OTTER 



dense and composed of thick, short underfur and long, glisten- 

 ing guard-hairs; habit more or less aquatic. Plate IX 



Color. — Sexes colored alike; no very marked seasonal varia- 

 tion in color. 



Upperparts uniform glossy brown, dark and rich in tone, 

 grayish on lips and cheeks; underparts lighter than upperparts, 

 with grayish tinge. 



Fig. 27. Otter 



Measurements. — Total length, 40-45 inches; tail vertebrse, 

 1 2. 5- 1 5 inches; hind foot, 4-4.7 inches. Weight from 18 to 25 

 pounds, about 20 being average. 



Geographical Distribution. — Most of North America. 



Food. — Principally fish and crayfish, but at times birds and 

 small mammals such as ducks, poultry, Muskrats, young 

 Beaver, etc. ; frogs on occasion. 



Enemies. — Except for man, well able to elude any animal 

 powerful enough to be an enemy. 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Lutra 



Canada Otter. — Lutra canadensis canadensis (Schreber). 

 As described above. Found from Labrador to north of the 

 Arctic Circle in Alaska and Yukon, south on the Atlantic 

 coast to South Carolina. 



Interior Otter. — Lutra canadensis interior Swenk. 



Paler and larger than typical canadensis. Upperparts 

 (summei) dark reddish brown. Total length, 53 inches; 



115 



