After witnessing this adorable creature actively attacking crocodiles and jaguars, scientists were extremely surprised.
In a surprising turn of events, a camera at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, USA, captured a dramatic confrontation between an otter and a crocodile. Contrary to popular belief, it was the crocodile that ended up defeated and eaten.
In the unexpected battle, the otter easily defeated the crocodile. (Photo: Baidu)
According to the footage, the otter easily cornered the crocodile against a tree trunk, holding it down and biting into its back. Despite their similar sizes, the crocodile had no chance to retaliate.
In another video recorded in the Amazon, an otter casually invaded the territory of a group of spectacled caiman crocodiles. Not only did it show no fear, but it also playfully lay “twisting” next to these “cold-blooded monsters.” The crocodiles even failed to react and tried to avoid it.
A daring otter invades the crocodile territory and teases them. (Photo: Baidu)
Subsequently, multiple videos captured giant otters in the Amazon rainforest attacking spectacled caimans. In 2019, by the banks of the São Lourenço River, near the Brazil jaguar research station, Ailton Lara, director of Pantanal Nature, witnessed a jaguar fleeing in fear upon encountering a group of otters. It’s hard to imagine that a creature with such a cute face as the otter could instill fear in those considered the terrifying predators of the Amazon rainforest.
The jaguar was so frightened by the otter group that it “ran for its life.” (Photo: Baidu)
In the South American wetlands, the spectacled caiman is known as a nightmare for local wildlife. The Spectacled Caiman and the American Alligator are the two largest species in the Alligatoridae family still existing today. Spectacled Caimans predominantly inhabit wetland environments across Central and South America.
The Caiman is a large crocodile with a flat head, slightly flattened snout, and a long tail that runs along its body. They possess strong jaws and sharp teeth, allowing them to easily tear apart their prey.
Spectacled Caimans are formidable predators in Central and South America. (Photo: Baidu)
Spectacled Caimans are indeed formidable predators. Their primarily aquatic lifestyle means they mainly consume fish, crustaceans, and smaller aquatic animals. They also frequently hunt birds (especially waterfowl), amphibians, and mammals like wild pigs.
Despite their superior hunting skills in the wetlands, they cannot withstand attacks from the giant otters of South America.
Despite their superior hunting skills, Spectacled Caimans still fall short against otters. (Photo: Baidu)
Giant otters live along the northern regions of South America, primarily along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal area. They are the largest members of the weasel family, even though sea otters may weigh more. Males range from 1.5 to 1.8 meters, while females are about 1.5 to 1.7 meters long. Their muscular tails can be up to 70 cm long. However, reports have indicated the existence of particularly large males measuring up to 2.4 meters. Male giant otters can weigh between 32 to 45.3 kg, while females weigh between 22 to 26 kg.
Contrary to their cute appearance, giant otters are formidable opponents of crocodiles in the Amazon. (Photo: Baidu)
Giant otters swim and dive exceptionally well due to their webbed feet and flattened tails. They can swim at speeds of 14 km/h and cover 100 meters in just 30 seconds. Giant otters spend most of their time underwater hunting and eating fish. They need to consume a significant amount of food, typically between 2.7 kg to 4 kg per day. Their diet also includes anacondas, crocodiles, crustaceans, and other marine organisms.
Giant otters have excellent vision for hunting. Besides their eyes, they also use their whiskers to detect prey in the water by sensing changes in water pressure and flow.
Giant otters are called “river wolves” due to their strong underwater fighting abilities. (Photo: Baidu)
Contrary to their friendly appearance, giant otters are also known as “river wolves” for their fierce fighting abilities underwater. They typically live in groups and are unafraid of any terrifying predators, be it crocodiles or giant anacondas.
Otters have sharp teeth and long claws, but most importantly, they are very intelligent, observant, and know how to exploit their opponent’s weaknesses. Each hunting trip of a giant otter is swift and precise, usually taking only a few minutes. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that otters are natural enemies of crocodiles.
Giant otters are very intelligent and know how to attack their opponent’s weaknesses. (Photo: Baidu)
Giant otters typically live in groups of 3 to 10. They mate year-round but primarily breed during the dry season. Females are pregnant for 64 to 72 days and give birth to 1 to 6 pups per litter. During the first month, the pups stay in a den underground, and all members of the group help care for them.
Two to three weeks after giving birth, mother otters take their pups into the water to learn how to swim. After 1 to 2 months, the pups can swim proficiently and hunt with the group. They will stay with the group until they reach sexual maturity at around 2.5 years of age.
