Serangoon Reservoir Otters Family

The Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), named for its velvety smooth coat, is one of two otter species found in Singapore and the largest in Southeast Asia. This mammal is often spotted in mangroves, mudflats, and coastal areas, where it forages for clams, fish, and other small creatures. Highly social, these otters communicate using smells and calls, and their webbed paws are perfectly adapted for swimming. They are playful creatures, often swimming in packs of four to twelve while chasing after fish.
A social animal, the otter lives in pairs or family groups. Pups are born in litters of up to five in dens by the riverbank and stay with their parents for some time. Although listed as critically endangered in Singapore, these otters are most frequently seen at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, where they have been spotted since the 1990s. Sightings have also become increasingly common in Pulau Ubin, the Western Catchment Area, and Changi, among other places, where they are known to be residents. Remarkably, this creature can stay underwater for up to eight minutes on a single breath, allowing it to hunt successfully for fish, frogs, crabs, and turtles.
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