Japanese river otter (SciiFii)

The Japanese river otter (Japanese: ニホンカワウソ(日本川獺 ー Hepburn: Nihon-kawauso) (Lutra lutra whiteleyi), also known simply as the Japanese otter, is a subspecies of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) widespread in Japan. The Japanese otter was once extinct since 1979, but has since been brought back from extinction by extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced throughout Japan to help boost biodiversity. A fully grown Japanese otter can grow on average to be between 65 and 80 cm (25.5 and 31.5 in) long, with a tail measuring 45 to 50 cm (17.5 to 19.5 in). It has a thick, lush coat of dark brown fur with short webbed feet. In addition the river otter has two types/sets of fur. The Japanese otters shed their under fur fully from May to August. After the shedding of the under fur, the otters shed their guard hair from August to November. This allows them to adjust to the seasons changing. The Japanese otter has a lifespan of up to 25 years. A nocturnal creature, the Japanese otter only leaves its den after dark to forage for food, including its main food source such as (most) fish, crab, and shrimp, although it can also feed on eels, beetles, watermelons, and sweet potatoes. Claiming a territory about ten miles in diameter, it marks the area with its droppings about one to three miles apart and sets up three or four nests under rocks or inside bushes. The Japanese otters are always on the move, visiting each den only once every three to four days. They are considered an adult after only one year. They then venture on their own, but continue in solitude unless ready to mate. The conservation status of the Japanese otter is Vulnerable due to some habitat loss and pollution, however, thanks to the conservationists, the Japanese otters are making a comeback.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii