WoRMS

WoRMS taxon details

Lontra canadensis (Schreber, 1777)

AphiaID

159017 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:159017)

Classification

Status

accepted

Rank

Species

Parent

Lontra Gray, 1843

Original name

Lutra canadensis Schreber, 1777

Synonymised names

Lutra canadensis Schreber, 1777 · unaccepted > superseded combination

Environment

marine, brackish, fresh

Original description

Not documented

Descriptive notes

Distribution North America (Alaska west across northern Canada and the US to Nova Scotia)

Distribution North America (Alaska west across northern Canada and the US to Nova Scotia) [details]

Taxonomic citation

WoRMS (2026). Lontra canadensis (Schreber, 1777). Accessed at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=159017 on 2026-01-11

Taxonomic edit history

Date

action

2005-05-27 09:47:05Z

created

Appeltans, Ward

2010-05-20 10:09:49Z

checked

Berta, Annalisa

2026-01-11 23:34:48Z

changed

Vanhoorne, Bart

Licensing

The webpage text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License

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Nomenclature

basis of record Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (1993). Mammal species of the world. Smithsonian Institution Press. , available online at http://vertebrates.si.edu/mammals/msw/ [details]

Ecology

ecology source Looby, A.; Erbe, C.; Bravo, S.; Cox, K.; Davies, H. L.; Di Iorio, L.; Jézéquel, Y.; Juanes, F.; Martin, C. W.; Mooney, T. A.; Radford, C.; Reynolds, L. K.; Rice, A. N.; Riera, A.; Rountree, R.; Spriel, B.; Stanley, J.; Vela, S.; Parsons, M. J. G. (2023). Global inventory of species categorized by known underwater sonifery. Scientific Data. 10(1). (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02745-4 [details]

Other

additional source Linkletter, L. E. (1977). A checklist of marine fauna and flora of the Bay of Fundy. Huntsman Marine Laboratory, St. Andrews, N.B. 68: p. [details]

additional source Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. , available online at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html [details]

Present

Present in aphia/obis/gbif/idigbio

Inaccurate

Introduced: alien

Containing type locality

Unreviewed

Diet Amphibians, fish, crayfish, and other invertebrates. Birds and small terrestrial mammals are also eaten on occation. [details]

Dimensions Length: 66-107 cm (tail length is 32-46 cm); Weight: 3-14 kg [details]

Distribution North America (Alaska west across northern Canada and the US to Nova Scotia) [details]

Habitat Riparian zones, usually no more than a few hundred meters from water unless they are moving between rivers or lakes. River otters can tolerate a variety of environments including very cold and hot areas, high elevations, and coastal waters (rarely). [details]

Importance Hunted for many years for their attractive and durable fur. River otters also eat "trash fish" that compete with more economically beneficial game fish. [details]

Morphology Distinguishing characteristics: long streamlined animals with a thick tapered tail and short legs, wide, rounded head, small ears, and nostrils that can be closed underwater. long thick whiskers. they are dark brown to black above a ligther color ventrally. throat and cheeks are usually a golden. The feet have claws and are completely webbed. [details]

Predators None [details]

Reproduction Breeding: March to April. They have one to 5 young born 10-12 months later (delayed implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus). Young are weaned 3-4 months and leave parents after a year. Sexual maturity is reached at 2-3 years of age. [details]

Definitions