Abstract

CHARRE-MEDELLIN, Juan F.; LOPEZ-GONZALEZ, Celia; LOZANO, Abraham  and  GUZMAN, Ana Fabiola. Current status of knowledge on the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis annectens) in Durango, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2011, vol.82, n.4, pp. 1343-1347. ISSN 1870-3453.

An update on the state of knowledge on the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) for the state of Durango, Mexico is presented based on the revision of literature reports and the addition of 2 new records. Upon revision, only 3 of the previous reports are supported by physical evidence or observations; and 2 more are newly documented records based on scats. Analysis of these samples indicated that the main items consumed by otters in Durango were mostly native fishes. Catostomus plebeius, Campostoma ornatum, Gila conspersa, Carassius auratus and Scartomyzon austrinus had not been recorded previously in the neotropical otter's diet. Neotropical otters are able to persist at the headwaters of at least 3 major basins (San Pedro-Mezquital, Nazas, and Grande de Santiago) even though strong anthropogenic disturbances have already occurred downstream, thus pointing to the need of effective conservation strategies for these areas.

Keywords : otter records; diet; Río Mezquital; Río Nazas; Río Grande of Santiago.