%0 Journal Article
%T Behaviour of Otters in a Marine Coastal Habitat: Summary of a Work in Progress
%A Shannon S.J.
%J IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
%D 1998
%I IUCN Otter Specialist Group
%X Since 1983, the author has studied 67 wild otters (Lontra canadensis) in Trinidad Bay, California, USA. The observations were made at short range (<100 m), and individuals were identified using a combination of facial and physical characteristincs. In Trinidad Bay, the otters normally form two social groups: one maternal family and one "Clan" of males. The most noticeable pattern in this population's social organisation was that adult males and adult females led largely sexually-segregated lives. Since 1986, I have studied the behavioural ontogeny of otters, chronicling the development of 6 litters (22 pups) by one mother, 4 litters (9 pups) by that mother's daughters, and 5 litters (7 pups) by a granddaughter. Here, the author summarises observations to date.
%K otter
%K lontra
%K behaviour
%U http://iucnosg.org/Bulletin/Volume15/Vol15_Iss2_Index.html