Sunday, May 5, 2013

African Spotted-necked otter Status & Distribution


The African Spotted-necked otter is listed by the IUCN Red List as a species of least concern because of its widespread distribution; however, its population tread is said to be decreasing. Their habitat overlaps to some degree with both the Cape Clawless and Congo Clawless otters; more so with Congo Clawless as Spotted-necked otters are present in the Congo Basin. (see map below) They are considered possibly extinct in the countries of Burundi, Ghana, Lesotho and Togo.

 
Their common names are Speckle-throated, Spot-necked or Spotted-necked otter. The official taxonomic listing is: Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Subphylum: Vertebrata; Class: Mammalia; Order: Carnivora, Family: Mustelidae; Genus: Lutra; Species: Maculicollis.

Spotted-necked otters face similar threats to other otter species, i.e. habitat degradation and being viewed by locals as competitors for food sources. However, they are also killed themselves as a food source. Additionally, biological contaminants have been discovered in the bodies of deceased animals.

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