of the most amazing adaptation the northern clingfish possesses is its pectoral and pelvic fins . if you don’t know which fins are the pectoral and pelvic , think of nemo the clownfish’s “lucky fin . ” his lucky one was a pectoral fin , while the fins , just below them on his belly are pelvic . instead of having a pectoral and pelvic fins on both sides of their bodies the clingfish’s fins are fused together on the bottom , forming a suction cup . this cup enables them to survive in a couple of ways . the first is , of course , the suction aspect . the suction is so hard that through strong current and wave actions , they will not be pulled from off of the rock . the rock might actually move with the fish still attached . the second amazing aspect is that the fins will hold moisture . when the tide goes out , sometimes these fish will be left on a rock with little to no water in their pools . to make sure they do not dry up , they hold moisture in their pelvic fins .
the northern clingfish is a common intertidal and shallow subtidal inhabitant of rocky areas from se alaska to the baja peninsula . it is one of several unusual local fish that have suckers on their bellies . normally found under rocks or clinging to kelp , it uses it ' s sucker to keep strong water movement from carrying it away . the sucker , formed from it ' s pectoral and pelvic fins , is also used at low tide to hold some water close to the gills for breathing . it ' s body is further modified by having a compressed head , tadpole - like body proportions and smooth skin . the skin is darkly colored , ranging from a gray to brown or red with a chain - like dark pattern . individual ' s are commonly around 3 inches long , but can range up to 6 inches .
a specialized epithelial microstructure on the ventral surface of the clingfish adhesive disc enables a perfect adaptation of the disc margine to the substrate topography on different hierachical layers . the elastic suction disc is covered with epidermal papillae made of tiny hairlike rods , which are subdivided at the tips into tiny filaments .
now , the researchers are thinking about the future . in a talk last month , biologist petra ditsche discussed some potential applications for an artificial version of the clingfish ' s sucker . the technology hasn ' t been invented yet , but ditsche and adam summers , the heads of the lab , think there are some slippery situations where a suction device like the clingfish might come in handy . suggested avenues of applications include a device that can tag whales without piercing the skin , or clamp - less medical clamps for surgical procedures , which could be gentler than current devices at holding things like organs in place during a complicated surgery .
but the clingfish is not the only clingy fish in the sea . goby fish in hawaii use their mouth as a suction cup to scale waterfalls , and remoras ( aka , suckerfish ) are known for their ability to hold on to larger animals , hitchhiking across the ocean using an adhesive that scientists would love to replicate .
using tiny hairs similar to those on gecko feet , clingfish are able to strongly and equally adhere to surfaces with a broad range of roughness , new research shows . the fish ' s suction powers easily outperform manmade suction cups , scientists say , adding that mimicking their design could lead to a new class of suction devices .
summers and his colleagues wondered how clingfish could rapidly stick to , and release from , surfaces of arbitrary roughness , and how they compare with manmade suction cups . to test this , the team made epoxy molds of
every kind of sandpaper you can imagine ,
from the finest sandpaper to those rough enough to strip finish from flooring . they put these molded surfaces into a tank filled with water .
basically , if they get stuck on a surface , you are going to have to really yank on them to get them off ,
said study researcher adam summers , a biologist at the university of washington .
and if you throw them in a bucket with water and then dump it out , you ' ll have an empty bucket with nothing but the clingfish inside .
[ image gallery : freaky fish ]
clingfish were able to attach to both fouled and unfouled smooth substrates with equivalent tenacity . however , the tenacity on fouled , rough substrates was less than unfouled , rough substrates . this decrease may be because the biofilm acts like a lubricant , and lowers friction between the disk margin and the substrate . nevertheless , even on smooth , fouled surfaces the fish generate impressive adhesive forces about 150 times higher than the body weight of the fish .
the team instead found that the secret to the clingfish ' s adhesion is the hierarchically structured microvilli ( tiny hairs similar to those found on gecko and spider feet ) around the edges of the adhesive disc . when you pull on a suction cup , its sides slide inward ; however , the fish ' s microvilli induce high friction to prevent slipping . additionally , the disc ' s flexibility and microvilli help seal its edges to rough surfaces , preventing liquids from leaking in and disrupting the adhesion .
science 20 jan 2012 : vol . 335 , issue 6066 , pp . 277 doi : 10 . 1126 / science . 335 . 6066 . 277
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an undergraduate reported at the meeting that gobiesox maeandricus adhered to eight surfaces mimicking the range of sandpaper grades with an average force 180 times their body weight .
