Southern Indian Otter (Lutra lutra nair)

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Sinhalese:  Diya-Balla

Tamil: Neer-nail

Description: The Otter bears a superficial resemblance to the Mongoose, but it is a bigger animal, the adult male having an overall length of about 1 meter. It has a broad tapered tail, very short fur and a white throat.

Distribution: Found throughout the island (rare in the dry zone) but always near rivers, lakes, paddy fields etc.

Habits: The Otter is mainly a nocturnal animal, seen either singly or in small family parties. Its food consists of fish, crabs, frogs, eels and occasionally water birds and small animals. It will sometimes move great distances from one waterway to another, possibly in its quest for food. Otters have excellent eye-sight and in captivity they have been known to live for 12 years.

Breeding: The gestation period is about 61 days, and usually 2 or 3 cubs are born. The female uses a cavern beneath the roots of a large tree, or amongst rocks, on the edge of the water.

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