%0 Journal Article
%T The Home Range and Movements of Giant Otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) in the Xixuan Reserve, Roraima, Brazil
%A Emanuela Evangelista
%A Fernando C.W. Rosas
%J IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
%D 2011
%I IUCN Otter Specialist Group
%X A population of Giant otter was studied in the central Brazilian Amazon at the Xixua¨² Reserve, Roraima (0o48¡¯S, 61o33¡¯W), in order to gather preliminary information on spatial use of habitat. Through the period 2000¨C2003, 80 animals have been recorded in the study area, of which 9 solitary (11.2%) and 71 (88.7%) in groups of an average of 4.46 individuals (n=15; biggest group=9). For 4 Giant otter groups, dry season home ranges were estimated at approximately 8 km in average (n=6; minimum size 4.6 km, maximum size 10.5 km), along watercourses of 52.8 m of average width (n=8). Groups¡¯ home ranges in the study area can overlap. An expansion in direction of flooded forest areas has been observed during the flooded season as well as a temporary contraction during the period of cub rearing. The periodic and complete counting of the animals allowed estimating the density of the species in the study area (1 animal/1km).
%K habitat use
%K home range
%K territorial behavior
%K Pteronura brasiliensis
%K giant otter density
%U http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Bulletin/Volume28A/Evangelista_Rosas_2011a.pdf