© 2018 american association for the advancement of science . all rights reserved . aaas is a partner of hinari , agora , oare , chorus , clockss , crossref and counter . science issn 1095 - 9203 .
rocky shore creatures are at risk from coastal development and pollution such as oil spills and agricultural runoff . and rocky shores aren ' t as rugged as they seem . careless visitors can trample tide pool animals underfoot , and many collect sea stars or other souvenirs to take home , which can leave tide pools barren of life .
the mission of the nonprofit monterey bay aquarium is to inspire conservation of the ocean .
latin , gobius = gudgeon + esox , the old name for
pike
( ref . 45335 )
marine ; demersal ; depth range 0 - 8 m ( ref . 2850 ) . subtropical ; 59°n -
eastern pacific : revillagigedo island , southeastern alaska ( ref . 27436 ) to southern california , usa ; also off baja california , mexico .
maturity : l m ? range ? - ? cm max length : 16 . 0 cm tl male / unsexed ; ( ref . 2850 )
dorsal spines ( total ) : 0 ; dorsal soft rays ( total ) : 13 - 16 ; anal spines : 0 ; anal soft rays : 12 - 14 . caudal fin well rounded ; pectorals short and broad , a fleshy pulp between the base of the fin and the gill opening ; pelvic fins united anteriorly by a papillose membrane , the rays are flexible and support the lateral rim of a prominent adhesive disc ; the disc is completed posteriorly by a broad fringed fold of skin on the lower part of the body , and is separated from the pelvic fins by a deep notch ( ref . 6885 ) . light olive brown to cherry red , reticulated with darker or mottled with light shades ; dark radiating lines from eyes and joining the eyes through a series of reticulations ; white bars between eyes and in young across back and on edge of caudal fin ( ref . 6885 ) .
found in intertidal rocky areas among algae , and on kelp ( often high in kelp canopy ) ( ref . 2850 ) . may remain out of water under rocks or seaweeds ( ref . 31184 ) . feeds on small crustaceans and mollusks ( ref . 6885 ) . breathes air when out of water ( ref . 31184 ) .
eschmeyer , w . n . , e . s . herald and h . hammann , 1983 . a field guide to pacific coast fishes of north america . boston ( ma , usa ) : houghton mifflin company . xii + 336 p . ( ref . 2850 )
) : 8 . 9 - 17 . 2 , mean 10 . 8 ( based on 346 cells ) .
phylogenetic diversity index ( ref . 82805 ) : pd 50 = 0 . 5000 [ uniqueness , from 0 . 5 = low to 2 . 0 = high ] .
bayesian length - weight : a = 0 . 00550 ( 0 . 00242 - 0 . 01249 ) , b = 3 . 11 ( 2 . 91 - 3 . 31 ) , in cm total length , based on lwr estimates for this ( sub ) family - body shape ( ref . 93245 ) .
trophic level ( ref . 69278 ) : 3 . 4 ±0 . 3 se ; based on diet studies .
resilience ( ref . 69278 ) : low , minimum population doubling time 4 . 5 - 14 years ( annual fecundity = 382 ) .
vulnerability ( ref . 59153 ) : moderate vulnerability ( 43 of 100 ) .
this fish sticks better to rough surfaces compared to smooth ones . this is amazing , because in normal suction cups it is the other way around , and man - made suction cups cannot stick to rough surfaces at all . its ability to stick to rough surfaces can be explained by the morphology of its suction disc .
the fish ' s ability to stick to rough surfaces was explained in a previous study by our group ( wainwright et al , 2013 ) . in the present study , we identify the upper threshold of the surface roughness the fish can cling to , and the effect of biofouling on attachment strength .
the suction cup and finally results in increased attachment forces . the high adaptability of the
disc margin is another crucial material property relevant for attaching to rough surfaces . our bio - inspired suction cups develop tenacities of up to
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amazing , right ? currently summers and ditsche are trying to figure out how long a fish can stick , and why larger fish are better at holding on to rocks .
