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Description
Common Name: Smooth-Coated Otter
Common Name Synonyms: Smooth Otter, Indian Smooth Otter
Scientific Name: Lutrogale perspicillata
Size: 15-20cm in the shoulders, 60-80cm from snout to tail-base + 35-50cm long tail = 95-130cm from snout to tail
Classification: Caniform
Habitat: Beaches, Forests, Jungles, Swamps,
Diet: Piscivorous; diet consisted of reptiles, frogs, insects, crustaceans, small mammals
Description: If you know about Mijbil from the novel, "The Ring of Bright Water" by Gavin Maxell, then you should know that Mijbil is a smooth-coated otter. Smooth-coated otters are Asia's largest otters, that can hunt and socialize in groups, like that of their large South American cousins, the giant otter. Those diurnal otters are native to Southeast Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent, and rarely in the marshes in Iraq. Like all otters it has a long, thick body, short legs, and webbed feet with sharp claws. The neck is as wide as the body and head. The ears are set low on the domed head, but the small, round eyes are set high up and wide apart. The muzzle is short and covered in thick whiskers. The fur is thick and velvety with two layers; the guard fur keeps the underfur dry underwater to retain body heat. To help with swimming, the smooth-coated otter’s front legs are shorter than the back legs and it has a thick, conical tail that is more flattened than other otters, particularly at the end. Males are larger than females. Using visual and auditory communications, smooth-coated otters can cooperate to lookout for predators, like crocodiles, medium-sized cat species, and large birds of prey. Their names comes from their fur, being smoother, and shorter than all other otters.

Art (C) Shawn Brunner ,aka Patchi1995

Description
Common Name: Smooth-Coated Otter
Common Name Synonyms: Smooth Otter, Indian Smooth Otter
Scientific Name: Lutrogale perspicillata
Size: 15-20cm in the shoulders, 60-80cm from snout to tail-base + 35-50cm long tail = 95-130cm from snout to tail
Classification: Caniform
Habitat: Beaches, Forests, Jungles, Swamps,
Diet: Piscivorous; diet consisted of reptiles, frogs, insects, crustaceans, small mammals
Description: If you know about Mijbil from the novel, "The Ring of Bright Water" by Gavin Maxell, then you should know that Mijbil is a smooth-coated otter. Smooth-coated otters are Asia's largest otters, that can hunt and socialize in groups, like that of their large South American cousins, the giant otter. Those diurnal otters are native to Southeast Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent, and rarely in the marshes in Iraq. Like all otters it has a long, thick body, short legs, and webbed feet with sharp claws. The neck is as wide as the body and head. The ears are set low on the domed head, but the small, round eyes are set high up and wide apart. The muzzle is short and covered in thick whiskers. The fur is thick and velvety with two layers; the guard fur keeps the underfur dry underwater to retain body heat. To help with swimming, the smooth-coated otter’s front legs are shorter than the back legs and it has a thick, conical tail that is more flattened than other otters, particularly at the end. Males are larger than females. Using visual and auditory communications, smooth-coated otters can cooperate to lookout for predators, like crocodiles, medium-sized cat species, and large birds of prey. Their names comes from their fur, being smoother, and shorter than all other otters.

Art (C) Shawn Brunner ,aka Patchi1995