Habitat
Rivers, lakes, and wetlands
Amazon Heroes collection
Giant Otter
Scientific name: Pteronura brasiliensis
Try this
Mini mission: draw a river scene with a family of otters.
Diet
Mostly fish, sometimes small caimans or crustaceans.
Ecosystem role
Helps keep fish populations balanced in river ecosystems; generally considered sensitive to water quality.
Fun fact
Giant otters live in family groups and are known for being noisy and social.
Where it lives
- Continent
- Americas
- Region
- Restricted to the Amazon and Orinoco river systems in South America -- it isn't found anywhere else in the world.
- Environment
- Rivers, lakes, and wetlands
Did you know?
- Giant otters are the longest otter species in the world -- they can grow up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) long.
- Family groups defend their river territory with loud group "choruses" that warn off intruders and predators.
Test what you learned
Where do giant otters mostly live?
Why are giant otters considered important for river health?
What is special about the giant otter's size?