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even though the team thoroughly cleaned the fish before the tests , they still wondered if fish mucus had anything to do with the adhesive abilities . so they performed experiments in liquids of two different viscosities — one liquid matched the viscosity of fish mucus , the other was the much thicker glycerin . the fluids , particularly the glycerin , helped the suction cups cling to all but the roughest of surfaces , but they only marginally increased the fish ' s suction abilities .
the mucus isn ' t the key ,
summers told livescience .
the research was published tuesday ( april 30 ) in the journal biology letters .
follow us @ livescience , facebook & google + . original article on urltoken .
joseph bennington - castro is a hawaii - based contributing writer for live science and space . com . he holds a master ' s degree in science journalism from new york university , and a bachelor ' s degree in physics from the university of hawaii . his work covers all areas of science , from the quirky mating behaviors of different animals , to the drug and alcohol habits of ancient cultures , to new advances in solar cell technology . on a more personal note , joseph has had a near - obsession with video games for as long as he can remember , and is probably playing a game at this very moment .
elon musk ' s plan to rescue trapped thai boys ? a kiddie submarine that looks like a coffin .
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while feeding on small limpets , chitons , and other small molluscs , it uses it ' s sucker as an anchor so that the head and bottom teeth can be used to pry a limpet or chiton off a rock .
reproduction occurs in the early spring when eggs are deposited on the underside of rocks . the males remain to tend the egg masses . the larvae are planktonic .
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the rocky shores are my favorite habitat to visit and talk about . california has beautiful rocky shores with a large biodiversity of organisms . it is important to talk about tides because they play such an crucial role in this habitat . tides happen twice a day , where the water rises and falls due to the gravitational pulls of the moon and the sun . when the water level is high , we experience high tide and the rocky shore is mostly covered by water . as the rotation and the location of the earth and the moon rotate , the tide shifts and the water level then exposes the rocky shore . this is known as low tide . pools of water gets trapped in between the rock , creating what we know commonly as tidepools . !
living in the low tide can be very stressful for the rocky shore residents . with little water in which to hide and maneuver , the tidepools become less of a cozy home to the rocky shore creatures and more of an all - you - can - eat buffet for birds . the sun’s heat radiates on these shallow pools , warming them and forcing the fish and invertebrates to adapt . competition for space and food increases at every low tide . waves crash over and over against on the rocks , breaking down shells and stones into sand .
these are some amazing adaptations . can you think of the amazing adaptations that humans have ? share your ideas with us and others .
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brachynotus is a genus of crabs , comprising the following species : brachynotus atlanticus forest , 1957 brachynotus foresti zariquiey alvarez , 1968 brachynotus gemmellari ( rizza , 1839 ) brachynotus gemmellaroi ( rizza , 1839 ) brachynotus sexdentatus ( risso , 1827 ) brachynotus spinosus ( h. milne-edwards , 1853 )

brachynotus

species brachynotus edwardsii hilgendorf , 1882 accepted as hemigrapsus sexdentatus ( h . milne edwards , 1837 )
brachynotus sexdentatus ( risso , 1827 ) : goulletquer ( 2016 ) : 290 . [ [ sans objet ] ] goulletquer , p . 2016 . guide des organismes exotiques marins . belin . 303 pp .
the crab genus brachynotus de haan , 1833 is restricted to the intertidal and shallow subtidal of the mediterranean and northeastern atlantic . it is presently recognized to consist of four species , of which three ( b . foresti , b . gemmellari and b . sexdentatus ) are endemic to the mediterranean . the fourth species , b . atlanticus , is found along the atlantic coasts of northern africa and southern europe , but also extends into the western mediterranean . this high level of endemism suggests that speciation within brachynotus is strongly correlated with the geography and geology of the mediterranean sea . a molecular phylogeny based on the mitochondrial large subunit ( 16s ) rrna gene indicates that the four species of brachynotus form a monophyletic group within atlantic varunidae . the dna sequence data also show that the genus brachynotus can be subdivided into two species groups , one comprising b . atlanticus and b . foresti , and the other one b . gemmellari and b . sexdentatus . while b . atlanticus and b . foresti are clearly genetically distinct , b . gemmellari and b . sexdentatus are identical in the studied region of the 16s rrna gene , suggesting a recent separation or continuing gene flow .
