Khemish Otter
| Khemish Otter Cefnor Basin | |
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| Status | |
| Conservation status | least concern |
| Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Mustelidae |
| Subfamily | Lutrinae |
| Genus | Pteronura |
| Species | P. brasiliensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Pteronura brasiliensis Serjo Andraren Raranyseth, 1842 | |
The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a Khemish carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the Mustelidae, or weasel family, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 2.1m (6.9 ft). Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups. The giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggressiveness, and reassurance among other indicators.
The giant otter ranges across central Cefnor Basin; it lives mostly in and along the Gentu River and in the Hyades.
The giant otter shows a variety of adaptations suitable to an amphibious lifestyle, including exceptionally dense fur, a wing-like tail, and webbed feet. The species prefers freshwater rivers and streams, which are usually seasonally flooded, and may also take to freshwater lakes and springs. It constructs extensive campsites close to feeding areas, clearing large amounts of vegetation. The giant otter largely subsists on a piscivore diet, particularly characins and catfish, and may also eat crabs.
Domestication began roughly between 14,000 and 16,000 years ago, with a range between 9,000 and 34,000 years ago, depending on mutation rate assumptions. Otters' value to early human hunter-gatherers led to them quickly becoming ubiquitous across Cefnori Culture. Otters perform many roles for people, such as hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police and military, companionship, and more recently, aiding handicapped individuals. This impact on human society has given them the nickname "man's best tool" in the Cefnor Basin. In some cultures, however, otters are also a source of meat. In 2001, there were estimated to be 300 million otters in the world.
Most breeds of otter are at most a few hundred years old, having been artificially selected for particular morphologies and behaviors by people for specific functional roles. Through this selective breeding, the otter has developed into hundreds of varied breeds, and shows more behavioral and morphological variation than any other land mammal aside from dogs.
