---
title: "Central Neotropical River Otter"
description: "Lontra longicaudis — Mammiferi. The neotropical otter or neotropical river otter (Lontra longicaudis) is a near-threatened (per the IUCN) otter species found in freshwater systems from Mexico and Central America through mainland South America, as well as the island of Trinidad."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/it/animal/central-neotropical-river-otter
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Central Neotropical River Otter

> Lontra longicaudis — Mammiferi. The neotropical otter or neotropical river otter (Lontra longicaudis) is a near-threatened (per the IUCN) otter species found in freshwater systems from Mexico and Central America through mainland South America, as well as the island of Trinidad.

- Scientific name: *Lontra longicaudis*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammiferi)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Laghi e fiumi)
- iNaturalist observations: 1336
- Wikidata: [Q839828](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q839828)
- iNaturalist taxon: [41778](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/41778)

## Names

- en: Central Neotropical River Otter
- de: Südamerikanischer Fischotter
- es: Nutria de río
- fr: Loutre à longue queue
- nl: Langstaartotter
- pt: Lontra-neotropical

## Countries with the most observations

BR (507), AR (252), UY (87), EC (62), PE (39), BO (34), PY (26), CO (23), TT (8), GF (6), GY (6)

## Summary

The neotropical otter or neotropical river otter (Lontra longicaudis) is a near-threatened (per the IUCN) otter species found in freshwater systems from Mexico and Central America through mainland South America, as well as the island of Trinidad. It is physically similar to the northern (L. canadensis) and southern river otter (L. provocax), which occur directly north and south of this species' range, respectively. Its head-to-body length can range from 36–66 centimetres (14–26 in), plus a tail of 37–84 centimetres (15–33 in). Body weight ranges from 5–15 kilograms (11–33 lb).
The neotropical otter is found in many…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neotropical_otter

## Photo

![Central Neotropical River Otter](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/central-neotropical-river-otter/medium.jpg)

Photo: demianlescano · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41405817

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/central-neotropical-river-otter?lang=it` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).