türkay , m . ( 2001 ) . decapoda , in : costello , m . j . et al . ( ed . ) ( 2001 ) . european register of marine species : a check - list of the marine species in europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification . collection patrimoines naturels , 50 : pp . 284 - 292 ( look up in imis ) [ details ]
d ' udekem d ' acoz , c . ( 1999 ) . inventory and distribution of the decapod crustaceans from the northeastern atlantic , the mediterranean and the adjacent continental waters north of 25°n . collection patrimoines naturels , 40 . muséum national d ' histoire naturelle . paris . isbn 2 - 86515 - 114 - 10 . x , 383 pp . ( look up in imis ) [ details ]
streftaris , n . ; zenetos , a . ; papathanassiou , e . ( 2005 ) . globalisation in marine ecosystems : the story of non - indigenous marine species across european seas . oceanogr . mar . biol . ann . rev . 43 : 419 - 453 . ( look up in imis ) [ details ] available for editors [ request ]
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goneplax sexdentatus risso , 1827 : risso ( 1827 ) : 13 . [ description originale ] risso , a . 1827 ( 1826 ) . description de quelques myriapodes , scorpionides , arachnides et acarides habitant les alpes maritimes . in : histoire naturelle des principales productions de l ' europe méridionale et particulièrement de celles des environs de nice et des alpes maritimes leurault , paris . 5 : 147 - 186 . [ urltoken ]
risso ( 1827 ) : 13 . [ statut pour la france métropolitaine ] risso , a . 1827 ( 1826 ) . description de quelques myriapodes , scorpionides , arachnides et acarides habitant les alpes maritimes . in : histoire naturelle des principales productions de l ' europe méridionale et particulièrement de celles des environs de nice et des alpes maritimes leurault , paris . 5 : 147 - 186 . [ urltoken ]
national inventory of natural heritage , website : https : / / inpn . mnhn . fr .
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milne edwards , h . 1853 ,
mémoires sur la famille des ocypodiens , suite
, annales des sciences naturelles , paris , ser . zoology 3 , vol . 20 , pp . 163 - 228 pls 6 - 11
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 113932f3 - 2e5d - 4e73 - 882d - 587322b41c46
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 38f3463c - 9b93 - 4fe0 - a586 - 6e83aa98a81e
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 6cb0f50c - 49a2 - 45ee - 8ec7 - 188752312fda
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : d08aa09f - b539 - 465d - bdb0 - 1389f12cb110
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : d7cea891 - 0a56 - 40b9 - 86f9 - 57c69b5796d0
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 1f502a4a - b8b0 - 4780 - 8338 - 668c53151c0e
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . name : 374841
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almaça , c . , 1985 . evolutionary and zoogeographical remarks on the mediterranean fauna of brachyuran crabs . in moraitou - apostolopoulou , m . & v . kiortsis ( eds ) , mediterranean marine ecosystems . plenum publishing corporation , new york : 347–366 .
grounds off ancona , central adriatic . sci . mar . 62 : 91–100 .
cabot , e . l . & a . t . beckenbach , 1989 . simultaneous editing of multiple nucleic acid and protein sequences with esee . comput . appl . biosci . 5 : 233–234 .
, with comments on the subfamilial arrangement of grapsidae ( crustacea : brachyura ) . cah . biol . mar . 38 : 291–299 .
( gibbes , 1850 ) ( brachyura : grapsidae ) . j . nat . hist . 32 : 1499–1508 .
( risso , 1827 ) ( decapoda , brachyura ) reared under laboratory conditions , with notes on larval characters of the varunidae . inv . reprod . dev . 38 : 207–223
d ' udekem d ' acoz , c . , 1999 . inventaire et distribution des crustacés décapodes de l ' atlantique nord - oriental , de la méditerranée et des eaux continentales adjacentes au nord de 25 °n . collection ' patrimoines naturels ' ( mus . natn . hist . nat . ) , paris , 40 : 1–383 .
( rizza , 1839 ) , the third mediterranean species of the genus ( crustacea , decapoda , brachyura ) . proc . biol . soc . wash . 91 : 691–705 .
garcía - raso , j . e . , 1984 . brachyura of the coast of southern spain ( crustacea : decapoda ) . spixiana 7 : 105–113 .
garcía - raso , j . e . , e . gonzález - gurriarán & f . sardá , 1987 . estudio comparativo de la fauna de crustáceos decápodos braquiuros de tres áreas de la península ibérica ( galicia , málaga y cataluña ) . inv . pesq . 51 , supl . 1 : 43–55 .
