Diet of the otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) in the upper reaches of the River Ebro catchment, northern Spain

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1987
Authors:Callejo, A, Delibes, M
Journal:Miscellania Zoologica
Volume:11
Date Published:1987
Keywords:Lutra lutra
Abstract:

Fish and crustaceans represent 90% of total diet item occurrences. The most common species in faeces was crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes, followed by several fishes (Phoxinus phoxinus, Salmo trutta, Chondrostoma toxostoma, Barbus bocagei, etc). Pyrenean desman Galemys pyrenaicus remains were found in 1.4% of samples. Crayfish were most frequently eaten in summer (when they are most active) and fish in winter (when their swimming speed is lower). Trophic diversity was higher in summer. Prey weighing 15-35 g were consumed more often. Otters seem to be opportunistic hunters, vulnerability playing a more important role than abundance when deciding what to eat.

Taxonomic name: 
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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith