. Natural history. Zoology. FLESH-EATING MAA/J/ALS. 77. may be rudimental or wanting. With the exception of Australia and New Guinea, otters are cosmopolitan in their distribution, the largest species being the Brazilian otter. They are expert divers and swimmers, feeding entirely on fish, for the capture and retention of which their powerful and sharply-cusped teeth are admirably suited. The total number of teeth is 36. Nearly allied to the otters is the sea-otter {Latax lutris), distinguished by having only 32 teeth, among which the lower incisors are reduced to two pairs, the blunt and roun
. Natural history. Zoology. FLESH-EATING MAA/J/ALS. 77. may be rudimental or wanting. With the exception of Australia and New Guinea, otters are cosmopolitan in their distribution, the largest species being the Brazilian otter. They are expert divers and swimmers, feeding entirely on fish, for the capture and retention of which their powerful and sharply-cusped teeth are admirably suited. The total number of teeth is 36. Nearly allied to the otters is the sea-otter {Latax lutris), distinguished by having only 32 teeth, among which the lower incisors are reduced to two pairs, the blunt and rounded tubercles of the molars, and the flipper-like hind-feet, in which the toes are flattened, as in the seals, and the fifth toe is the longest and stoutest. The head is rounded, the ears very small, the tail short and J^ig'. 47.—Coati (A'as!iari//a). bushy, and the pellage with a beautiful under-fur. The total length of the animal is about four feet. Natur- alists have hitherto believed that the sea-otter when on land has the hind-toes turned forwards, but Mr. Snow, of Yokohama, states that this is incorrect, and tliat they are really doubled backwards, beneath the soles. The southern range of the as far as Southern California and Mexico. On the Asiatic side, it occurs at the Koraandorski Islands, Kara- schatka, and the Kurile Islands. As a rule, only one is produced at birth, but occasionally two. Mr. Snow has seen two small pups with their mother, and has taken two from the inside of an otter he killed. It is not absolutely known at what age the otter arrives at maturity. Mr. Snow believes that it does so in the third year. Crabs and sea-urchins are the usual contents of the stomach, but occasionally small fish and spawn are also found. The crabs are crushed by the strong molar teeth, it being impossible that the crushing is produced by the striking of two shells together, as the form of the fore-feet will not allow of anything being grasped. Tlie otter d
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