( rizza , 1839 ) ( brachyura , grapsidae ) reared under laboratory conditions . j . plankton res . 17 : 1143–1161 .
kumar , s . , k . tamura & m . nei , 1993 . mega : molecular evolutionary genetics analysis , version 1 . 01 . the pennsylvania state university , university park , pa .
noël , p . y . , e . tardy & c . d ' udekem d ' acoz , 1997 . will the crab
invade the coasts of europe ? c . r . acad . sci . paris , life sci . 320 : 741–745 .
paula , j . , 1996 . a key and bibliography for the identification of zoeal stages of brachyuran crabs ( crustacea , decapoda , brachyura ) from the atlantic coast of europe . j . plankton res . 18 : 17–27 .
phillips , d . a . e . , c . p . handreck , p . e . bock , r . burn , e . j . smith & d . a . staples , 1984 . coastal invertebrates of victoria , an atlas of selected species . marine research group of victoria and museum of victoria , melbourne . 168 pp .
por , f . d . , 1989 . the legacy of thethys . an aquatic biogeography of the levant . monogr . biol . 63 : 1–214 .
rathbun , m . j . , 1893 . descriptions of new genera and species of crabs from the west coast of north america and the sandwich islands . proc . nat . mus . 16 ( 933 ) : 223–260 .
risso , a . , 1827 . histoire naturelle des principales productions de l ' europe méridionale et particulièrement celles des environs de nice et des alpes maritimes . ( strasbourg ) 5 : 1–403 .
rizza , a . , 1839 . descrizione di alcuni crostacei nuovi del golfo di catania . atti accad . gioenia sci . nat . catania 15 : 367–390 .
forest , 1957 ( crustacea , decapoda , grapsidae ) reared under laboratory conditions . j . plankton res . 14 : 867–883 .
saitou , n . & m . nei , 1987 . the neighbor - joining method : a new method for reconstructing phylogenetic trees . mol . biol . evol . 4 : 406–425 .
schnakenbeck , w . , 1924 . chinesische krabben in der unterelbe . naturwiss . 12 : 204–207 .
species from panama , with identification keys and remarks on the american sesarminae ( crustacea : brachyura : grapsidae ) . j . plankton res . 20 : 61–84 .
schubart , c . d . , j . a . cuesta , r . diesel & d . l . felder , 2000a . molecular phylogeny , taxonomy , and evolution of nonmarine lineages within the american grapsoid crabs ( crustacea : brachyura ) . mol . phylogen . evol . 15 : 179–190 .
schubart , c . d . , j . e . neigel & d . l . felder , 2000b . use of the mitochondrial 16s rrna gene for phylogenetic and population studies of crustacea . crustacean issues 12 : 817–830 .
štev¡ci´c , z . , 1990 . check - list of the adriatic decapod crustacea . acta adriat . 31 : 183–274 .
swofford , d . l . , 1993 . phylogenetic analysis using parsimony ( paup ) , version 3 . 1 . 1 . university of illinois , champaign .
tesch , j . j . , 1918 . the decapoda brachyura of the siboga expedition . i . hymenosomidae , retroplumidae , ocypodidae , grapsidae and gecarcinidae . siboga - expeditie monogr . 34 ( 82 ) : 1–148 .
tweedie , m . w . f . , 1942 . the grapsid and ocypodid crabs of tasmania . pap . & proc . r . soc . tasmania 1941 : 13–25 .
zariquiey alvarez , r . , 1968 . crustáceos decápodos ibéricos . inv . pesq . 32 : 1–510 .
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the complete larval development of the grapsid crab brachynorus gemmellari ( rizza , 1839 ) was obtained by culture in the iabomtoiy . five zoeal stages , the megalopa and the first crab stage are described and illustrated . larval development from hatching to first crab took 26 days at 20°c . the morphological charaeiars of the larvae of b . gemmellari are compared with those of other known larvae of the genus brachynosus .
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disclaimer : itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available , and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties . however , it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes . while every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up - to - date information available , ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the united states is a party , wildlife statutes , regulations , and any applicable notices that have been published in the federal register . for further information on u . s . legal requirements with respect to protected taxa , please contact the u . s . fish and wildlife service .
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