Giant otters AKA giant river otters are South American carnivorous mammals that are the longest members of the weasel family.

Scientific Name – Pteronura brasiliensis

Classification – Pteronura

Gender Names – Male – Male; Female – Female; Baby – whelp, pup

Collective Noun – Family, raft, romp

Length/Size – 1 and 1.7 m (3.3 and 5.6 ft)

Weight – 22 and 32 kg (49 and 71 lb)

Top Speed – Up to 14.4 kph (9 mph)

Life Expectancy – 8 years; up to 17-19 in captivity

Mating Season – Starts around July

Gestation Period – 64 to 72 days

Special Features – It is the noisiest all the otter species

Social Structure – Highly social animal living in extended family groups of 2 to 20 members

Geographical Distribution – North-central South America, mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal

Natural Habitat – Freshwater rivers and streams that generally flood seasonally; also stays in freshwater springs and permanent freshwater lakes

World Population – Currently unknown

Conservation Status –Endangered

Diet – Mainly fish, including cichlids, catfish, and characins (like piranha)

Predators – Very few, with jaguar being one of them