1. OBSERVATION ON MATING OF SMOOTH-COATED OTTER, Lutrogale perspicillata, AT PUTRAJAYA LAKE & WETLAND, MALAYSIA.
- Author
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CHONG, Mike H. N.
- Subjects
- *
OTTERS , *WETLANDS , *AQUATIC plants , *LAKES , *TYPHA - Abstract
Few detailed observations have been carried out of Smooth-coated otter and the other otter species in Malaysia. What are even scarcer are studies on the biology of the four species of otter found in Malaysia. A pair of Smooth-coated otters was observed mating at the Putrajaya Lake & Wetland, Peninsular Malaysia in June 2011. Mating occurred when both the otters were semi submerged in the water in a vertical position. This took place at a shallow and secluded area of the wetland, near a grove of aquatic plants. Apparent copulation occurred with both otters facing each other in a frontal position with the male grasping the female on its flanks with its front feet. Four episodes of mating were recorded during the observation period lasting 10-15 seconds for each episode. The secluded nature of the area where the mating was observed probably contributes to the fact that mating by Smooth-coated otters has not been recorded in Malaysia before. It also provides an indication on the timing of the breeding season and an insight into the breeding biology of this species in Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019