Predation by Neotropical Otters (Lontra longicaudis) on Turtles in Belize

We report observations of turtle (Dermatemys mawii and Trachemys venusta) predation by Lontra longicaudis at Cox Lagoon, Belize. On 10 June 1994, we observed an otter swimming with a juvenile D. mawii in its jaws. During a subsequent search (25 June and 5 July 1994) we found 35 D. mawii shells or partially eaten carcasses, and a single, partially eaten adult T. venusta that had apparently been killed by otters. Based on the size of these turtles, juvenile and subadult D. mawii seem most vulnerable to otter predation. Because otter predation of D. mawii appears rare in Belize, and most reproductively mature D. mawii are probably too large to be caught and killed by foraging otters, we do not consider predation by L. longicaudis to be a serious threat to populations of this critically endangered turtle.