Otter Otter Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates. Lutrinae is a branch of the weasel family Mustelidae, which also includes badgers, honey badgers, martens, minks, polecats, and wolverines. The word "otter" derives from the Old English word "otor" or "oter". This, and cognate words in other Indo-European languages, ultimately stem from the Proto-Indo-European language root *wódr̥, which also gave rise to the English word "water". An otter's den is called a holt or couch. Male otters are called dogs or boars,
Spotted-necked otter Spotted-necked otter The spotted-necked otter ("Hydrictis maculicollis"), or speckle-throated otter, is an otter native to sub-Saharan Africa. The spotted-necked otter is a smallish species, with males measuring from nose to rump, and weighing , while females are and . The tail is long and muscular, measuring in both sexes. Like many other otters, it is sleek and has webbed paws for swimming. Females have two pairs of teats, and while males have a large scrotum, the penis is hidden beneath the skin, to reduce drag while swimming. Although considerable variation exists among individuals, their fur is usually reddish to chocolate