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Two subspecies are currently recognized by the canonical Mammal Species of the World, P. The otters form the subfamily Lutrinae within the mustelids and the giant otter is the only member of the genus Pteronura. Giant otter head from the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi research institute The genus name, Pteronura, is derived from the Ancient Greek words pteron/πτερόν (feather or wing) and oura/οὐρά (tail), a reference to its distinctive, wing-like tail. Among the Achuar people, they are known as wankanim, among the Sanumá as hadami and among the Makushi as turara. "Giant otter" translates literally as nutria gigante and lontra gigante in Spanish and Portuguese, respectively. All four names are in use in South America, with a number of regional variations.
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In Spanish, river wolf ( Spanish: lobo de río) and water dog ( Spanish: perro de agua) are used occasionally (though the latter also refers to several different animals) and may have been more common in the reports of explorers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In Brazil it is known as ariranha, from the Tupí word ari'raña, meaning water jaguar ( Portuguese: onça-d'água).
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The giant otter has a handful of other names. It has no serious natural predators other than humans, although it must compete with other predators, such as the neotropical otter, jaguar, and various crocodilian species, for food resources. The giant otter subsists almost exclusively on a diet of fish, particularly characins and catfish, but may also eat crabs, turtles, snakes and small caimans. It constructs extensive campsites close to feeding areas, clearing large amounts of vegetation. The species prefers freshwater rivers and streams, which are usually seasonally flooded, and may also take to freshwater lakes and springs.
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The giant otter shows a variety of adaptations suitable to an amphibious lifestyle, including exceptionally dense fur, a wing-like tail, and webbed feet. The giant otter is also rare in captivity in 2003, only 60 animals were being held. Habitat degradation and loss is the greatest current threat. It is one of the most endangered mammal species in the Neotropics. The Guianas are one of the last real strongholds for the species, which also enjoys modest numbers – and significant protection – in the Peruvian Amazonian basin. The species was listed as endangered in 1999 and wild population estimates are typically below 5,000. Decades of poaching for its velvety pelt, peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, considerably diminished population numbers. Its distribution has been greatly reduced and is now discontinuous. The giant otter ranges across north-central South America it lives mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal. It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggression, and reassurance. The giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 metres (5.6 ft). ( Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal.