- Where to see one
- 3 U.S. zoos in our directory hold giant otter, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the giant otter
The giant otter is a South American carnivore and the longest member of the weasel family, reaching up to 1.8 m. It lives mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal, favouring freshwater rivers and streams that flood seasonally. Unusually for a mustelid it is social, living in cohesive groups of three to eight led by a dominant breeding pair. Active only in daylight, it eats almost entirely fish, especially characins and catfish, but also takes crabs, turtles, snakes and small caimans. Exceptionally dense fur, a wing-like tail and webbed feet suit its amphibious life.
Giant Otter facts
- In Brazil it is called onça-d'água, meaning water jaguar.
- It is the noisiest otter species, with distinct calls for alarm, aggression and reassurance.
- The genus name Pteronura means feather or wing tail, for its distinctive tail.
- Groups clear large amounts of vegetation to build extensive campsites close to feeding areas.
Where to see giant otter in the U.S.
3 zoos across 2 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 3 zoos holding giant otter by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
