Otter Education Resources

Marine Otters

These otters, which are quite different to Sea Otters, live along the rocky coasts from Ecuador to Chile in South America.  They are the smallest of the New World otters.  They are locally known as Chinchimén or Chungungo.  Not very much is known about their lifecycle and behaviour and they are under threat from the development of the coasts for leisure, and harvesting of kelp for cosmetics and icecream making (kelp contains an important gelling agent) that reduces the amount of crabs and molluscs for the otters to eat. A pair of otters remains together for life and both parents help to raise the cubs.  These otters are Endangered - there are fewer than 1000 left in the world and the population is decreasing due to habitat destruction and hunting for fur.