Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758)

Masseti, Marco, 2009, Carnivores of Syria, ZooKeys 31 (3), pp. 229-252 : 240

Otter, Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758)

Fig. 8

Two stuffed specimens (one adult and one subadult), captured in the surroundings, were examined in the Basamfasal collection (cf. Masseti 2001, 2004). According to Abu Rabieh (1994, pers. comm.), there were numerous specimens in the Euphrates from Deir ez-Zor up to Abu Kamal (at the Iraqi border), Al Mayaddin and Doura Europos, but not in the north-westernmost area of Raqqa. Kock et al. (1994) reported the occurrence of this species from the Khabur valley, in north-eastern Syria. Additional data on the distribution of the species in eastern Syria were collected during a biological expedition organised inter alia by the National Museum (Natural History) of Prague in the period 11 June–7 July 1998. The occurrence of otters was confirmed from an island in the Euphrates at Doura Europos, from the site of Halabiyyeh and from Tell Sheikh, along the river Khabur, all sites in the district of Deir-ez-Zor ( Uhrin et al. 2000). Data collected between 1989 and 1998 appear to indicate that a considerable population of otters is still present in this portion of eastern Syria, comprised between the Euphrates, its tributary the Khabur and the border with Iraq.

The carnivore is reported from the West Bank and northern Lebanon, and recent evidence is in favour of its presence in the western Bekaa valley and in the river Litani (Mounir R. Abi-Said 2008: pers. comm.). In neighbouring Israel otters are present in aquatic habitats and fishponds in the Hula Valley, in the northern Jordan River catchments and the Harod Valley ( Dolev et al. 2006; Ben Ari et al. 2008); Guter et al. 2005; Guter et al. 2008). A single record from the Zvulun Valley and Carmel coastal area in 2000 suggests the existence of a remnant population along the coast, which may have become extinct ( Dolev et al. 2006). New findings have indicated previously undocumented otter activity in the Golan Heights ( Dolev et al. 2006).

Figures

Figure 8. • Otter, Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758); · Egyptian mongoose or ichneumon, Herpestes ichneumon (Linnaeus, 1758).