Description

A medium-sized otter, 95-133cm in length and weighing 5-8kg. The paws are fully webbed with well-developed claws. The fur is dark brown above, slightly paler underneath with a contrasting pale chin and upper lip. The whole nasal area (rhinarium) is covered in short, dark fur.

DNA work has established that this is a true species - some authors previously considered it to be a subspecies of Lutra lutra.

CITES Identification Sheet

Habitat

This species is found in undisturbed habitats in South-east Asia. The tiny amount of information available suggests this species inhabits peat swamp forests, flooded forest, lowland Dipterocarp forest, freshwater swamp forest, and estuaries dominated by Nypa and mangroves.

Distribution

This species is endemic to South-east Asia. There are recent records from various, mostly highly dispersed localities in Southeast Asia, in Thailand, Viet Nam and Cambodia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia (Sumatra and Borneo). Historical records suggest this species formerly inhabited mainland South-east Asia including Myanmar and Lao PDR, although this information is still questionable.

Conservation Status

Red List Category & Criteria: Endangered, Population decreasing
Year Assessed: 2014
Assessors: Aadrean
Evaluators: Hussain, S.A. (Otter Red List Authority)

There is no information available about population size or the number of mature animals. There is only fragmented reliable information about the species' geographic range.

Current Concerns

Very little is known, but it is likely that this species is threatened by destruction of peat swamp forests for logging and agriculture, and a very high degree of population fragmentation makes populations numerically vulnerable. Furthermore, cubs of this species have been found in several cases of pet trading in Indonesia.

Research is critically needed on all aspects of this species' ecology and biology, with the population status and habitat use across the range as priority. It is protected at international and national levels, but legislation at local level, and its enforcement are urgently needed. This species is so rare that there is a good case for ex situ conservation measures (captive breeding and maintenance) to be undertaken.

Leading Researchers

Source: Padma K de Silva, IUCN/SSC Asian coordinator

Key Publications

• Latifiana, L. & Pickles, R. S. A. (2013). New observation of the Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana) in Sumatra. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 30: 119–123.
• Baker, N. (2013). New records of Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana) in Peninsular Malaysia. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 30: 112–118.
• Duckworth, J.W. and Hills, D.M. (2008). A Specimen of Hairy-Nosed Otter Lutra sumatrana from Far Northern Myanmar. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 25 (1): 60 – 67
• Wright, L.C., Olsson, A., Kanchanasaka, B. (2008). A Working Review of the Hairy-Nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana). IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 25: 38- 59.
• Lubis, R. (2005) First Recent Record of Hairy-Nosed Otter in Sumatra, Indonesia. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 18(1): 14 - 20
• Kanchanasaka, B. K.(2001) Tracks and Other Signs of the Hairy-Nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana). IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 18(2): 57 - 63
• Nguyen, X.D., Pham, T.A. & Le, H.T.  (2001) New Information about the Hairy-Nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana) in Vietnam . IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 18(2): 64 - 75
• Long, B. (2000) The Hairy-Nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana) in Cambodia. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 17(2): 91

News on Threats

• TRAFFIC, 9th December 2009: Otters feel the heat in Southeast Asia

Useful Links

• The IUCN Red List - 2014. Lutra sumatrana.