What Is Echocardiography? Echocardiography (EK-o-kar-de-OG-rah-fee), or echo, is a painless test that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart. The pictures show the size and shape of your heart. They also show how well your heart's chambers and valves are working.
Taxonomy/Description. The Giant Otter's scientific name is Pteronura brasiliensis, which means winged tail belonging to Brazil, although this otter species is not limited to Brazil. Winged refers to the fin-like shape of the giant otter's tail. The giant otter is a member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, in the Mammalian Order of Carnivora.
Normally, this species is 57 to 95 cm (23â37 in) long, not counting a tail of 35â45 cm (14â18 in). The female is shorter than the male. The otter's average body weight is 7 to 12 kg (15.4â26.4 lbs), although occasionally a large old male may reach up to 17 kg (37 lbs). The record-sized specimen, reported by a reliable source but not verified, weighed over 24 kg (53 lbs).