SMOOTH OTTER

BODY FACTS

• E͟x͟c͟e͟l͟l͟e͟n͟t͟ D͟i͟v͟e͟r͟s͟ a͟n͟d͟ S͟w͟i͟m͟m͟e͟r͟s͟
• They close their ears and nostrils when underwater. When swimming slowly, they paddle with their strongly webbed front and back paws. When swimming quickly, the front limbs are kept close to the body while back legs and the flattened tail propels them. Their tails are powerful and long (can make up 60% of their body length). They can swim for long distances and stay underwater for 6-8 minutes with a single breath.
• H͟a͟v͟e͟ M͟a͟d͟e͟ C͟o͟m͟m͟u͟n͟i͟c͟a͟t͟i͟o͟n͟ u͟s͟i͟n͟g͟ m͟a͟i͟n͟l͟y͟ s͟m͟e͟l͟l͟, b͟u͟t͟ a͟l͟s͟o͟ c͟a͟l͟l͟s͟
• Otters have a distinctive heavy, musky smell. They have a pair of scent glands at the base of the tail which they use to mark vegetation. Their scent marks their territorial boundaries and tells other otters about who they are and whether they are ready to breed. Their alarm call is a whistle, and when excited they make short yelping barks.

GIANT MUDSKIPPER

BODY FACTS

• E͟a͟t͟i͟n͟g͟ H͟a͟b͟i͟t͟s͟
• Giant Mudskippers are carnivorous, aggressively hunting mainly arthropods and crustaceans. These are caught on the mud, or while the fish is swimming in the water. They may even eat smaller mudskippers.
• C͟l͟i͟m͟b͟i͟n͟g͟
• Some mudskippers have specially adapted pelvic fins which act like suckers to hold them agains a vertical surface, while they use their arm-like pectoral fins to "reach" up and "pull" themselves up. In this way, they can creep up roots and rocks.

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