Smooth-coated otters are the largest otter species found in Iraq. They have short, dense, velvety fur โ smooth to the touch โ which keeps them warm and somewhat waterproof even when diving through cold water. Their whiskers are very sensitive and help them detect fish moving in murky water.
These otters are expert hunters. They chase fish underwater with remarkable speed, using their powerful tail and webbed feet to steer and accelerate. They can hold their breath for several minutes and dive several metres deep. When they surface with a fish, they often eat it while floating on their back.
Otters are very social animals and live in family groups called a romp or a bevy. Mothers raise their young โ called pups โ in a cosy den built into a riverbank. The pups are born unable to swim and must be taught by their mother. Young otters love to wrestle and chase each other in the water, which also helps them practise hunting skills.
The Mesopotamian Marshes are an important home for smooth-coated otters in Iraq. Conservation efforts are helping protect these waterways, which means better habitats for otters, fish, birds, and the Ma'dan people who share the marshes with them.